Conditional Sentences and Verb Tenses in English

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentence type 1: If + simple present, will + base form. Example: If you see that film, you will enjoy it.

Conditional sentence type 2: If + past simple, would + base form. Example: If you saw that film, you would enjoy it.

Conditional sentence type 3: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Example: If you had seen that film, you would have enjoyed it.

Verb Tenses

Simple Tenses

• Present Simple: I write a letter. The letter is written.
• Past Simple: I wrote a letter. The letter was written.

Continuous Tenses

• Present Continuous: I am writing a letter. The letter is being written.
• Past Continuous: I was writing a letter. The letter was being written.

Perfect Tenses

• Present Perfect: I have written a letter. The letter has been written.
• Past Perfect: I had written a letter. The letter had been written.

Future Tenses

• Future (will): I will write a letter. The letter will be written.
• Future (going to): I am going to write a letter. The letter is going to be written.

Modals

• Have to: I have to write a letter. The letter has to be written.
• Should: Should I write a letter? The letter should be written.
• Must: I must write a letter. The letter must be written.

Opinion Phrases

It is said that... Personally, I fully agree...

On the one hand, one of the main reasons that support my idea in favor of (item) is... In addition to this, furthermore...

On the other hand, one of the points why I am against the fact that (theme) is... What is more... Last but not least.

In conclusion, bearing in mind what I have mentioned above, I will finish...

Tense Usage

Present Simple (Habit)

Where is she, he, or it? Add 's' to the verb. For questions, use do/does. Use don't/doesn't for negatives. Example: I read. I don't watch TV.

Present Continuous (Moment)

To be + -ing. Questions: am I? Are you? Is he/she/it? Example: I am not watching TV.

Simple Past (August, last, yesterday)

-ed or irregular form. Use didn't/did? Example: I visited my parents.

Past Continuous

Was/were + -ing. Wasn't/weren't. Were you? Was she? Example: I was visiting my parents.

Present Perfect (for, since, never, yet, already)

Have/has + -ed or irregular form. I haven't. Have they? Example: I've been to the park. Already: I've already arrived. Just: I've just arrived. Yet: Have I arrived yet? I have not yet arrived.