Which one should I use?
Use the past continuous for an action in progress at a past time. Use the past perfect for an action completed before another past action.
I was eating at 7.
I had eaten before 7.
She was writing.
She had written a story.
Ask: in progress then, or completed before then?
In progress at a past time?I was cleaning my room at 6.Use past continuous.
Completed before a past time?I had cleaned my room before 6.Use past perfect.
Before another past action?She had left when I arrived.Past perfect for the earlier action.
Use it for actions in progress in the past.
At a past momentAli was reading at 8 o'clock.The action was happening then.
Background actionMaha was cooking when I arrived.Cooking was in progress.
Two actions togetherThey were talking while I was studying.Same past time.
Use it for an earlier completed past action.
Before another actionI had eaten before I went out.Eating happened first.
Before a past timeShe had finished by 5 o'clock.Finished before 5.
Earlier past resultThey were tired because they had walked far.Walking happened before they felt tired.
Time words can help.
Past continuous clueswhile, at 8 o'clock, all evening, when I arrivedAction in progress then.
Past perfect cluesbefore, after, already, by then, by 5 o'clockCompleted earlier in the past.
Think meaningWas it happening then?
Or had it already happened?Meaning matters most.
Or had it already happened?Meaning matters most.
Past continuous forms.
AffirmativeI was working.
She was reading.
They were playing.was/were + ing
She was reading.
They were playing.was/were + ing
NegativeI wasn't working.
They weren't playing.not after was/were
They weren't playing.not after was/were
QuestionWere you working?
Was Sara reading?Move was/were first.
Was Sara reading?Move was/were first.
Past perfect forms.
AffirmativeI had finished.
She had eaten.had + past participle
She had eaten.had + past participle
NegativeI hadn't finished.
She hadn't eaten.not after had
She hadn't eaten.not after had
QuestionHad you finished?
Had Sara eaten?Move had first.
Had Sara eaten?Move had first.
Same verb, different meaning.
I was doing my homework at 7.I was working on it then.In progress in the past.
I had done my homework by 7.It was finished before 7.Earlier completed action.
Why?Was doing = in progress then.
Had done = completed before then.Choose from meaning.
Had done = completed before then.Choose from meaning.
Do not mix the forms.
CorrectShe was writing at 8.Past continuous.
CorrectShe had written a letter before 8.Past perfect.
Not correctShe had writing.
She was written at 8.Do not mix had + ing or was + participle here.
She was written at 8.Do not mix had + ing or was + participle here.
Choose the correct form.
Maha ___ her room at 6 o'clock yesterday.
Choose the correct form.
Ali ___ his room before his friend arrived.
Choose the correct question.
___ you visited Salalah before you moved?
Which sentence fits “at 7 yesterday”?
Choose the best sentence.
Which sentence shows earlier completion?
Choose the best sentence.
Fill five blanks.
Choose past continuous or past perfect. Think about why.
At 7 yesterday, it outside.
I my umbrella before I left.
My friends at the door when I arrived.
Omar home before we called him.
Maha her homework before class started.
Mixed question types of 5
Answer all five. Then tap Finish test to see your result sheet.
1. Sentence completion
At 9 last night, Sara ___ a song.
2. MCQ
Which sentence shows an action completed before another past time?
3. Type the answer
___ they finished before you arrived?
4. Type the answer
When I saw him, Ali ___ football.
5. MCQ
Which sentence shows the earlier past action?
Great work!
Your learning comment will appear here.
Total score0 / 0
Percentage0%
Learning levelLearning
| Part | Result | Comment |
|---|