English Tenses and Grammar: A Comprehensive Review

English Tenses and Grammar

Present Continuous

Subject + to be (am, is, are) + gerund + complement

Past Continuous

Subject + was / were + gerund + complement

Present Simple

Subject + verb + complement (do, does) - General ideas

Past Simple

Subject + verb (past) + complement (did) - Finished actions in the past

Present Perfect

Subject + have / has + past participle + complement - Actions started in the past and continuing to the present

Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + have / has + been + gerund + complement

Past Perfect Continuous

Subject + had + been + gerund + complement

Passive Voice

Present Passive

Subject + is / are + past participle + agent

Past Passive

Subject + was / were + past participle + agent

Present Perfect Passive

Subject + has / have + been + past participle + agent

Past Perfect Passive

Subject + had + been + past participle + agent

Future Passive (will)

Subject + will be + past participle + agent

Future Passive (going to)

Subject + is / are + going to be + past participle + agent

Present Continuous Passive

Subject + is / are + being + past participle + agent

Past Continuous Passive

Subject + was / were + being + past participle + agent

Vocabulary

• Over anxious (preoccupied)
• Absent-minded (forgetful)
• How come (why)
• How on earth (how is it possible)

Reported Speech

Changes in Tenses

• Present -> Past
• Present Continuous -> Past Continuous
• Present Perfect -> Past Perfect
• Past Simple -> Past Perfect

Special Reporting Verbs

• Say, claim, state, emphasize, warn -> (that)
• Recommend, suggest -> that you do
• Suggest, recommend, deny -> gerund
• Encourage, convince, advise, persuade, warn (someone not to do)
• Recommend, promise, refuse (to do)

Gerunds and Infinitives

Verbs followed by Gerunds

Enjoy, detest, don't mind, imagine, feel like, suggest, practice, miss, cannot stand

Verbs followed by Infinitives

Refuse, hope, promise, ask, learn, expect, decide, afford, choose, want

Verbs followed by Gerunds or Infinitives

Like, love, prefer, begin, start

Dummy 'It'

Used in sentences where the subject is not defined

Structure

It + be + adjective

Example: The weather is sunny = It's sunny

It + verb + adjective

Modal Verbs

• Prediction: may / might / will
• Ability: can / cannot
• Possibility: may / might / could
• Promise: will
• Suggestion: should / could
• Obligation: must / have to
• Opinion: should
• Permission: can / cannot

Past Perfect Passive

Subject + had been + past participle + complement + agent

Example: She had made a big mistake, but she arranged it. -> A big mistake had been made, but she arranged it.

Past Perfect Continuous

Subject + had been + gerund + complement