Mastering English Verb Tenses and Modal Verbs: A Comprehensive Overview

Past Simple

Form

Verb + -ed / irregular verbs

Uses

  1. A completed action in the past
    • They developed this device last year.
    • I didn’t go online yesterday.
    • Did she buy that tablet last week?
  2. Consecutive actions
    • He turned on the computer and went online.

Time Expressions

Yesterday, last week / year, two days ago, in 2004, in the 15th century, when, then

Past Continuous

Form

Was / Were + verb + -ing

Uses

  1. An action in progress in the past
    • At midnight, I was watching a video.
  2. An action in progress interrupted by another action

Essential English Phrasal Verbs, Prepositions, and Grammar Tenses


Phrasal Verbs


  • act out: representar, interpretar
  • act up: portarse mal
  • back up: apoyar / respaldar a
  • blow up: ponerse furioso/a, explotar
  • break out: estallar (guerra); desgastarse, brotar
  • break up: separarse
  • bring back: traer
  • bring up: criar (un tema), mencionar
  • call off: cancelar
  • catch on: ponerse de moda
  • catch (someone) out: pillar a alguien desprevenido/a / por banda
  • check out: inspeccionar, echar un vistazo a; comprobar
  • cheer up: levantar el ánimo / animar (a)
  • clean up: limpiar
  • clock in: fichar (por)
  • come about: Sigue leyendo