English Grammar Essentials: Tenses, Comparatives & Modals

Present Simple

Present Simple: I go to school. I don’t go to school. Does she go to school? Do you go?

Past Simple

Past Simple: I went to the party. I didn't work. Did you walk a lot?

Past Continuous or Progressive

Past Continuous/Progressive: She was talking. He wasn’t dancing at the party. Were you reading books? Yes, I was. No, I wasn't.

Information: What were you doing yesterday evening? I was working on my computer.

Have To (Obligation)

Have to: This answer has to be correct. They have to leave early. She will have to read all those books. She won't have to take any extra lessons.

Present Perfect

Present Perfect — Positive: Subject + has/have + past participle. I've (I have) been.

Present Perfect — Negative: Subject + has/have + not + past participle. Michael hasn't gone to college.

Present Perfect — Question: Has/have + subject + past participle. Have you done the homework?

Comparatives

Comparatives:

• One syllable: Brave → Braver.
• Two syllables (ending in -y, -le, -er): add -er. Example: Clever → Cleverer.
• More than two syllables: use more + adjective. Example: Beautiful → more beautiful.
• Irregular adjectives: Good → better; Bad → worse; Far → further/farther; Old (family) → elder; Old (general) → older.

Superlative

Superlative:

• One syllable: Brave → bravest; Small → smallest.
• Two syllables (ending in -y, -le, -er): add -est. Example: Clever → cleverest; Pretty → prettiest.
• More than two syllables: use the most + adjective. Example: Beautiful → the most beautiful.
• Irregular adjectives: Good → the best; Bad → the worst; Far → the furthest/farthest; Old (family) → the eldest; Old (general) → the oldest.

Should (Advice)

Should: We should go to sleep. Nick shouldn't be working. Should I go home? What do you think I should do?

Could (Ability or Possibility)

Could: I could go back and bring Kate with me. We couldn't leave you alone. Could you open the window?

Past possibility or ability: My grandma could speak French.

Family Terms and Translations

• Brother/Sister-in-law: Cuñado / Cuñada
• Mother/Father-in-law: Suegra / Suegro
• Stepbrother/Stepsister: Hermanastro / Hermanastra
• Stepmom/Stepdad: Madrastra / Padrastro
• Stepson/Stepdaughter: Hijastro / Hijastra

Yes–No Questions

Yes-No Questions: Didn't you call me yesterday? Aren't you Anna’s brother? Isn't he nice?

Verbs List

Verbs:

• See
• Meet
• Seem (seemed)
• Play
• Study (studied)
• Create
• Be (was)
• Eat (ate)
• Make
• Call (called)
• Have (had)
• Do (did)
• Write (wrote)
• Read
• Cut
• Tell (told)
• Scare
• Wear (wore)
• Talk (talked)
• Begin (began)
• Become (became)
• Leave (left)
• Live (lived)
• Walk
• Paint
• Watch
• Follow (followed)
• Feel (felt)
• Fall (fell)