Compare Past Simple, Past Continuous and Past Perfect (the rule and exercises with answers)

Past Simple

V2

We use the past simple 
1) for an action which happened and finished at a definite time in the past.

The Greens bought a new house last year.

2) for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past

He painted the walls in the bedroom and then washed his hands

3)  for past habits and states which are now finished. In such cases we can also use the expression used to.

I lived (used to live) in Manchester three years ago.

 Past Continuous

WAS/WERE + Ving

We use the past continuous 
1) for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started or finished.

They were having breakfast at 9 yesterday.

2) for an action which was in progress at a definite period of time in the past.

She was cooking the whole morning on Saturday

3) for two or more simultaneous actions in the past

I was doing my homework while my sister was playing with her toys.

4) for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the past continuous for the action in progress and past simple for the action which interrupted it.

Jack was walking the dog when he saw Dave.

5) to give background information in the story

The sun was shining brightly. The wind was blowing and the birds were singing when I heard a strange noise.

Past Perfect

HAD + V3

We use the past perfect for
1) an action which happened in the past by the stated time.

Molly had cleaned the room by 7 o`clock yesterday.

2) For an action which happened in the past before another past action. The action which happened earlier in the past is in the past perfect tense, and the action which happened later is in the past simple

The train had already arrived when Sam came to the platform.

The train had already arrived (this action happened earlier that`s why the past perfect tense is used) when Sam came to the platform (this action happened later that`s why past simple is used)

1. Carry was sitting by the window when he entered the room.
2. He was waiting for her the whole evening.
3. It was raining heavily outside and the wind was blowing. Janice was watching TV when the doorbell rang.
4. My friend was making a report while his sister was doing the washing-up.
5. She closed the suitcase, put on her coat and went out.
6. She worked as a cleaner at a local hospital many years ago.
7. The children had fallen asleep by ten o`clock.
8. They took a Maths exam on Wednesday.
9. We hadn`t received the telegram when he arrived.
10. We were discussing the novel at that time.

Key
1 g
2 e
3 h
4 f
5 b
6 c
7 i
8 a
9 j
10 d

a an action which happened and finished at a definite time in the past.
b actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.
c past habits and states which are now finished.
d an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past.
e action which was in progress at a definite period of time in the past.
f simultaneous actions in the past.
g an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.
h background information in the story.
i an action which happened in the past by the stated time.
j an action which happened in the past before another past action.

1. He passed an English exam on Tuesday.
2. I hadn`t read the book by Saturday.
3. It was a beautiful day. Children were laughing and playing in the street. Suddenly a heavy grey cloud appeared in the sky.
4. Our father was working at his study while we were sleeping upstairs.
5. She was working at his French at that time.
6. The children had a shower, put on their pajamas and went to bed.
7. They were listening to music the whole morning.
8. We bought our clothes from second-hand shops 8 years ago.
9. We were travelling by car when snow began to fall.
10. When she had closed the suitcase, she put on her coat.

KEY

1 a
2 i
3 h
4 f
5 d
6 b
7 e
8 c
9 g
10 j

a an action which happened and finished at a definite time in the past.
b actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.
c past habits and states which are now finished.
d an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past.
e action which was in progress at a definite period of time in the past.
f simultaneous actions in the past.
g an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.
h background information in the story.
i an action which happened in the past by the stated time.
j an action which happened in the past before another past action.