INTRODUCTION TO PAST TENSES

We use different past tenses to focus on different moments and periods of time in the past. The tense we use depends on whether the action or event is a past habit or state, whether it is completed, the duration of an action or event, and the order we use to recall the action or events.

Look at the diagram:

When Andrea arrived home at 8:00 last night
5:00              6:00              7:00              8:00              9:00
                                                                 ___________
                                                     .......................         

____________ Tim cooked dinner

....................... Tim was cooking dinner
                        
                        Tim had cooked dinner