We often use the past simple tense for single completed events and past states and we use the past continuous for temporary or interrupted actions. We use the past perfect tense for actions which happened before a time in the past. This unit looks at the differences between the past and the past perfect tenses and used to/would + infinitive.

(For uses of the present perfect tense for past time 3.1, 3.2. For past forms which refer to the future (future in the past) 5.3.)

2.1 PAST SIMPLE
2.1A Form
2.1B Past actions and states

2.2 PAST CONTINUOUS
2.2A Form
2.2B Actions in progress
2.2C Interrupted actions
2.2D Other uses

2.3 PAST PERFECT
2.3A Form
2.3B Actions and states before a time in the past
2.3C Sequence in the past
2.3D Unfulfilled intentions

2.4 PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
2.4A Form
2.4B Uses
2.4C Contrast with other forms

2.5 USED TO/WOULD
2.5A Form and meaning
2.5B Past habits
2.5C Past states

The present simple and the present continuous tenses are the most common ways of expressing present time in English. The present simple describes things that are generally true, while the present continuous describes things that are true at the time of speaking, but which may change. This unit looks at the present time uses of these two tenses. They can also express future time (Unit 4) and past time (1.1E, 1.2E).

1.1 PRESENT SIMPLE
1.1A Form
1.1B General truths and facts
1.1C Repeated events/actions
1.1D Series of events/actions
1.1E Other uses

1.2 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
1.2A Form
1.2B Things which are true now
1.2C Repeated events
1.2D Series of events
1.2E Other uses

1.3 VERBS RARELY USED IN THE CONTINUOUS
1.3A Verbs of believing, having, liking, etc.
1.3B Using these verbs in the continuous
1.3C Sense verbs
1.3D Performative verbs