PERFECT CONTINUOUS 1) Emphasis on the duration of an action that started and finished in the past before another past action Ex. They had been looking for a house for six months before they found the one they liked. 2) Emphasis on the duration of an action that started and finished in the past before a stated time in the past Ex. They had been looking for a house for six months by October ) Action which lasted for some time in the past and whose result was visible in the past Ex. He was annoyed. He had been waiting at the airport for three hours. I,you,we,they HAD BEEN He, she, it DOING PERFECT 1) Action that happened before another past action Ex. She had already finished her work when the telephone rang. 2) Action that happened before a stated time in the past Ex. She had already finished her work by 7 oclock. 3) Action that happened in the past and whose result was visible in the past Ex. He was happy. He had signed an important contract. I,you,we,they He, she, it HAD DONE before, after, since, till just, already, yet, never CONTINUOUS 1) Action which was in progress at a stated time in the past Ex At 7 oclock yesterday they were having dinner. 2) Action which was in progress when another action happened Ex He was walking down the street when he came across an old friend. 3) Two or more simultaneous past actions Ex. She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work. 4) Narration in the past - to describe atmosphere Ex. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze. I, You,we,they He, she, it WERE DOING while, when, as, all morning/day/night SIMPLE 1) Action that happened at a definite time in the past Ex. They went camping last month. 2) Actions which happened one after another Ex. First she paid the driver, then she got out of the taxi. 3) Past habits that are now finished (used to) Ex. Kitchens used to be very different 100 years ago. 4) Narration in the past Ex. He looked out of the window. 5) Speaking of dead people Ex. Charles Dickens lived in XIX century. I, you, he, she we, they, it DID yesterday, then, when last week/year/month on 4 October, in 1997 PAST tenses