English Tenses, Modals, Conditionals, and Grammar

English Grammar Overview

Present and Past Tenses

• Present Continuous: am/is/are + verb(-ing) - Actions happening now. (I am cooking dinner.)
• Present Simple: subject + base verb - Routines or general truths. (The sun rises in the east.)
• Past Simple: subject + past verb form - Finished actions in the past. (She visited Paris last year.)
• Past Continuous: was/were + verb(-ing) - Actions ongoing at a specific time in the past. (I was watching TV when she called.)

Perfect Tenses

• Present Perfect: have/has + past participle (I have finished my homework.)
• Past Perfect: had + past participle - Earlier past action before another past action. (I had eaten before they arrived.)
• Perfect Continuous: have/has/had been + verb(-ing) - Emphasize the duration. (I have been studying for two hours.)

Future Forms

• will + base verb: Predictions or decisions made at the moment. (I will call you tomorrow.)
• Be going to + base verb: Planned actions or predictions with evidence. (It is going to rain.)
• Present Continuous for Future: am/is/are + verb(-ing) - Definite plans. (I am meeting my friends tonight.)

Modals

• modal verb (can, could, must, should, etc.) + base verb
• You must wear a helmet. (Obligation)
• She can swim well. (Ability)

Conditionals

• Zero Conditional: If + present simple, present simple - General truths. (If water freezes, it turns to ice.)
• First Conditional: If + present simple, will + base verb - Possible future events. (If it rains, I will stay home.)
• Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + base verb - Imaginary situations. (If I were rich, I would travel the world.)
• Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle - Past that did not happen.

Passive Voice

Focusing on the object of the action rather than the doer. Be + past participle (3) The cake was eaten by the children.

Reported Speech

subject + said/told + that + statement (She said that she was tired.)

Questions

• Yes/No Questions: Do/does/did + subject + base verb (Do you like coffee?)
• WH- Questions: What/where/when + auxiliary + subject + base verb (Where are you going?)

Verb Patterns

Followed by -ing or to -inf (She enjoys swimming. / I want to leave.)

Articles

• A/an: Indefinite articles for general nouns.
• the: Definite article for specific nouns.

Relative Clauses

who/that/which + verb

Adjective

adjectives + noun

Adverb

verb + adverb