English Grammar Guide


Time Phrases: Past


We use the past simple tense for actions completed in the past.

Usage - in + TIME PHRASE

We use in with parts of the day in the past, months, years and seasons.

  • in + the morning/the afternoon/the evening
  • in + MONTH (January/February/...)
  • in + YEAR (2005/2010/...)
  • in + SEASON (summer/winter/...)

Examples - in + TIME PHRASE

ACTIVITYinTIME PHRASE
I walked the doginthe morning.
He startedinSeptember.
We wentin2010.
It snowedinspring.

Usage - on + TIME PHRASE

We use on with days of the week in the past.

  • on + DAY (Monday/Tuesday/...)

Examples - on + TIME PHRASE

ACTIVITYonTIME PHRASE
I went to the gymonWednesday.
He played footballonSaturday.
They workedonSaturday morning.

Usage - at + TIME PHRASE

We use at with times in the past.

  • at + TIME (3 o'clock/4 o'clock/...)

Examples - at + TIME PHRASE

ACTIVITYatTIME PHRASE
I startedat9 o'clock.
He finishedat5 o'clock.

Usage - last + TIME PHRASE

We can use last with many phrases.

  • last + DAY (Monday)/week/month/...

Examples - last + TIME PHRASE

ACTIVITYlastTIME PHRASE
I went to the gymlastWednesday.
He camelastweek.
They startedlastmonth.
We saw himlastyear.
I watched itlastnight.

Be Careful!

  • I played last day.
  • I played yesterday.

Usage - TIME PHRASE + ago

We use ago for numbers.

  • NUMBER + hours/days/weeks/... + ago

Examples - TIME PHRASE + ago

ACTIVITYNUMBERago
I went3 hoursago.
He came4 daysago.
They started3 weeksago.
I joined4 yearsago.

Be Careful!

We use the week before last for 2 weeks ago etc.

  • the week before last = 2 weeks ago

Forms - before vs ago

Using beforeUsing ago
the day before yesterday2 days ago
the week before last2 weeks ago
the month before last2 months ago
the year before last2 years ago
Symbols & Abbreviations
=Same as
Correct
Incorrect

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