Past simple
This is used to talk about events which:
- began and ended in the past
The USA became independent in the late 1700s.
This indicates a completed action in the past with a fixed time phrase.
- happened regularly
The archaeologists returned to the site every summer.

Past continuous
This is used to talk about events which:
- were unfinished at a particular time in the past
Ths islanders were fishing when the explorers first saw them.

Past perfect
This is used to talk about events which:
- happened before a particular time in the past
Kim took some photos of the palace after he had taken ones of the temple.
Note that the past perfect needs to be used when it is important to show a time difference. Sometimes it is omitted if it is not important to the sense of the sentence.


These activities practise this Grammar: