5 Examples of Past Tense in English

5 Examples of Past Tense in English

Past Simple Tense

Simple Past Tense indicates an action which is completed at a definite time in the past.

POSITIVE (+)NEGATIVE (-)QUESTION (?)
I startedI did not  startDid I start
You startedYou did not  startDid you start
He startedHe did not  startDid he start
She startedShe did not  startDid she start
It startedIt did not  startDid it start
We startedWe did not  startDid we start
You startedYou did not startDid you start
They startedThey did not startDid they start

Past Continuous Tense

Past Continuous Tense  indicates an action which started in the past and continued in a certain time period.

POSITIVE (+)NEGATIVE (-)QUESTION (?)
I was startingI was not startingWas I starting
You were startingYou were not startingWere you starting
He was startingHe was not startingWas he starting
She was startingShe was not startingWas she starting
It was startingIt was not startingWas it starting
We were startingWe were not startingWere we starting
You were startingYou were not startingWere you starting
They were startingThey were not  startingWere they starting

Past Perfect Tense

Past Perfect Tense indicates a past action which is completed before another past action.

POSITIVE (+)NEGATIVE (-)QUESTION (?)
I had startedI had not startedHad I started
You had startedYou had not startedHad you started
He had startedHe had not startedHad he started
She had startedShe had not startedHad she started
It had startedIt had not startedHad it started
We had startedWe had not startedHad we started
You had startedYou had not startedHad you started
They had startedThey had not startedHad they started

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Continuous Tense indicates a past action which started in the past and continued to happen after another action and time in the past. Namely, Past Perfect Continuous Tense tell us “how long the action had continued”. ” the duration of the action”  is emphasized more in this tense.

POSITIVE (+)NEGATIVE (-)QUESTION (?)
I had been startingI had not been startingHad I been starting
You had been startingYou had not been startingHad you been starting
He had been startingHe had not been startingHad she been starting
She had been startingShe had not  been startingHad he been starting
It had been startingIt had not been startingHad it been starting
We had been startingWe had not been startingHad we been starting
You had been startingYou had not been startingHad you been starting
They had been startingThey had not been startingHad they been starting

5 Examples of Past Tense

1.I went to elementary school in Texas.

2.I went on vacation to Spain this summer.

3.I went swimming in the sea yesterday.

4.They were very tired last week.

5.Yesterday the mechanic fixed my car.