Past tense forms

4.23 Tenses

Note: The following is part of my book entitled A Handy Book on English Grammar

Verbs, their Tenses and their Forms

Tense forms bring verbs and time together. They act as bridge between verbs and time. They express the time periods (past, present and future) in relation to actions (‘doing’) and states (‘being’).

We express our thoughts through sentences in ‘active’ or ‘passive’ voice (You’ll learn about ‘voices’ in subsection ‘Transformation of Sentences’ in Part II.) We form ‘statement’ or ‘question’ sentences (You’ll learn about these in Part II). The sentences we use are ‘affirmative’ or ‘negative’ (You’ll learn about ‘negative sentences’ in Part II). We use ‘regular’ and ‘irregular’ and ‘state’ verbs. We use these verbs in the different forms of past, present and future tenses.

As you’ll see, the tables 4.24—4.47 (past), 4.57—4.80 (present), 4.90—4.113 (future) are complete in themselves and provide you with sample sentences (both affirmative and negative, statement and question and all these in active and passive voice)  for finite verbs(regular, irregular, state) in all the forms of the three tenses. You can use these tables to clear your doubts about forming tenses appropriately.

Past tense

Tenses	Forms
Past Present Future	simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive

In the following pages, you’ll find, in 24 tables, four forms of verbs in the past tense:    

     4.24—irregular verbs in affirmative statement sentences in active voice

     4.25—regular verbs in affirmative statement sentences in active voice

     4.26—‘State’ verb: Be in affirmative statement sentences in active voice

     4.27—‘State’ verb: Have in affirmative statement sentences in active voice

     4.28—irregular verbs in negative statement sentences in active voice

     4.29—regular verbs in negative statement sentences in active voice

     4.30—‘State’ verb: Be in negative statement sentences in active voice

     4.31—‘State’ verb: Have in negative statement sentences in active voice

     4.32—irregular verbs in question sentences in active voice

     4.33—regular verbs in question sentences in active voice

     4.34—‘State’ verb: Be in question sentences in active voice

     4.35—‘State’ verb: Have in question sentences in active voice

     4.36—irregular verbs in negative question sentences in active voice

     4.37—regular verbs in negative question sentences in active voice

     4.38—‘State’ verb: Be in negative question sentences in active voice

     4.39—‘State’ verb: Have in negative question sentences in active voice  

     4.40—irregular verbs in affirmative statement sentences in passive voice

     4.41—regular verbs in affirmative statement sentences in passive voice

     4.42—irregular verbs in negative statement sentences in passive voice

     4.43—regular verbs in negative statement sentences in passive voice

     4.44—irregular verbs in affirmative question sentences in passive voice

     4.45—regular verbs in affirmative question sentences in passive voice

     4.46—irregular verbs in negative question sentences in passive voice

     4.47—regular verbs in negative question sentences in passive voice

4.24 past tense forms in affirmative statement sentences—active voice

 Irregular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	Perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	I spoke We spoke	I was speaking We were speaking	I had spoken We had spoken	I had been speaking We had been speaking
second   singular                plural	You spoke You spoke	You were speaking You were speaking	You had spoken You had spoken	You had been speaking You had been speaking
third      singular               plural	He spoke She spoke It spoke   They spoke	He was speaking She was speaking It was speaking They were speaking	He had spoken She had spoken It had spoken They had spoken	He had been speaking She had been speaking It had been speaking They had been speaking

Note: 1. As you can see, there is only one difference in the use of auxiliary verb: ‘were’ in the past

                 progressive for the first and third person plural subjects.      

            2. Simple past: same past tense form for all subjects in singular and plural.

                 Past progressive tense form: was + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it

                                                               were + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

                 past perfect tense form: had + past participle of the verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural.

                 past perfect progressive tense form: had + been + -ing to the verb¬ for all persons

                 

4.25 past tense forms in affirmative statement sentences—active voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	Progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	I talked We talked	I was talking We were talking	I had talked We had talked	I had been talking We had been talking
second   singular                plural	You talked You talked	You were talking You were talking	You had talked You had talked	You had been talking You had been talking
third      singular               plural	He talked She talked It talked   They talked	He was talking She was talking It was talking They were talking	He had talked She had talked It had talked They had talked	He had been talking She had been talking It had been talking They had been talking

Note: 1. As you can see, there is only one difference in the use of auxiliary verb: ‘were’ in the past progressive for the first and third plural subjects.  

