Helping Hints for the Past
Auxiliary Verbs Used with Past Tenses
Knowledge of auxiliary verbs used in various tenses is the key to correct tense conjugation. Here is a review of auxiliary verbs for past tenses:
Past Simple:
Use 'did' in the question and negative form to express something that happened at a specific moment in the past. Use no auxiliary verb in the positive form.
Example:
The primary supervisor didn't give him a raise last quarter.
When did they call room service for dinner last night?
BUT:
We cleaned the restroom last night.
Past Continuous:
Use 'was / were' in the past tense for the positive, negative and question forms in the past continuous tense to express what was happening at a specific moment in the past.
Example:
Tom was preparing roasted foods when the timer alarm sounded.
I wasn't feeling hungry when the buffet opened.
Past Simple Passive:
Use 'was / were' in the past for positive, negative and question in the past simple passive to express a past passive operation. Remember that the passive takes the participle form of the principal verb.
Example:
That business traveler wasn't treated well on his visit.
Were the sports venues cleaned by the janitorial staff?
Past Perfect:
Use 'had' in the past for the positive, negative and question forms for the past perfect tense to express something that had happened before another action occurred in the past.
Example:
He'd been eating stale bread every day for six years before he won the lottery.
She hadn't had time to visit the health spas before she wrote the review for the newspaper.
Past Perfect Continuous:
Use the verb 'had been' in the past perfect for the positive, negative and question forms for the past perfect tense to express the duration of something that had been happening up to another past moment in time.
Example:
The cereal hadn't been sitting in the bowl long before it grew soggy.
How long had you been reviewing bed and breakfasts before you picked your favorite?