English Past Verbs Formats

What is the form of the Simple Past?

subject + past verb (walked, watched, ate, went)

When do you use the Simple Past?

A finished action at a specific time in the past

Ex/ I watched the movie yesterday.

What is the form of the Past Continuous?

subject + was / were + verb-ing

When do you use the Past Continuous?

An action that was in progress at a specific past moment, often interrupted by another action

Ex/ I was watching TV when you called.

What is the form of the Present Perfect?

subject + have / has + past participle (watched, eaten, gone)

When do you use the Present Perfect?

Past action with connection to the present, life experiences, recent actions, unfinished time

Ex/ I have watched that movie before.

What is the form of the Past Perfect?

subject + had + past participle

When do you use the Past Perfect?

One action happened before another past action

Ex/ I had watched the movie before I read the book.

What is the form of 'Used to'?

subject + used to + base verb

When do you use 'Used to'?

Something that was true in the past but not now

Ex/ I used to watch TV every night.

What is the form of 'Would'?

subject + would + base verb

When do you use 'Would'?

Repeated past actions (not states), often in stories

Ex/ When we were kids, we would watch cartoons every morning.