“She had been working there for years before she quit.” Pro-Tip: The "Signal Word" Trick If you’re stuck, look for these "trigger" words: "Since/For" usually signals a Perfect tense. "Right now/At the moment" signals Continuous . "Always/Usually/Every day" signals Simple Present . Past Simple distinction?
The "Past-of-the-Past." Use this to show which of two past actions happened first. English Verb Tenses Up Close
“I that movie.” (Time doesn't matter, only the experience). “She had been working there for years before she quit
Setting the scene or describing an interrupted action. “I was sleeping when the phone rang.” Future Continuous: What you’ll be in the middle of later. “This time tomorrow, I will be flying to London.” 3. The "Bridge-Builders" (Perfect Tenses) Past Simple distinction
These are your bread and butter. Use them for facts, habits, or completed actions where the timing is straightforward. General truths or routines. “The sun rises .” / “I drink coffee every morning.” Simple Past: A finished action at a specific time. “I watched that movie last night.”
“I have been waiting for an hour.” (And I’m still waiting!)