          2. Simple past: past tense form for all subjects in singular and plural.

              past progressive tense form: was + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and   

                                                                                                              ‘it’                                                               

                                                            were + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and

                                                                                                               ‘they’

              past perfect tense form: had + past participle of the verb ¬ for all persons,

                                                                                                              singular and plural.

              past perfect progressive tense form: had + been + -ing to the verb¬ for all persons

4.26 past tense forms in affirmative statement sentences—active voice

 State’ verbs: ‘Be’

past tense forms
Person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	I was a teacher. We were teachers.	I had been a teacher. We had been teachers.
second singular              plural	You were a teacher. You were teachers.	You had been a teacher. You had been teachers.
third    singular             plural	He was a teacher. She was a teacher. They were teachers.	He had been a teacher. She had been a teacher. They had been teachers.

Note: 1. ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘been’ are derived from the main verb ‘be’.

            2. Use ‘was’ with ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                Use ‘were’ with ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          3. past perfect tense form for ‘was’ and ‘were’ is ‘had been’.

            4. We don’t use ‘be’ in ‘progressive’ tenses.

4.27 past tense forms in Affirmative statement sentences—active voice

 State Verb: ‘have'

past tense forms
Person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	I had a car. We had cars.	I had had a car. We had had cars.
second singular              plural third    singular             plural	You had a car. You had cars. He had a car. She had a car. They had cars.	You had had a car. You had had cars. He had had a car. She had had a car. They had had cars.

Note: Remember that ‘had’ and ‘had had’ are common for first, second and third persons, singular

            and plural. Past perfect tense form of ‘had’ is ‘had had’.   

4.28 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—active voice  

Irregular verbs 

past tense forms
Person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
First      singular              plural	I didn’t speak We didn’t speak	I wasn’t speaking We weren’t speaking	I hadn’t spoken We hadn’t spoken	I hadn’t been speaking We hadn’t been speaking
second singular              plural	You didn’t speak You didn’t speak	You weren’t speaking You weren’t speaking	You hadn’t spoken You hadn’t spoken	You hadn’t been speaking You hadn’t been speaking
third    singular             plural	He didn’t speak She didn’t speak It didn’t speak   They didn’t speak	He wasn’t speaking She wasn’t speaking It wasn’t speaking They weren’t speaking	He hadn’t spoken She hadn’t spoken It hadn’t spoken They hadn’t spoken	He hadn’t been speaking She hadn’t been speaking It hadn’t been speaking They hadn’t been speaking

Note: The forms for the meaning of negation:

          1. simple past: didn’t + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

          2. past progressive: wasn’t + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                          weren’t + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

           3. past perfect: hadn’t + past participle ¬for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

         

To form negative statements in the simple past,

1. you have to break the past tense form of the verb in two:  

    spoke=‘did’ + base verb¬ did + speak.  For the other tenses, the auxiliary verbs: ‘was’,

               ‘were’, ‘had’ are already available.

2. Attach n’t to the auxiliary verbs (did, was, were, had) or write not separately after the auxiliary verbs:

             did not, was not, were not , had not

4.29 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—active voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
Person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	I didn’t talk We didn’t talk	I wasn’t talking We weren’t talking	I hadn’t talked We hadn’t talked	I hadn’t been talking We hadn’t been talking
second   singular                plural	You didn’t talk You didn’t talk	You weren’t talking You weren’t talking	You hadn’t talked You hadn’t talked	You hadn’t been talking You hadn’t been talking
third      singular               plural	He didn’t talk She didn’t talk It didn’t talk   They didn’t talk	He wasn’t talking She wasn’t talking It wasn’t talking They weren’t talking	He hadn’t talked She hadn’t talked It hadn’t talked They hadn’t talked	He hadn’t been talking She hadn’t been talking It hadn’t been talking They hadn’t been talking

Note: The forms for the meaning of negation:

          1. simple past: didn’t + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

          2. past progressive: wasn’t + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                          weren’t + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

           3. past perfect: hadn’t + past participle ¬for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

To form negative statements in the simple past,

1. you have to break the past tense form of the verb in two:  

      spoke=‘did’ + base verb¬ did + speak.  For the other tenses, the auxiliary verbs: ‘was’,

               ‘were’, ‘had’ are already available.

