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English Grammar›Ch 2: Verbs & Tenses›Past Tense & Time Markers
Mastering V2, Past Perfect, and Correlative Conjunctions for Exams
Use Simple Past (V2) with specific markers like yesterday, ago, or last. When two actions happen in the past, the earlier action takes Past Perfect (Had + V3) and the later action takes Simple Past. Correlatives like No Sooner...than and Hardly...when are essential for sequence.
Quick Memory Hooks
| Tense | Time Markers | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | yesterday, ago, last week | Subject + V2 |
| Past Perfect | before, by the time, after | Subject + had + V3 |
| Past Continuous | while, when | was/were + V-ing |
Yesterday
(A Fixed Point)
A Fixed Point
I met him yesterday.
Long Ago
(Distant Past)
Distant Past
He lived here long ago.
Interruption
(Ongoing Action)
Ongoing Action
I was eating when he came.
Earlier Action
(Past of Past)
Past of Past
Train had left before I came.
He has finished the work yesterday.He finished the work yesterday.
Never use Present Perfect (has/have) with past time markers like yesterday.
No sooner did he arrive when it rained.No sooner did he arrive than it rained.
No sooner always pairs with 'than', not 'when'.
The patient died before the doctor came.The patient had died before the doctor came.
For the first of two past actions, Past Perfect is mandatory.
Q1.Scarcely ____ I reached the station when the train started.
Q2.I ____ my homework two hours ago.