• to talk about the past

• to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)

• for politeness

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​The PAST TENSE in English is used...

There are four PAST TENSES in English...

Past Simple > I worked

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Past Continuous > ​I was working

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​Past Perfect > I had worked

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​Past Perfect Continuous > I had been working

How do we use these forms?

To talk about the past...

He worked at McDonald's. He had never worked before. He was working at McDonald's when they met. He had been working there for two years.

To refer to the present or future in hypotheses...

​It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.

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This use is very common in wishes...

I wish I wasn't so cold​.​

In conditions with if...

​He could get a new job if he really tried.

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​If Jack was playing, they would probably win.

For hypotheses, wishes and conditions in the past, we use PAST PERFECT...

​It was very dangerous. What if you had got lost?

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I wish I hadn't spent so much money on my holidays.

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​I would have helped him if he had asked.

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To talk about the present in a few polite expressions...

Excuse me, I was wondering if this was the train to York.

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I just hoped you would be able to help me.​

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