2. Attach n’t to the auxiliary verbs (did, was, were, had) or write not separately after the auxiliary verbs:

             did not, was not, were not , had not

4.30 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—active voice 

‘State’ verbs: ‘Be’      

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	I wasn’t a teacher. We weren’t teachers.	I hadn’t been a teacher. We hadn’t been teachers.
second singular              plural	You weren’t a teacher. You weren’t  teachers.	You hadn’t been a teacher. You hadn’t been teachers.
third    singular             plural	He wasn’t a teacher. She wasn’t a teacher. They weren’t teachers.	He hadn’t been a teacher. She hadn’t been a teacher. They hadn’t been teachers.

Note: 1. ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘been’ are derived from the main verb ‘be’.

            2. Use ‘was’ with ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                Use ‘were’ with ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          3. Attach n’t  to ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘had’. Or write not after ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘had’.

            4. We don’t use ‘be’ in ‘progressive’ tenses.

4.31 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—active voice

 ‘State’ verb: ‘Have’

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	I didn’t have a car. We didn’t have cars.	I hadn’t had a car. We hadn’t had cars.
second singular              plural	You didn’t have a car. You didn’t have cars.	You hadn’t had a car. You hadn’t had cars.
third    singular             plural	He didn’t have a car. She didn’t have a car. They didn’t have cars.	He hadn’t had a car. She hadn’t had a car. They hadn’t had cars.

Note: Remember that ‘didn’t + have’ and ‘had had’ are common for first, second and third persons,    

            singular and plural.

          Divide ‘had’ in two: did + have.

           Attach n’t to ‘did’ and ‘had’. Or write not after ‘did’ and ‘had’. 

4.32 past tense forms in question sentences—active voice

 Irregular verbs

past tense forms
Person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	Did I speak? Did We speak?	Was I speaking? Were we speaking?	Had I spoken?  Had we spoken?	Had I been speaking? Had we been speaking?
second   singular                plural	Did you speak? Did you speak?	Were you speaking? Were you speaking	Had you spoken? Had you spoken?	Had you been speaking? Had you been speaking?
third      singular               plural	Did he speak? Did She speak? Did it speak?   Did they speak?	Was he speaking? Was she speaking Was it speaking? Were they speaking?	Had he spoken? Had she spoken? Had it spoken? Had they spoken?	Had he been speaking? Had she been speaking? Had it been speaking? Had they been speaking?

Note: Affirmative sentence statements (4.24) are changed into affirmative question statements by putting the subject in between the verbs in the following ways:

          1. simple past: did + subject + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural   

                2. past progressive: was + subject + -ing to the verbs ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                      were + subject + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

           3. past perfect: had + subject + past participle ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

              4. past perfect progressive: had + subject + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

          To form questions in the simple past, you have to break the past tense form of the verb into two:  

            ‘did’ + base verb = spoke ¬ did + speak.  For the other tenses, the auxiliary verbs: ‘was’,

            ‘were’, ‘had’ are already available.

4.33 past tense forms in question sentences—active voice

regular verbs               

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	Did I talk? Did we talk?	Was I talking? Were we talking?	Had I talked? Had we talked?	Had I been talking? Had we been talking?
second   singular                plural	Did you talk? Did you talk?	Were you talking? Were you talking?	Had you talked? Had you talked?	Had you been talking? Had you been talking?
third      singular               plural	Did he talk? Did she talk? Did it talk?   Did they talk?	Was he talking? Was she talking? Was it talking? Were they talking?	Had he had talked? Had she talked? Had it talked? Had they talked?	Had he been talking? Had she been talking? Had it been talking? Had they been talking?

