English Grammar Cheat Sheet: Mastering Key Concepts

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Past Simple

Use for completed actions in the past.

Time markers: yesterday, last week, two days ago, when

Present Perfect

Use for actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

Time markers: never, ever, already, just, yet, lately, for, since

For negative sentences, use the corresponding positive tense.

Questions

Use the same tense as the original statement.

Structure: (wh + verb + subject + verb + rest of the sentence)

If there's only one verb, conjugate the verb 'to be' in the corresponding tense.

Question words:

• What - qué
• When - cuándo
• Where - dónde
• How many - cuánto
• Who - quién
• Why - por qué
• Which - cuál

Relative Clauses

Defining

No commas needed. If the relative pronoun is the object, it can be omitted. 'Whose' cannot be omitted.

Non-Defining

Use commas. Do not use 'that'. If it specifies who, place it between commas.

Relative pronouns:

• Who - quien (people)
• Whose - cuyo (possession)
• Where - donde (places)
• When - cuando (time)
• What - qué
• Which - que (objects, animals)

Reported Speech

Tense changes:

• Present simple → Past simple
• Present continuous → Past continuous
• Past simple → Past perfect
• Present perfect → Past perfect
• Past perfect (no change)
• Can → Could
• Will → Would
• Must/Have to → Had to
• May → Might
• Should/Would/Could (no change)

Pronoun and time expression changes:

• This → That
• Here → There
• Today → That day
• Tomorrow → The next day
• Tomorrow morning → The next morning
• Yesterday → The day before
• Yesterday afternoon → The afternoon before
• Next week → The following week
• Tonight → That night

Questions

• Wh- questions: Remove auxiliary verb (do): wh + subject + verb
• Yes/No questions: Add 'if' before the subject: if + subject + verb

Commands and Requests

Use infinitive form. Verbs: tell, ask, warn, advise, order.

Structure: Verb + subject + to + infinitive

Suggestions

Use gerund form after 'suggested'.

Structure: Subject + suggested + verb-ing + rest of the sentence

Phrases for suggestions: let's, what about, why don't we

Conditional Sentences

Zero Conditional

Use for facts or general truths.

Structure: If + present simple, present simple

First Conditional

Use for possible future situations.

Structure: If + present simple, will + base form of verb

Second Conditional

Use for hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future.

Structure: If + past simple, would + base form of verb

Third Conditional

Use for impossible past situations.

Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle

'Unless' can replace 'if not' in the first conditional.

Wish Clauses

Use for expressing regrets or desires.

• Present wishes: I wish/If only + subject + past simple
• Past regrets: I wish/If only + subject + past perfect
• Complaints: I wish/If only + could/would + base form of verb

Passive Voice

Structure: Subject + to be (conjugated) + past participle

The Causative

Use when someone arranges for someone else to do something.

Structure: Subject + have/get + object + past participle

Modal Verbs

Structure: Subject + modal verb + base form of verb

Ability

• Can (present)
• Could (past)
• Be able to (past, future)

Possibility/Probability

• Could, may, might

Obligation

• Must (present)
• Have to (present)
• Had to (past)

Lack of Obligation

• Don't have to
• Needn't

Prohibition

• Mustn't

Logical Deduction

• Must (positive)
• Can't (negative)

Advice

• Should/Shouldn't

Permission

• Can/May

Perfect Modals

Structure: Subject + perfect modal + past participle + rest of the sentence

So/Such/Too/Enough

• So: So + adjective
• Such: Such + noun
• Too: Too + adjective (expresses negative quantity)
• Enough: Enough + noun / adjective + enough

Used to/Get Used to/Be Used to

• Used to: Expresses past habits
• Be used to: To be accustomed to something (followed by verb-ing)
• Get used to: The process of becoming accustomed to something (followed by verb-ing)

Gerunds and Infinitives

• Gerund: Verb-ing (after prepositions)
• Infinitive: To + base form of verb

Essay Writing

Opinion Essay

1. Introduction: Introduce the topic and state your opinion.
2. Body Paragraphs 1 & 2: Provide reasons and examples to support your opinion.
3. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your opinion.

Narrative

1. Introduction: Introduce the characters, setting, and time.
2. Body: Develop the story's events.
3. Conclusion: Conclude the story.

For and Against Essay

1. Introduction: Introduce the topic and present both sides of the argument.
2. Advantages: Discuss the advantages of the topic.
3. Disadvantages: Discuss the disadvantages of the topic.
4. Conclusion: Summarize the main points and offer your own opinion or recommendation.