Basic English Grammar Reference

Present Simple

Affirmative

• I, You, We, They: work
• He, She, It: works

Negative

• I, You, We, They: do not / don't work
• He, She, It: does not / doesn't work

Interrogative

The "Do" or "Does" is placed before the pronoun.

Spelling Rules for Third Person Singular

• work + s = works
• watch + es = watches
• wash + es = washes
• pass + es = passes
• study + ies = studies
• play + s = plays
• say + s = says
• go + es = goes
• do + es = does

Have Got

• I, You, We, They: have
• He, She, It: has

Imperative

• Affirmative (+ infinitive):
  • Open the door
  • Sit down
  • Be quiet
• Negative (Don't + infinitive):
  • Don't open the door
  • Don't sit down
  • Don't be quiet

Suggestions

Let's + infinitive: Let's go to the cinema.

Possessive Adjectives

• I: My (mi)
• You: Your (tu)
• He: His (su, masculino)
• She: Her (su, femenino)
• It: Its (su, cosas/animales)
• We: Our (nuestro)
• You: Your (vuestro)
• They: Their (suyo)

Frequency Expressions

• Every: todos los días
• Once: una vez
• Twice: dos veces
• Three times: tres veces

Note: These are usually placed at the end of the sentences (al final de las oraciones).

Can and Can't

Ability

• I can swim
• I can speak English
• I can't play the piano
• I can't fly a jet

Permission

• Can I open the window?
• You can't use the phone in class

Possibility

• You can pass the exam if you study
• You can't breathe under the water

Present Continuous

Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking.

Time Expressions

• Now
• Right now
• At the moment

Form: To Be + Verb-ing

• Work = Working
• Study = Studying
• Run = Running
• Die = Dying
• Hope = Hoping

Examples

1. They are cooking
2. They are playing football
3. It's raining

Subject, Object Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives