PAST TENSE

PAST TENSE

• Simple Past Tense
Simple past tense is used to indicate the activity in the past.

 The Formula Without Verb :
(+) S + to be ( was / were ) + obj. / comp
(-) S + to be ( was / were ) + not + obj. / comp
(?) To be ( was / were ) + S + obj. / comp. +?


Example        :  (+)   I was at mall last night.
                        (-)    I was not at mall last night.
                        (?)    Was I at mall last night ?

 The Formula with Verb :
(+) S + V2 + obj. / comp
(-) S + did + not + V1 + obj. / comp
(?) Did + S + V1 + obj. / comp. + ?

Example       :   (+)   I called him last night.
                        (-)    I did not call him last night.
                        (?)    Did I call him last night.

• Past Continuous Tense
The functions of the past continuous tense are :
1). To indicate that one action was in progress when another action occurred.
Example : I was watching film when you come here.
2). To indicate that two actions were in progress simultaneously.
Example : My mother was washing while my father was reading a newspaper.
3). To indicate an action that happened at a certain time in the past.
Example : I was having an examination at this time last year.

 The Formula of Past Continuous Tense :
(+) S + to be + ( was / were ) + V1 + ing + comp
(-) S + to be ( was / were ) + not + V1 + ing + comp.
(?) To be ( was / were ) + S + V1 + ing + comp. + ?

Example       :    (+)   They were having lunch when I arrived.
                         (-)   They were not having lunch when I arrived.
                         (?)   Were they having lunch when I arrived ?

• Past Perfect Tense
Past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that had happened in the past and had finished.

 The formula Without Verb :
(+) S + had + been + comp
(-) S + had + not + been + comp.
(?) Had + S + been + comp. + ?

Example         :   (+)   We had been at home for 3 hours.
                          (-)   We had not been at home for 3 hours.
                          (?)   Had we been at home for 3 hours.

 The Formula with Verb :
(+) S + had + V3 + comp
(-) S + had + not + comp
(?) Had + S + V3 + comp. + ?

Example        :    (+)   She had washed the clothes.
                          (-)   She had not washed the clothes.
                          (?)   Had she washed the clothes ?
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past perfect continuous tense is used to indicate that an action was in progress and happened in the past.

The Formula of Past Perfect Continuous Tense :
(+) S + had + been + V1 + ing + comp.
(-) S + had + not + been + V1 + ing + comp.
(?) Had + S + been + V1 + ing + comp. + ?

Example       :    (+)   He had been watching TV when I called him yesterday.
                         (-)   He had not been watching TV when I called him yesterday.
                         (?)   Had he been watching TV when I called him yesterday ?