Note: Affirmative sentence statements are changed into affirmative question

          statements by putting the subject in between the verbs in the following ways:

          1. simple past: did + subject + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural   

          2. past progressive: was + subject + -ing to the verbs ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                      were + subject + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          3. past perfect: had + subject + past participle ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: had + subject + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

          To form questions in the simple past, you have to break the past tense form of the verb into two:  

            ‘did’ + base verb = spoke ¬ did + talk.  For the other tenses, the auxiliary verbs: ‘was’,

            ‘were’, ‘had’ are already available.

         

4.34 past tense forms in question sentences—active voice

 

‘State’ verb: ‘Be’

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	Was I a teacher? Were we teachers?	Had I been a teacher? Had we been teachers?
second singular              plural	Were you a teacher? Were you teachers?	Had you been a teacher? Had you been teachers?
third    singular             plural	Was he a teacher? Was she a teacher? Were they teachers?	Had he been a teacher? Had she been a teacher? Had they been teachers?

Note: 1. ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘been’ are derived from the main verb ‘be’.

            2. Use ‘was’ before ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’.

                Use ‘were’ before ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’.

                Use subject between ‘had’ and ‘been’ for all persons.

            3. Past perfect tense form of ‘was’ is ‘had been’.

            4. We don’t use ‘be’ in ‘progressive’ tenses.

4.35 past tense forms in question sentences—active voice

'State’ verb: ‘have’

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	Did I have a car? Did we have cars?	Had I had a car? Had we had cars?
second singular              plural	Did you have a car? Did you have cars?	Had you had a car? Had you had cars?
third    singular             plural	Did he have a car? Did she have a car. Did they have cars?	Had he had a car? Had she had a car? Had they had cars?

Note: simple past : ‘had’ is divided into ‘did’ + ‘have’ and the subject is put in between these two.

          past perfect:  The subject is put in between ‘had had’.

          The main verb ‘be’ is not used in the progressive tenses.

4.36 past tense forms in negative question sentences—active voice

 Irregular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular plural	Didn’t  I speak? Didn’t we speak?	Wasn’t  I speaking? Weren’t we speaking?	Hadn’t  I spoken? Hadn’t we spoken?	Hadn’t  I been speaking? Hadn’t  we been speaking?
second   singular plural	Didn’t  you speak? Didn’t  you speak?	Weren’t  you speaking? Weren’t  you speaking?	Hadn’t  you spoken? Hadn’t  you spoken?	Hadn’t  you been speaking? Hadn’t  you been speaking?
third      singular  plural	Didn’t  he speak? Didn’t she speak? Didn’t it speak?   Didn’t they speak?	Wasn’t  he speaking? Wasn’t  she speaking Wasn’t  it speaking? Weren’t they speaking?	Hadn’t  he spoken? Hadn’t  she spoken? Hadn’t  it spoken? Hadn’t  they spoken?	Hadn’t  he been speaking? Hadn’t  she been speaking? Hadn’t it been speaking? Hadn’t  they been speaking?

Note: Negative sentence statements become negative questions statements by
          attaching ‘n’t’ to auxiliary verbs in the following ways:

          1. simple past: didn’t + subject + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural   

                 2. past progressive: wasn’t + subject + -ing to the verbs ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                      weren’t + subject + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

                 3. past perfect: hadn’t + subject + past participle ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

                 4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + subject + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

                      and placing the subject in between the auxiliary and the base verb.

See 4.32. 

4.37 past tense forms in negative question sentences—active voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	Didn’t  I talk? Didn’t  we talk?	Wasn’t  I talking? Weren’t we talking?	Hadn’t  I talked? Hadn’t we talked?	Hadn’t  I been talking? Hadn’t  we been talking?
second   singular                plural	Didn’t  you talk? Didn’t you talk?	Weren’t  you talking? Weren’t you talking?	Hadn’t  you talked? Hadn’t you talked?	Hadn’t  you been talking? Hadn’t  you been talking?
third      singular               plural	Didn’t  he talk? Didn’t  she talk? Didn’t  it talk?   Didn’t  they talk?	Wasn’t  he talking? Wasn’t  she talking? Wasn’t  it talking? Weren’t they talking?	Hadn’t  he talked? Hadn’t she talked? Hadn’t it talked? Hadn’t  they talked?	Hadn’t  he been talking? Hadn’t  she been talking? Had ‘t  it been talking? Hadn’t  they been talking?

