Matching Pairs Narrative TensesOnline version Match the descriptions with the correct timelines by Rocío Oviedo 1 We use the simple past to describe the main events in a story, in the order they happened 2 We use the past continuous to describe a longer action that is interrupted by a shorter event and an action that isn't a main event in the story. 3 We use the past perfect to describe an event that happened before the main events in the story.