Past Tenses, Past continuous tense

Past tense

Structure of past simple 
Structure of past continuous
 

Here is how to form the past simple tense in English.

Structure of past simple
positive	negative	question
I arrived yesterday. You arrived yesterday. He/she/it arrived. We arrived. They arrived.	I didn't (did not) arrive. You didn't (did not) arrive. He/she/it didn't arrive. We didn't arrive. They didn't arrive.	Did I arrive yesterday? Did you arrive? Did he/she/it arrive? Did we arrive? Did they arrive?

Past simple - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I was work in London.	I worked in London.	In positive sentences, a helping verb such as 'was' or 'did' is not used.
He worked in London?	Did he work in London?	The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions.
Worked he in London?	Did he work in London?	The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions.
Did he wrote a letter?	Did he write a letter?	The main verb is used in the infinitive form in questions and negatives.
He didn't wrote a letter.	He didn't write a letter.	The main verb is used in the infinitive form in questions and negatives.

Past continuous tense

The past continuous tense is also sometimes called the past progressive.

Here is how to form the past continuous in English.

Structure of past continuous
positive	negative	question
I was reading a book. He/she was talking. It was raining.	I wasn't (was not) reading. He/she wasn't talking.  It wasn't raining.	Was I reading? Was he/she talking? Was it raining?
You were reading a book. We were waiting. They were drinking.	You weren't (were not) reading. We weren't talking. They weren't drinking.	Were you reading? Were we waiting? Were they drinking?

Past continuous - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I waiting for him almost two hours.	I was waiting for him almost two hours.	To form the past continuous we use was/were + ing.
What did he doing when you saw him?	What was he doing when you saw him?
We were playing tennis every morning.	We played tennis every morning.	We use the past simple for repeated actions in the past.
They watched TV when I came.	They were watching TV when I came.	We use the past continuous when we want to say what was happening (what was in progress) at a particular time in the past.

Present Tenses, Present continuous tense

A list of all English tenses, including:

- the structure of each tense
- explanations of usage
- examples of common errors and how to avoid making them.

Present tenses

• Structure of present simple
• Structure of present continuous

How to form the present simple tense in English.

Structure of present simple
positive	negative	question
I work in a bank. You work in a bank. We work in a bank. They work in a bank.	I don't (do not) work. You don't (do not) work. We don't (do not) work. They don't (do not) work.	Do I work in a bank? Do you work in a bank? Do we work in a bank? Do they work in a bank?
He works in a bank. She works in a bank. The bank opens at 9 o'clock.	He doesn't (does not) work. She doesn't (does not) work. It doesn't (does not) open at 9 o'clock.	Does he work? Does she work? Does it open at 9 o'clock?

Present simple - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I working in London.	I work in London.	The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple.
He work in London.	He works in London.	The third person he, she, it adds the letter s.
He work in London?	Does he work in London?	Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. All other persons: do + subject + infinitive.
Work he in London?	Does he work in London?
He not work in London.	He doesn't work in London.	Negatives - third person: subject + doesn't + infinitive. All other persons: subject + don't + infinitive.

The present continuous tense is sometimes called the present progressive.

Here is how to form the present continuous tense in English.

Structure of present continuous
positive	negative	question
I'm (I am) reading a book.   You're (you are) reading.  We're (we are) reading.  They're (they are) reading.	I'm (I am) not reading. You're (you are) not reading. We're (we are) not reading. They're (they are) not reading.	Am I reading? Are you reading? Are we reading? Are they reading?
He's (he is) reading a book. She's (she is) reading a book. It's (it is) raining.	He's not / he isn't (he is not) reading. She's not / she isn't (she is not) reading. It's not / it isn't (it is not) raining.	Is he reading? Is she reading? Is it raining?

Present continuous - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
They still waiting for you.	They are still waiting for you.	to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing.
They are still waiting for you?	Are they still waiting for you?	In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places.
Do they still waiting for you?	Are they still waiting for you?
Where they are waiting for you?	Where are they waiting for you?
She doesn't watching TV.	She isn't watching TV.	To form the negative we put not after the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't).
I'm believing you.	I believe you.	Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are called stative verbs (e.g. believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like).