Note: Negative sentence statements become negative questions statements by attaching ‘n’t’ to auxiliary verbs in the following ways:

          1. simple past: didn’t + subject + base verb ¬ for all persons, singular and plural   

          2. past progressive: wasn’t + subject + -ing to the verbs ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                      weren’t + subject + -ing to the verb ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          3. past perfect: hadn’t + subject + past participle ¬ for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + subject + been + -ing to the verb ¬ for all persons

          and placing the subject between the auxiliary and the base verb.

 4.38 past tense forms in negative question sentences—active voice

 ‘State’ verb: ‘Be’

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	Wasn’t I a teacher? Weren’t we teachers?	Hadn’t I been a teacher? Hadn’t we been  teachers?
second singular              plural	Weren’t you a teacher? Weren’t you teachers?	Hadn’t you been a teacher? Hadn’t you been  teachers?
third    singular             plural	Wasn’t he a teacher? Wasn’t she a teacher? Weren’t they teachers?	Hadn’t he been a teacher? Hadn’t she been a teacher? Hadn’t they been teachers?

Note: 1. ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘been’ are derived from the main verb ‘be’.

            2. Use ‘was’ before ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’.

                Use ‘were’ before ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’.

                Use subject between ‘had’ and ‘been’ for all persons.

            3. Attach n’t to ‘was’, ‘were’ and ‘had’. Or  write not after the subject. 

            3. We don’t use ‘be’ in ‘progressive’ tenses.

 4.39 past tense forms in question sentences—active voice

 ‘State’ verb: ‘have’

 

past tense forms
person	simple	perfect
first      singular              plural	Didn’t I have a car? Didn’t we have cars?	Hadn’t I had a car? Hadn’t we had cars?
second singular              plural	Didn’t you have a car? Didn’t you have cars?	Hadn’t you had a car? Hadn’t you had cars?
third    singular             plural	Didn’t he have a car? Didn’t she have a car. Didn’t they have cars?	Hadn’t he had a car? Hadn’t she had a car? Hadn’t they had cars?

Note: simple past: ‘had’ is divided into ‘did’ + ‘have’ and the subject is put in between these two.

            past perfect:  The subject is put in between ‘had had’.

            The negative n’t is added to ‘did’ and ‘had’. Or write not after the subject.

            The main verb ‘be’ is not used in the progressive tenses.

________________________________________________________________________        

You’ve seen how we use the past tense forms of irregular and regular verbs in affirmative, negative and question sentences in active voice. Now you’ll see how we use the past tense forms of irregular and regular verbs in affirmative, negative and question sentences in passive voice.

Don’t worry now about what active and passive voices are. You’ll see what they are and to what purpose they are used in the section on ‘transformation of sentences’.  Now, just learn the structure of the passive voice.

4.40 past tense forms in affirmative statement sentences—passive voice

Irregular verbs

past tense forms
person	Simple	progressive	perfect	perfect  progressive
first        singular                plural	I was hit We were hit	I was being hit We were being hit	I had been hit We had been hit	I had been being hit        --------------
second   singular                                         plural	You were hit You were hit	You were being hit You were being hit	You had been hit You had been hit	-------------           ------------
third     singular              plural	He was hit She was hit It was hit They were hit	He was being hit She was being hit It was being hit They were being hit	He had been hit She had been hit It had been hit They had been hit	-----------          -----------          -----------          -----------

   

Note: This table shows you how to use past tense forms of irregular verbs in passive

          voice:                        

          simple past:   auxiliary verb + past participle (p.p.) of  verb

                                           1                      2                                                      

                                I was hit.

                                    1   2

         

             past progressive: auxiliary verb +  being + past participle

                                               1                    2                3

                                I was being hit

                                    1      2     3

             past perfect: auxiliary verb +  been + past participle

                                       1                    2                3

                               I had been hit

                                      1    2     3  

             past perfect progressive: auxiliary verb + been + being + past participle

                                                            1                2          3                   4

                               I had been being hit

                                  1     2       3     4

Note: Past perfect progressive tense form in passive voice is most rare (almost never used) in speech and

            writing.

