The story behind the photo

Tom Pilson went to Chicago to take a photo of Barack Obama and his family in the White House.

Tom Pilston couldn't take a photograph of Obama because he forgot to bring his press pass.

Back then, the weather was cold in November.

Tom took the photo at the park outside the Convention Center.

The people could see the election results from their phones.

Tom was sorry that he couldn't go inside the center.

People were hysterical when Obama won.

People were quiet and emotional when Obama made his speech.

Simple Present

Present Continuous

Simple Past

Past Continuous

Simple Future

a completed action in the past

an action in progress at a specific moment in the past

describe an action that happened "after" another action in the past.

describe an action that was in progress "before or at the same time" as another action in the past.

I broke my arm, when I played football.

I was breaking my arm, when I was playing football.

I broke my arm, when I was playing football.

I was breaking my arm, when I played football.

Did you drive fast when the police stopped you?

Were you driving fast when the police stopped you?

Did you drive fast when the police was stopping you?

Were you driving fast when the police was stopping you?

It snowed when we left the school building.

It snowed when we were leaving the school building.

It was snowing when we left the school building.

It was snowing when we were leaving the school building.

I did not see the match because I worked.

I was not seeing the match because I was working.

I was not seeing the match because I worked.

I did not see the match because I was working.

When you called me, I was talking to my boss

When you were calling me, I was talking to my boss

When you called me, I talked to my boss

When you were calling me, I talked to my boss

We studied in Cambridge when we met.

We were studying in Cambridge when we met.

We studied in Cambridge when we were meeting.

We were studying in Cambridge when we were meeting.

Did they live in Rome when they had their first baby?

Were they living in Rome when they were having their first baby?

Did they live in Rome when they were having their first baby?

Were they living in Rome when they had their first baby?