8th Class English Tenses Past Tense

    Past Tense

When a verb indicates a completed action. It is known as Past Tense.

• Michael played cricket.
• Michael was playing cricket.
• Michael had played cricket.
• Michael had been playing cricket.

In the above given sentences, the verbs 'played', 'was playing', 'had played' and 'had been playing' show an action of past time. These verbs are said to be in the Past Tense.  

Past Tense shows an action done in the past time.  

       Past Indefinite Tense

Past Indefinite Tense is used to express past habits, completed actions and put questions. It also shows an action done in general way in the past time.

• Eight defence personnel, including three crew members, were injured when an IAF helicopter crashed.
• The Mi-26 chopper carrying defence personnel took off from the technical Airport at Satwari
• The defense lawyer argued that the judgment violated the fundamental principles.

In the above given sentences, the verbs 'were injured', 'took off' and 'argued' show an action completed in the past time. These verbs are in Past Indefinite Tense.  

Points to keep in mind:

• Past Indefinite Tense is used to show an action completed in the past.

   Example: Maria left the town before the scheduled departure.

• Past Indefinite Tense is used to show a habitual action in the past.

   Example: I used to play chess with my friends during leisure time.  

       Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous Tense is used to express the continuity of some past actions and to put questions. This tense shows an action going on at some time in the past and not completed.

• Prakash and his friends were celebrating their victory with great pomp and show.
• Rita was watching the video with great concentration.
• They were discussing about this matter.

In the above given sentences, the verbs 'was celebrating', 'was watching' and 'were discussing' show an action going on at some time in the past. Here the action is incomplete. The time of action may or may not be indicated. These verbs are in Past Continuous Tense.  

Points to keep in mind :

• Past Continuous Tense is used to show an action started and continued in the past time.

   Example: She was watching the television when I came.

• Past Continuous Tense is used to show a persistent habit in the past.

   Example: He was playing cricket.  

      Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect Tense is used to express two earlier actions, completion of past actions and to put questions. It shows an action which had been completed before another action took place.

• Vinoy had taken his meal before I arrived.
• Rajesh had gone to college before I reached.
• They had completed their job before you came.

In the above given sentences, the verbs 'had taken', 'had gone' and 'had completed' show that the action had been completed before another action took place. Here the earlier action takes Past Perfect Tense. These verbs are in Past Perfect Tense.  

Points to keep in mind :

• Past Perfect Tense is used to show an action completed before another action took place.

  Example: The college had closed before the professor came.

• Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past.

   Example: Deepika met Prakash in Mumbai in 2010. She had last seen him five years ago.  

      Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Continuous Tense shows an action starting before a certain point in the past and continuing up to that time.

• They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
• Michael had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
• James had been teaching in the university for more than a year before he left for India.

In the above given sentences, the verbs 'had been talking', 'had been working' and 'had been teaching' show an action that began before a certain point or period in the past and continuing up to that time. These verbs are in Past Perfect Continuous Tense.  

Points to keep in mind :

• Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to show that the action was continuous and still going on at a point or period of time in the past.

   Example: Raj had already been teaching in this college when he applied for another job.