There are two tenses in English – past and present.
The past tense in English is used:
- to talk about the past
- to talk about hypotheses – things that are imagined rather than true.
- for politeness.
Tense | Form |
---|---|
Past simple: | I worked |
Past continuous: | I was working |
Past perfect: | I had worked |
Past perfect continuous: | I had been working |
- to talk about the past:
He worked at McDonald’s. He had worked there since July..
He was working at McDonald’s. He had been working since July.
He was working at McDonald’s. He had been working since July.
- to refer to the present or future in conditions:
He could get a new job if he really tried.
If Jack was playing they would probably win.
If Jack was playing they would probably win.
and hypotheses:
It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.
I would always help someone who really needed help.
I would always help someone who really needed help.
and wishes:
I wish it wasn’t so cold.
- In conditions, hypotheses and wishes, if we want to talk about the past, we always use the past perfect:
I would have helped him if he had asked.
It was very dangerous, What if you had got lost?
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.
It was very dangerous, What if you had got lost?
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.
- We can use the past forms to talk about the present in a few polite expressions:
Excuse me, I was wondering if this was the train for York.
I just hoped you would be able to help me.
I just hoped you would be able to help me.
Source https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense