Past Tenses in English

Simple Past Tense

To say things done in the past without point out it still in progress or how long it takes.

Formula

S + V2 + O

S + was/were+ adjective/adverb

S + did not + Infinite (V1) + object

S + was/were + not + adjective/adverb

Did + S + was/were + adjective + adverb?

Was /were + adjective + adverb

Function

To say things at certain time in the past

To say habbit in the past

To express emotion or perseption in the past

To say ownership in the past

Example

I bought my house in 2016

Tina lived in bali for four years

I went to gym everyday when I was in college

She was very proud of you when you won the competition

I was so happy that day

Past Continous Tense

To say event that start in the past and still continue at the time of speaking or to express unfinished action in the past

Past continuous usualy uses in this particular situation

To describe background in a story that happened in the past : the music was playing when she left

To describe unfinished action in the past that interrupted by other event : I was playing guitar when my dog ate my homework

Formula

Subject + was/were + v1 ing

Subject + was/were + not + v1 ing

Was /were + S + v1 ing?

Other example

I was playing my phone when Mr. Peter came

I was having a conversation through phone when the electricity shut down

Past Perfect Tense

To say two event thant happened in the past

The event that happened earlier uses past perfect tense and the event following it use simple past tense

In any other word to say action or event that has been completed when other action/event happened in the past

Usualy uses before, after, by the time, by

Special case that use Past Perfect tense

To express frequency of event or ation in the past : I had been here many times

Formula

Subject + had + v3

Subject + had + not + v3

Had + Subject + v3

Past Perfect Continues

To say an event/action start in the past continue for some time in the past

Usualy uses time reference, for and since

Formula

Subject + had + been + v ing + time reference

Subject + had + not + been + v ing + time reference

Had + subject + been + v ing + time reference

Example

I had been using this computer for a year until it broke yesterday

I had been running this business since 2012

She had been working in this department since 2 years ago

She had not been coming here for 2 years

Had you using this bag since 2010?