Past Tense
The past tense is used to talk about actions, events, or situations that happened in the past. It helps us describe completed actions, past habits, experiences, and events in sequence. The past tense is essential in storytelling, daily conversation, exams, and formal writing.
This article explains the past tense in detail, including definition, types, structures, rules, examples, common mistakes, and practice exercises, in simple and clear English.
PAST SIMPLE TENSE
Types of Past Tense
| Type | Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | Used for completed actions in the past | I visited Chennai yesterday. |
| Past Continuous | Used for actions happening at a specific time in the past | I was reading a book. |
| Past Perfect | Used for an action completed before another past action | I had finished my work before night. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Used for actions that continued for some time in the past | I had been studying for two hours. |
Structure
Positive:
Subject + V2
Negative:
Subject + did not + V1
Question:
Did + subject + V1 ?
Usage:Completed action in the past
Examples
1. We attended a meeting yesterday.
2. They traveled to Kerala last month.
3. I bought a new phone last week.
4. He watched a movie last night.
5. She cooked dinner yesterday.
Usage:Past habits
Examples
1. They practiced music every day.
2. She cooked for the whole family.
3. We watched cartoons every morning.
4. She visited her grandparents every weekend.
5. I walked to school every day.
Usage:Series of past actions
Examples
1. She cooked food, served it, and cleaned the kitchen.
2. They reached home, ate dinner, and slept.
3. I took a bath, dressed up, and left for office.
4. I took a bath, dressed up, and left for office.
5. We watched the movie, discussed it, and left.
Usage:Past facts / truths
Examples
1. He was a brilliant student.
2. They were best friends earlier.
3. He was a good player in school.
4. They were neighbors long ago.
5. He was a great king.
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure
Positive:
Subject + was/were + V1+ing
Negative:
Subject + was/were + not + V1+ing
Question:
Was/Were + subject + V1+ing ?
Usage:Action happening at a specific time in the past
Examples
1. She was listening to music last night.
2. He was sleeping in the afternoon.
3. We were watching TV at that time.
4. They were playing football in the evening.
5. I was studying at 8 PM yesterday.
Usage:Long action interrupted by short action
Examples
1. We were discussing when the bell rang.
2. They were eating when the guest came.
3. I was writing when the light went off.
4. He was sleeping when I knocked.
5. She was cooking when the phone rang.
Usage:Parallel actions happening together
Examples
1. I was studying while she was cooking.
2. She was singing while he was dancing.
3. I was writing while my brother was sleeping.
4. They were laughing while we were talking.
5. The kids were shouting while the teacher was teaching.
Usage:Background information in stories
Examples
1. The birds were singing.
2. The rain was falling heavily.
3. The dog was barking loudly.
4. People were walking peacefully.
5. The wind was blowing softly.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
Structure
Positive:
Subject + had + V3
Negative:
Subject + had not + V3
Question:
Had + subject + V3 ?
Usage:First past action before another past action
Examples
1. We had studied the lesson before the test.
2. They had repaired the bike before evening.
3. I had completed the task before the deadline.
4. He had slept before I called.
5. She had cooked dinner before guests arrived.
Usage:Past experience before a point in time
Examples
1. He had watched this movie before.
2. She had played badminton earlier.
3. We had traveled abroad once.
4. They had tried Chinese food earlier.
5. I had never seen snow before 2020.
Usage:
Examples
1. We were relieved because we had finished the task.
2. They celebrated because they had achieved success.
3. I was afraid because I had heard strange sounds.
4. They were upset because they had lost the match.
5. He was tired because he had worked a lot.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure
Positive:
Subject + had + been + V1+ing
Negative:
Subject + had + not + been + V1+ing
Question:
Had + subject + been + V1+ing ?
Usage:Action continued till another past action
Examples
1. I had been studying for two hours before he came.
2. They had been playing before it rained.
3. We had been waiting before the bus arrived.
4. She had been practicing before the match started.
5. He had been driving before the car broke down.
Usage:Reason for a past situation
Examples
1. We were relaxed because we had been meditating.
2. They were wet because they had been walking in rain.
3. The kids were sleepy because they had been studying.
4. They were dirty because they had been playing.
5. I was tired because I had been working.
Usage:Long past action continuing up to a point
Examples
1. We had been saving money for years.
2. They had been building the house for two years.
3. I had been writing a book for months.
4. He had been learning English for years.
5. She had been working at that office for long.
Common Mistakes
1. Regular verb -ed missing
❌ She walk to school yesterday
✅ She walked to school yesterday
Add -ed for regular verbs in Past Simple.
2. Irregular verb wrong form
❌ He buyed a car last week
✅ He bought a car last week
3. Past continuous mistake
❌ I was go to school at 8 AM
✅ I was going to school at 8 AM
4. Past perfect misuse
❌ She had went home before I arrived
✅ She had gone home before I arrived
5. Confusing past tense with present
❌ I see him yesterday
✅ I saw him yesterday
6. Subject-verb agreement
❌ The dogs runs fast yesterday
✅ The dogs ran fast yesterday
7. Forgetting auxiliary in past questions
❌ You went to school yesterday?
✅ Did you go to school yesterday?
8. Forgetting auxiliary in past negatives
❌ She not visited her friend
✅ She did not visit her friend
9. Mixing past continuous and simple incorrectly
❌ I watched TV when he was calling
✅ I was watching TV when he called
10. Using present perfect instead of past simple
❌ I have gone to school yesterday
✅ I went to school yesterday
Use Past Simple with definite past time expressions.
Past tense Quiz — Pick the Past tense
10 questions. Choose the correct Past tense.