4.41 past tense forms in affirmative statement sentences—passive voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first     singular                            plural	I was watched We were watched	I was being watched We were being watched	I had been watched We had been watched	I had been being watched          ------------
second  singular                                           plural	You were watched You were watched	You were being watched You were being watched	You had been watched You had been watched	------------                  -----------
third   singular                          plural	He was watched She was watched It was watched   They were watched	He was being watched She was being watched It was being watched They were being watched	He had been watched She had been watched It had been watched They had been watched	-----------           -----------           ----------           ----------

Note: This table shows you how to use past tense forms of irregular verbs in passive

          voice:                        

          simple past:   auxiliary verb + past participle (p.p.) of  verb

                                           1                      2                                                     

                                I was watched.

                                    1       2

          past progressive: auxiliary verb +  being + past participle

                                               1                    2                3

                                I was being watched.

                                    1      2        3

          past perfect: auxiliary verb +  been + past participle

                                       1                    2                3

                               I had been watched.

                                      1    2        3  

          past perfect progressive: auxiliary verb + been + being + past participle

                                                            1                2          3                   4

                               I had been being watched.

                                  1     2       3          4

Note: Past perfect progressive tense form in passive voice is most rare (almost never used) in speech and

            writing.

4.42 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—passive voice

Irregular verbs

present tense forms
person	Simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	I wasn’t hit We weren’t hit	I wasn’t being hit We weren’t being hit	I hadn’t been hit We hadn’t been hit	I hadn’t been being hit        --------------
second   singular                                        plural	You weren’t hit You weren’t hit	You weren’t being hit You weren’t being hit	You hadn’t been hit You hadn’t been hit	-------------           ------------
third     singular              plural	He wasn’t hit She wasn’t hit It wasn’t hit They weren’t hit	He wasn’t being hit She wasn’t being hit It wasn’t being hit They weren’t being hit	He hadn’t been hit She hadn’t been hit It hadn’t been hit They hadn’t been hit	-----------          -----------          -----------          -----------

   

Note: The forms for the meaning of negation:

          1. simple past: wasn’t + past participle ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                         weren’t + past participle ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          2. past progressive: wasn’t + being + past participle¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                          weren’t + being + past participle¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

           3. past perfect: hadn’t + been + past participle ¬for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + been + past participle ¬ for all persons

            You may also use the negative not after the subject.

Past perfect progressive tense form in passive voice is most rare (almost never used) in speech and wtiting.

4.43 past tense forms in negative statement sentences—passive voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first                singular                          plural	I wasn’t watched We weren’t watched	I wasn’t being watched We weren’t being watched	I hadn’t been watched We hadn’t been watched	I hadn’t been being watched          ------------
second             singular                            plural	You weren’t watched You weren’t watched	You weren’t being watched You weren’t being watched	You hadn’t been watched You hadn’t been watched	------------                        -----------
third   singular                         plural	He wasn’t watched She wasn’t watched It wasn’t watched  They weren’t watched	He wasn’t being watched She wasn’t being watched It wasn’t being watched They weren’t being watched	He hadn’t been watched She hadn’t been watched It hadn’t been watched They hadn’t been watched	-----------               -----------                     ----------                 ----------

Note: The forms for the meaning of negation:

          1. simple past: wasn’t + past participle ¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                         weren’t + past participle ¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

          2. past progressive: wasn’t + being + past participle¬ for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’

                                          weren’t + being + past participle¬ for ‘we’, ‘you’ and ‘they’

           3. past perfect: hadn’t + been + past participle ¬for all persons, singular and plural

            4. past perfect progressive: hadn’t + been + past participle ¬ for all persons

Past perfect progressive tense form in passive voice is most rare (almost never used) in speech and

4.44 past tense forms in question sentences—passive voice

irregular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                plural	Was I hit? Were we hit?	Was I being  hit? Were we being hit?	Had  I been hit? Had  we been hit?	Had  I been being hit?        --------------
second   singular                                        plural	Were you hit? Were you hit?	Were  you being hit? Were  you being hit?	Had  you been hit? Had you been hit?	-------------           ------------
third     singular              plural	Was he hit? Was she hit? Was it hit?   They were hit?	Was he being hit? Was  she being hit? Was  it being hit? Were they being hit?	Had he been hit? Had  she been hit? Had  it been hit? Had  they been hit?	-----------          -----------          -----------          -----------

   

Note: The subject is placed in between auxiliary (helping) verb and the past participle:

            1. simple past           : was + subject + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                       were + subject + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            2. past progressive  : was + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                               were + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            3. past perfect          : had + subject + been + past participle¬for all persons    

            4. past perfect progressive: This structure is most rare (almost never used) in speech or writing.

