English Grammar: Conditionals, Wishes, and Passive Voice

Conditionals

1) IF + Subject + Present Simple; Subject + Will + Verb (Infinitive). (If/Unless... Unless is never negative).

2) IF + Subject + Past Simple; Subject + Would + Verb (Infinitive). (Verbs must be in Present/Present).

3) IF + Subject + Past Perfect (Had + V.ed/3rd form); Subject + Would have + V.ed/3rd form. (Verbs must be in Past/Past).

SO: Starts with the first sentence.

BECAUSE: Starts with the second sentence.

I WISH/IF ONLY

I wish + Subject + (If the verb is in PRESENT/FUTURE, use PAST SIMPLE).

I wish + Subject + (If it's a behavior, use COULD/WOULD).

I wish + Subject + (If the verb is in PAST, it's a regret, use PAST PERFECT “HAD + V.ed/3rd form”).

Sentence Structures

1) Started + V.ing (ago) == Subject + have/has + been + V.ing + for.

2) Subject + Present Perfect + for == It is + Amount of time + Since + Subject + Past Simple + for the last time.

3) Past Simple == Present Perfect (+/-).

Example: The last time she wrote a poem was two years ago. She hasn't written a poem for two years.

WOULD RATHER/PREFER

1) Would rather + Verb (Infinitive) + THAN + Verb (Infinitive).

Prefer + V.ing + TO + V.ing.

SUGGESTED + V.ING.

Example: I would rather go to the cinema than stay at home = I prefer going to the cinema to staying at home.

She prefers staying at home to going to the cinema = She would rather stay at home than go to the cinema.

Rather than wait for the bus, he decided to walk home = He preferred waiting for the next bus to walking home.

REGRET

REGRET + V.ING.

Example: I feel that it was a mistake to write the letter = I regret writing the letter.

I'm sorry I spent so much money = I regret spending so much money.

I'm sorry to say that your father has had an accident = I regret saying that your father has had an accident.

Passive Voice

Simple Tenses

• Present Simple: am/is/are + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Simple: was/were + V.ed/3rd form

Continuous Tenses

• Present Continuous: am/is/are + being + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Continuous: was/were + being + V.ed/3rd form

Perfect Tenses

• Present Perfect: have/has + been + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Perfect: had + been + V.ed/3rd form

• Will: will be + V.ed/3rd form

Causative Passive

Simple Tenses

• Present Simple: have/has + sth + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Simple: had + sth + V.ed/3rd form

Continuous Tenses

• Present Continuous: am/is/are + having + sth + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Continuous: was/were + having + sth + V.ed/3rd form

Perfect Tenses

• Present Perfect: have/has + had + sth + V.ed/3rd form
• Past Perfect: had + had + sth + V.ed/3rd form

• Will: will have + sth + V.ed/3rd form

Passive with Rumors

SAY/BELIEVE/THINK/TELL...

Example: People say that German children are very polite = German children are said to be very polite.

People think that drinking is a dangerous drug = Drinking is thought to be a dangerous drug.

People say that Johnny Mars is a genius = Johnny Mars is said to be a genius.