ENGLISH CLASS
Past Tenses · Present Perfect · Passive Voice
By the end of this class, you will be able to:
Choose and form the four past tenses correctly.
Explain it and compare it with Past Simple.
Turn active sentences into passive ones.
Let's get started!
Four ways to talk about the past
Finished action
I visited London last year.
Action in progress
I was studying when you called.
Earlier past action
I had finished my homework before dinner.
Duration before a past moment
I had been waiting for an hour.
Which one fits?
A finished action at a specific time in the past
Subject + verb-ed (or irregular past form)
+ I visited London last year.
− I didn't visit London last year.
? Did you visit London last year?
last year
NOW
Yesterday… last year!
An action in progress at a moment in the past
was / were + verb-ing
+ I was studying when you called.
− I wasn't studying when you called.
? Were you studying when I called?
you called
NOW
I was studying…
The earlier of two past actions
had + past participle
+ I had finished my homework before dinner.
− I hadn't finished my homework before dinner.
? Had you finished your homework before dinner?
1st: finished homework
2nd: dinner
NOW
First this, then that!
How long an action lasted before a past moment
had been + verb-ing
+ I had been waiting for an hour when the bus arrived.
− I hadn't been waiting long when the bus arrived.
? Had you been waiting long when the bus arrived?
bus arrived
NOW
I had been waiting…
| Tense | Formula | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | verb-ed | finished action | I visited London. |
| Past Continuous | was/were + -ing | action in progress | I was studying. |
| Past Perfect | had + participle | earlier past action | I had finished. |
| Past Perfect Cont. | had been + -ing | duration before a past moment | I had been waiting. |
Which came first? Past Perfect (earlier) → Past Simple (later)
Earlier or later?
A past action or experience connected to the present
have / has + past participle
+ I have lived here for three years.
− She hasn't visited London yet.
? Have you ever been to London?
3 years ago
NOW
Still true today!
Is the time finished, or still connected to now?
I visited London last year.
I lived there in 2020.
I have visited London three times.
I have lived here for three years.
Clues: yesterday, last year, in 2020 → Past Simple
ever, never, already, yet, for, since → Present Perfect
Finished or not?
Used when the action or the object matters more than who did it
Subject + be + past participle (+ by …)
Present Simple The window is cleaned every day.
Past Simple The book was written by George Orwell.
Present Perfect The homework has been finished.
Who did it? Not important!
George Orwell
wrote
the book
↓
The book
was written
by George Orwell
1 Object → new subject
2 be (same tense) + past participle
3 Old subject → by + agent (optional)
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | They clean the room every day. | The room is cleaned every day. |
| Past Simple | A student broke the window. | The window was broken by a student. |
| Present Perfect | They have finished the project. | The project has been finished. |
The object comes first!
Raise your hand and answer!
1 I (visited / have visited) London last year.
2 She (was cooking / cooked) when the phone rang.
3 Make it passive: They built this school in 1990.
4 When we arrived, the film (started / had started).
5 (I lived / I have lived) here for three years.
Your turn!
Past Simple → verb-ed
Past Continuous → was/were + -ing
Past Perfect → had + past participle
Past Perfect Cont. → had been + -ing
Present Perfect → have/has + past participle
Passive Voice → be + past participle
Thank you! Any questions?
Great job, class!