Jerónimo's Lesson

Past tenses / Used to and would

The children were shouting when the teacher came in.

My parents are looking for a new apartment.

I‘m reading a very good book at the moment.

When the fire started I was watching television.

It was snowing yesterday.

Juan is starting a new job next week.

Shorter action (past simple)

Longer action (past continuous)

He took the camera and his wallet and went out for a walk.

Cathy was happy because she had won the race.

This time last week we were standing on a volcano.

They went to Australia last

year.

The ferry had already left by the time we arrived at the port.

I had been waiting for two hours when he finally arrived.

Simple

Acción acabada en el pasado, en un momento específico - FOTO

Perfect Simple

Acción pasada que ocurrió antes de otra acción pasada - DOS VECES AL PASADO

Perfect Continuous

Acción en progreso en el pasado, que llevaba tiempo sucediendo antes de otra acción - PELÍCULA

  • Usa had + V3 para lo que pasó primero.
  • Si la acción duró un tiempo, usa had been + -ing.
  • Simple: yesterday, last week, two days ago.
  • Perfect simple: before, after, by the time, already, just.
  • Perfect continuous: for, since, before, until, when.

When I was little, I would get up and watch cartoons every Saturday morning. Now I rarely watch TV.

I used to watch cartoons every Saturday morning when I was very little. Now I rarely watch TV.

Every night our mother would read us a bedtime story.

My brother used to collect seashells.

Used to vs. Would

  • Both USED TO and WOULD are useful to talk about things we did regularly in the past.
  • We don't use WOULD with stative verbs (past states or situations). 
  • WOULD is used when we established a time period before.
  • USED TO don't need a time period.

Stative verbs: describen un estado en vez de una acción. 

  • Senses: appear, feel, hear, look, see, smell, sound, taste.
  • Perception: believe, forget, know, understand.
  • Feelings and emotions: desire, like, love, hate, prefer, want, enjoy.
  • Other: have, need, agree, be, cost. 

I would ride my bike to school when I was small.

I would play with my toys / I would have a lot of toys.

Jerónimo's Lesson. Past tenses: simple, continuous, perfect simple and perfect continuos.

By Valentina Rodríguez Ramírez

Jerónimo's Lesson. Past tenses: simple, continuous, perfect simple and perfect continuos.

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