Past Indefinite
Usage. The Simple Past (Past Indefinite Tense) is used to.
1. an action completed in the past
Example:
• He left for Delhi yesterday.
2. a past habit or a routine
Example:
• He went to school by bus but now he walks.
Words often used with the Past Indefinite Tense:
Yesterday, ago, last.
Affirmative sentences :
• Subject + 2nd form of the verb + object.
Example:
Roshan completed his work yesterday.
Negative sentences :
• Subject + did not + 1st form of the verb + object
Example:
He didf not complete his work yesterday.
Interrogative sentences :
• Did + subject + 1st form of the verb + object + ?
Example:
Did your father scold you for your mistake?
• Wh-family + Did + subject + 1st form of the verb + object + ?
Example:
Why did your father scold you for your mistake?
Note: The past forms remain the same for all three persons i.e., First-person, second-person, and third person,
singular and plural. For example:
• He finished the work.
• They finished the work.
• You finished work.
• I finished the work.
Past Continuous
Usage. The Past Continuous Tense is used to
1. to refer to something happening at the time of reference in the past
Example:
• We were eating our dinner when he came.
2. when we talk about something that was a persistent habit in the past
Example:
• He was always grumbling.
Affirmative sentences :
• Subject + was/were + 1st form of the verb + ing + object.
Example:
He was watching a film.
They were watching a film.
Negative sentences :
• Subject + was/were + 1st form of the verb + ing + object
Example:
He was not watching a film.
They were not watching a film.
Interrogative sentences :
• Was/Were + subject + 1st form of the verb + ing 4- otfject + ?
Example:
Was he playing cricket in the field?\
• Wh-family + was/were + subject + 1st form of the verb + ing + object + ?
Example:
Why were you playing cricket in the field?
Past Perfect
This form is used to indicate the earlier of the two activities that happened in the past. Example:
• The train had already left by the time I reached the station.
Affirmative sentences :
• Subject + had + 3rd form of the verb + object.
Example:
He had taken his breakfast when the mother arrived.
Negative Sentence:
• Subject + had not + 3rd form of the verb + object.
Example:
He had not taken his breakfast when the mother arrived.
Interrogative sentences:
• Had + subject + 3rd form of the verb + object + ?
Example:
Had he gone to the theatre?
• Wh-family + had + subject + 3rd form of the verb + object + ?
Example:
Why had the driver locked the car?
Past Perfect Continuous
This form is used to refer to something begun in the past and continued up to a point of reference in the past.
Example:
• I had been reading Gulliver’s Travels for the last week when he came to see me.
Affirmative sentences :
• Subject + had been + 1st form of the verb ÷ ing + object + since! for + time
Example:
I had been waiting for my friend for 3 hours
Negative sentences :
• Subject + had not been + 1St form of the verb + ing + object + since! for + time
Example:
I had not been waiting for my friend for 3 hours.
Interrogative sentences :
• Had + subject + been + 1st form of the verb + ing + object + since! for + time?
Example:
Had you been cleaning the place since morning?
• Wh-family + had + subject + been + 1st form of the verb + ing + object + since/for + time?
Example:
Why had the parents been consulting the teacher for so long?
Note: This tense is the same for all persons and can not be used in the passive form and with verbs which do not
have the continuous form.
