English grammar
All the past tenses together
Tell a story that mixes the present perfect, past simple, past continuous and past perfect naturally.
From the scene Everything we've been through
In short
Mix tenses: present perfect up to now, past simple for events, was + -ing for background, had + participle for earlier.
Your turn
Which one goes with past simple (one finished event)?
Options: Tomás got married · we've changed a lot · I was working at the phone shop
Show answer
past simple (one finished event) → Tomás got married
How it works
A real story about the past mixes tenses naturally. The present perfect looks back over a whole period that still matters now: we've changed a lot.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Nuria, do you realise everything we've (blank) through?
Options: being · was · been
Show answer
Nuria, do you realise everything we've been through?
Nuria, ¿te das cuenta de todo lo que hemos vivido?
Good to know
The past simple tells one finished event: Tomás got married. The past continuous says what was going on at the time: I was working at the phone shop.
Good to know
The past perfect says what had already happened before that: you had already lost your keys.
present perfect (a whole period, still now) we've changed a lot
Nuria
We've changed a lot since then.
Hemos cambiado mucho desde entonces.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) since then.
Options: I was working at the phone shop · We've changed a lot · Tomás got married
Show answer
Nuria
We've changed a lot since then.
Hemos cambiado mucho desde entonces.
past simple (one finished event) Tomás got married
Javi
First my parents came, then Tomás got married, and then we moved in together.
Primero llegaron mis padres, luego se casó Tomás, y después nos mudamos juntos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
First my parents came, then (blank), and then we moved in together.
Options: Tomás got married · We've changed a lot · I was working at the phone shop
Show answer
Javi
First my parents came, then Tomás got married, and then we moved in together.
Primero llegaron mis padres, luego se casó Tomás, y después nos mudamos juntos.
past continuous (in progress then) I was working at the phone shop
Javi
And I was working at the phone shop.
Y yo trabajaba en la tienda de móviles.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank).
Options: We've changed a lot · Tomás got married · I was working at the phone shop
Show answer
Javi
And I was working at the phone shop.
Y yo trabajaba en la tienda de móviles.
past perfect (before that) you had already lost your keys
Javi
You had already lost your keys three times before you met me.
Tú ya habías perdido las llaves tres veces antes de conocerme.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) three times before you met me.
Options: Tomás got married · You had already lost your keys · We've changed a lot
Show answer
Javi
You had already lost your keys three times before you met me.
Tú ya habías perdido las llaves tres veces antes de conocerme.
Common mistake
Not have or would have here. Before you met me.
You had already lost your keys three times before you met me.
Tú ya habías perdido las llaves tres veces antes de conocerme.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| present perfect (a whole period, still now) | we've changed a lot |
|---|---|
| past simple (one finished event) | Tomás got married |
| past continuous (in progress then) | I was working at the phone shop |
| past perfect (before that) | you had already lost your keys |
More lines from the story
- JaviNuria, do you realise everything we've been through?Nuria, ¿te das cuenta de todo lo que hemos vivido?
- NuriaAnd we've lived through an incredible year.Y hemos vivido un año increíble.