This document discusses the proper uses of various verb tenses and expressions when narrating stories or describing events in the past. It explains that the past simple is used for main actions, the past continuous for descriptions and ongoing actions, and the past perfect for completed actions before other past actions. It also discusses using "used to" and "would" to describe repeated past actions or states, and provides examples of their correct uses.

1. Habitual events and specific incidents

2.  Past simple: for the main actions in a story:
Ex.: She opened the door and, when she saw the
murderer, she screamed.
 Past continuous: for descriptions, to set the
scene and describe actions in progress:
Ex.: It was raining, she was wearing a raincoat….
 Past perfect: to talk about a completed action
before another one in the past.
Ex: When Josh arrived, he had already killed her.
 Past perfect continuous: to talk about an action
in progress before another one in the past:
Ex.: He was really angry. He had been waiting for
the train for 1 hour, when it finally came.

3.  Used to/would + infinitive: they often convey
a sense of nostalgia about the past, for
stylistic reasons we use a variety of
expressions when narrating a story.
 Ex.: At Christmas we used to wake up late, we
would help our mum in the kitchen. Then we
opened our presents.

4.  Would is ONLY used to describe repeated actions in the
past, never with stative verbs or to describe situations.
Ex: When I was a child, I would go to bed very early, my
mum would read to me.
 Would requires a time reference:
Ex: We would play tennis is wrong but When I was young
we would play tennis at school is correct.
 Used to: both for repeated past actions and states, it
stresses that something has changed:
Ex: I used to go out every day when I was a student, now I
don’t have the energy to do that. (ACTION)
I used to be good-looking when I was young. (STATE,
Would is wrong here)

5.  QUESTIONS: Did you use to wake up early?
 NEGATIVES: No, I didn’t use to wake up early

6.  Always+ past continuous: for irritating
habits in the past:
Ex.: She was always criticizing everybody .