TALKING ABOUT THE PAST

PAST CONTINUOUS

Background description

Action in progress interrupted by another action

Two parallel actions

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Describe an action started before a time in the past and continue until that time

Describes a repeated action during a period of time, but completed by a point in the past

Said a recently completed action before another action in the past and who says no sign to confirm what you say

Main topic

WOULD + INF

Repeated action in the past

PAST SIMPLE

Finished actions, past states

Past habits and routines

Past fact or generalizations

PAST PERFECT

Completed Action Before Something in the Past

USED TO +INF

Past habits not repeated anymore

Past sates not existing any longer