Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

Form
Simple Past

Past Perfect Simple

2nd column of irregular verbs

had + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example:
I spoke

Example:
I had spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed

regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed

Example:
I worked

Example:
I had worked

Use
We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back from a
certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.
Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?
Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened before/up
to a certain time in the past?

Simple Past

Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past

before/up to a certain time in the past

Example:
Example:
Jane got up at seven. She opened her
Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never
birthday presents and then the whole family
been to the zoo.
went to the zoo.

Signal words
Simple Past

Past Perfect Simple

already

first

up to then

then

before that day

after*

Simple Past Past Progressive

Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked

Past Progressive
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking

Use
After another or at the same time
Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?
Simple Past
after another

Past Progressive
at the same time

She came home, switched on the computer and

checked her e-mails.

Simon was playing on the computer while his

brother was watching TV.

New action or action in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need to use both tenses:
Simple past for the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress
Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).
state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We were on holiday.
possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.
feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want,
wish
Example: Jane loved pizza.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He felt the cold.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.
introductory clauses for direct speech: answer,
ask, reply, say
Example: I am watching TV, he said.

Choose the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).

The wind ____________________ (blow) away the leaves that we ____________________ (collect)
She ____________________ (throw) away the letter that she____________________ (write
They me the pictures, they____________________ (show) they ____________________ (take) during their
holidays.
In the evening, the children____________________ (tell) their daddy what they ____________________ (see) at
the zoo.
The boy ____________________ (be) very sorry for what he ____________________ (do).
My friend ____________________ (eat) up all the biscuit we ____________________ (bake)
The teacher (correct) ____________________the tests we (write) ____________________.
I (give) ____________________them some of the candies I (buy) ____________________
My sister (see / not) ____________________the note that I (lay) ____________________on the kitchen table for
her.
We (want) ____________________to watch a film that we (see / not) ____________________before.

Simple Past / Past Perfect

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses
I can't believe I (get) ____________________ that apartment. I (submit) ____________________ my application
last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ____________________ up to take
a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) ____________________ before me. Most of
them (fill, already) ____________________ out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I
could still apply, so I did.
I (try) ____________________ to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want)
____________________ me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have)
____________________ some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end)
____________________ up listing my father as a reference.
It was total luck that he (decide) ____________________ to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord
and my father (go) ____________________ to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment
before he (look) ____________________ at my credit report. I really lucked out!

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
When I (do) ____________________ the washing-up, I (break) ____________________ a plate.
While Tom (play) ____________________ the piano, his mother (do) ____________________ the washing-up.
He (drink) ____________________ some juice and then he (eat) ____________________ a few chips.
I (have) ____________________ dinner when I suddenly (hear) ____________________ a loud bang.
When my father (work) ____________________ in the garden, an old friend (pass) ____________________ by to
see him.
She (go) ____________________ to school, (take) ____________________ out her textbook and (begin)
____________________ to learn.
When it (start) ____________________ to rain, our dog (want) ____________________ to come inside.
When Jane (do) ____________________ a language course in Ireland, she (visit) ____________________ Blarney
Castle.
When I (be) ____________________ on my way home, I (see) ____________________ an accident.
I (not / understand) ____________________ what they (talk) ____________________ about.

Simple Past / Past Perfect

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses
James Ellis____________________ (go) on a business trip last week. He____________________ (visit) some
customers in Frankfurt. He____________________
(leave) home early on Monday morning
and____________________ (take) a taxi to the airport. He____________________ (get) there at about 8 o'clock.
He____________________ (check in) and____________________ (go) to the airport lounge.
He____________________ (buy) a newspaper and____________________ (go) to get a coffee.
He____________________ (drink) his coffee when he____________________ (see) an old friend, Bob.
He____________________ (be) very surprised that Bob____________________ (be) in London
and____________________ (find out) that he____________________ (start) a new job in the city. As
they____________________ (speak) they____________________ (hear) an announcement. "Would all passengers
for the 9.30 flight to Frankfurt please go to boarding gate 10". James____________________ (say) goodbye to
Bob and as they____________________ (leave) Bob____________________ (give) him his business card
and____________________
(ask)
him
to
phone
when
he
returns
from
Frankfurt.
After____________________ (board) James____________________ (put) his briefcase in the overhead locker
and____________________ (sit) down. During the flight, James____________________ (do) some paper work
and____________________ (speak) to the woman sitting next to him, while they____________________ (speak)
the flight attendant____________________ ( (bring) breakfast. When the plane____________________ ( (land) in
London, it was almost 11 o'clock.
James____________________ (take) a train to his hotel. Then he____________________ (walk) to the customer's
office. He____________________ (get) there at 1.00 pm and____________________ (go) to the reception desk.
The receptionist____________________ (ask) him to wait. While he____________________ (wait)
she____________________ (offer) him a drink. He and his customer____________________ (talk) all afternoon.
When Bob____________________ (get) to his hotel at 7 o'clock that night, he____________________ (phone) his
wife and then____________________ (go) to the hotel restaurant.