English grammar
Do you remember when...? — past simple, continuous and past perfect together
Ask and answer about shared memories, mixing the past simple, continuous and perfect.
From the scene Do you remember when…?
In short
Do you remember when…? can take the past simple, the past continuous or the past perfect.
Your turn
Which one goes with past continuous (ongoing then)?
Options: Marisa had baked the rings · we were looking for a flat · you arrived in Madrid
Show answer
past continuous (ongoing then) → we were looking for a flat
How it works
Do you remember when...? can be followed by any past tense.
Good to know
Use the past simple for a finished event (you arrived in Madrid), the past continuous for what was going on at the time (we were looking for a flat), and the past perfect for something that had already happened before that (Marisa had baked the rings).
past simple (a finished event) you arrived in Madrid
Elena
Nuria, do you remember when you arrived in Madrid?
Nuria, ¿te acuerdas de cuando llegaste a Madrid?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Nuria, do you remember when (blank)?
Options: we were looking for a flat · Marisa had baked the rings · you arrived in Madrid
Show answer
Elena
Nuria, do you remember when you arrived in Madrid?
Nuria, ¿te acuerdas de cuando llegaste a Madrid?
past continuous (ongoing then) we were looking for a flat
Your turn
What goes with we were looking for a flat?
Options: past perfect (before that moment) · past continuous (ongoing then) · past simple (a finished event)
Show answer
we were looking for a flat → past continuous (ongoing then)
past perfect (before that moment) Marisa had baked the rings
Elena
And I remember when we found out Marisa had baked the rings into the cake.
Y me acuerdo de cuando descubrimos que Marisa había horneado los anillos en la tarta.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And I remember when we found out (blank) into the cake.
Options: We were looking for a flat · Marisa had baked the rings · You arrived in Madrid
Show answer
Elena
And I remember when we found out Marisa had baked the rings into the cake.
Y me acuerdo de cuando descubrimos que Marisa había horneado los anillos en la tarta.
remember + when + clause do you remember when...?
Nuria
Doña Elena, do you remember when Javi and I were looking for a flat?
Doña Elena, ¿se acuerda de cuando Javi y yo buscábamos piso?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena, (blank) Javi and I were looking for a flat?
Options: do you remember when · you arrived in Madrid · we were looking for a flat
Show answer
Nuria
Doña Elena, do you remember when Javi and I were looking for a flat?
Doña Elena, ¿se acuerda de cuando Javi y yo buscábamos piso?
Common mistake
Not have arrived or had arrived here. A single finished event.
Nuria, do you remember when you arrived in Madrid?
Nuria, ¿te acuerdas de cuando llegaste a Madrid?
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
| past simple (a finished event) | you arrived in Madrid |
|---|---|
| past continuous (ongoing then) | we were looking for a flat |
| past perfect (before that moment) | Marisa had baked the rings |
| remember + when + clause | do you remember when...? |
More lines from the story
- TomásAnd I sold you your first orange! Do you remember?¡Y yo te vendí tu primera naranja! ¿Te acuerdas?
- NuriaHow could I forget? It's already been a year.Cómo olvidarlo. Ha pasado ya un año.
- ElenaI remember everything, dear. Even what you haven't told me.Me acuerdo de todo, cariño. Hasta de lo que no me habéis contado.