Grammar Focus - Past Tense

1. Simple past

Use the simple past tense for an action that was finished in the past.

a) We went shopping yesterday.
b) Columbus discovered America in 1492.
c) I lent you fifty dollars two days ago.
d) She ate dinner before we went to the movie.

Note:
Use used to for an action that was repeated or occurred regularly.
Use would for actions that were repeated, though irregular.
a) I used to play soccer with my friends when I was young.
b) I would listen to music while studying for final exams in high school.

2. Past perfect

Use the past perfect tense (had + past participle) for an action that occurred before a certain point in the past.

a) She had bought the book before I met her.
b) He had been to Oxford twice before I went there.

Note:
Before can be used in a simple past and past perfect sentence
a) I cleaned the house before she visited.
(= I cleaned the house because I knew she would visit.)
b) I had cleaned the house before she visited.
(= I cleaned the house, and, by coincidence, she visited after I had cleaned.)

3. Past progressive

Use the past progressive tense (was/were + -ing) for an action that was in progress when a second past action took place (or when a second past action was also in progress.)

a) When Jackie got there, Steve was waiting for her.
b) While I was taking a bath, Sally was using the computer.

4. Past perfect progressive

Use the past perfect progressive tense (had been + -ing) to show an action that was in progress for a known length of time and was still in progress when some other action occurred.

a) He said he had been doing his homework since six o'clock.
b) They had been cleaning the room for an hour already when I walked in.