A past tense does not always have a past meaning. In some kinds of sentence we use verbs like I had, you went or I was wondering to talk about the present or future.

After if.

• If I had the money now I'd buy a car.
• If you caught the ten o'clock train tomorrow you could be in Edinburgh by supper-time.

The primary meaning of the Past Continuous is that of a past action shown in its progress at a given past moment, e. g.:

• The door was slowly opening, and Anthony found himself gazing into a pair of pale-gray hooded eyes. (Gordon)
• She followed his gaze through the falling rain and saw a man and a girl coming from the large block of flats opposite her home. Now they were getting into a little motor car. (Gordon)

Grammar in a new way

I found this comic strip especially suitable to learn/teach the differences between simple and progressive past and present perfect (I’ll use it the classroom as part of the lesson plan on past tenses):

Main clause: I've known her since ...

In sentences with since (referring to time), we normally use present perfect and past perfect tenses in the main clause.

·         I've known her since 1980. (NOT I know her since ... )

·         We haven't seen Jamie since Christmas.

·         I was sorry when Jacky moved to America; we had been good friends since university days.

However, present and past tenses are also occasionally found, especially in sentences about changes.

·         You're looking much better since your operation.

·         She doesn't come round to see us so much since her marriage.

·         Since last Sunday I can't stop thinking about you.

·         Things weren't going so well since Father's illness.

Some common rules for advance learners.