4.45 past tense forms in question sentences—passive voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first    singular                            plural	Was I watched? Were we watched?	Was I being watched? Were we being watched?	Had I been watched? Had we been watched?	Had I been being watched?          ------------
second  singular                                           plural	Were you watched?   Were you  atched?	Were you being watched? Were you being watched?	Had you been watched? Had you been watched?	------------                  -----------
third   singular                         plural	Was he watched? Was she watched? Was it watched?   Were they  watched?	He was being watched? She was being watched? Was it being watched? Were they being watched?	Had he been watched? Had she been watched? Had it been watched? Had they been watched?	-----------           -----------                       ----------            ----------

 Note: The subject is placed in between auxiliary (helping) verb and the past participle:

            1. simple past           : was + subject + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                       were + subject + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            2. past progressive  : was + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                               were + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            3. past perfect          : had + subject + been + past participle¬for all persons    

            4. past perfect progressive: This structure is most rare (almost never used) in speech or writing.

 

4.46 past tense forms in negative question sentences—passive voice

Irregular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first        singular                            plural	Wasn’t I hit? Weren’t we hit?	Wasn’t I being  hit? Weren’t we being hit?	Hadn’t I been hit? Hadn’t we been hit?	Hadn’t I been being hit?            --------------
second   singular                                                      plural	Weren’t you hit? Weren’t you hit?	Weren’t you being hit? Weren’t you being hit?	Hadn’t you been hit? Hadn’t you been hit?	-------------                ------------
third     singular              plural	Wasn’t he hit? Wasn’t she hit? Wasn’t it hit?   Weren’t they hit?	Wasn’t he being hit? Wasn’t she being hit? Wasn’t it being hit? Weren’t they being hit?	Hadn’t he been hit? Hadn’t she been hit? Hadn’t it been hit? Hadn’t they been hit?	-----------          -----------          -----------          -----------

   

Note: The subject is placed in between auxiliary (helping) verb and the past participle:

            1. simple past           : wasn’t + subject + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                       weren’t + subject + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            2. past progressive  : wasn’t + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                               weren’t + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            3. past perfect          : hadn’t + subject + been + past participle¬for all persons    

            4. past perfect progressive: This structure is most rare (almost never used) in speech or writing.

4.47 past tense forms in negative question sentences—passive voice

regular verbs

past tense forms
person	simple	progressive	perfect	perfect progressive
first  singular                         plural	Wasn’t I watched? Weren’t we watched?	Wasn’t I being watched? Weren’t we being watched?	Hadn’t I been watched? Hadn’t we been watched?	Hadn’t I been being watched?                 ------------
second  singular                                            plural	Weren’t you watched?   Weren’t you  watched?	Weren’t you being watched? Weren’t you being watched?	Hadn’t you been watched? Hadn’t you been watched?	------------                  -----------
third   singular                         plural	Wasn’t he watched? Wasn’t she watched? Wasn’t it watched?   Weren’t they  watched?	Wasn’t he being watched? Wasn’t she being watched? Wasn’t it being watched? Were they being watched?	Hadn’t he been watched? Hadn’t she been watched? Hadn’t it been watched? Hadn’t they been watched?	-----------                     -----------                             ----------                    ----------

Note: The subject is placed in between auxiliary (helping) verb and the past participle:

            1. simple past           : wasn’t + subject + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                       weren’t + subject + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            2. past progressive  : wasn’t + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘I’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

                                               weren’t + subject + being + past participle¬for ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’

            3. past perfect          : hadn’t + subject + been + past participle¬for all persons    

            4. past perfect progressive: This structure is most rare (almost never used) in speech or writing.

special Note:

4.48 ‘State’ verbs (‘be’ and ‘have’) are not used in the passive voice.

__________________________________________________________________________