English Verb Tenses and Grammar Structures Explained

Past Simple

• Affirmative: 2nd column of irregular verbs.
• Negative: didn't + infinitive.
• Interrogative: Did + subject + infinitive?

Present Perfect Simple

Structure: have/has + 3rd column (past participle).

Used for actions or situations from the past that have an effect on the present, or actions that started in the past and continue to the present. Keywords: already, ever, for, just, never, since, yet.

Past Perfect Simple

Structure: had + 3rd column.

Used for actions that happened before another past action, or actions developed prior to a specific moment in the past. Keywords: for, since, already, by, before.

Future Tenses

Will

Structure: will/won't + infinitive. Used for predictions, opinions about the future, and spontaneous decisions.

Going to

Structure: am/is/are + going to + infinitive. Used for plans, intentions, and predictions based on current evidence.

Future Continuous

Structure: will be + -ing. Used for actions that will develop over a period of time and are planned in advance. Keywords: at, this time.

Future Perfect Simple

Structure: will have + 3rd column / won't have + 3rd column. Used for actions that will be completed by a specific moment in the future. Keywords: by, when.

Passive Voice

The passive voice is formed by the verb to be + past participle. Examples:

• Present: watch → is watched; are creating → are being created.
• Past: switched → was switched; were showing → was being shown.
• Perfect: have written → has been written; had borrowed → had been borrowed.
• Future/Modals: will film → will be filmed; going to enjoy → going to be enjoyed; can enjoy → can be enjoyed.

Passive Voice Examples

• Do they make bread in this factory? → Is bread made in this factory?
• Why have the police arrested them? → Why have they been arrested by the police?
• Has Simon sent the invitations yet? → Have the invitations been sent by Simon yet?
• They will sentence him to prison. → He will be sentenced to prison.
• They mustn't leave the milk out. → Milk mustn't be left outside the fridge.
• Did you take the car to the garage? → Was the car taken to the garage?
• Do they sell clothes in this shop? → Are clothes sold in this shop?

Have Something Done (Causative)

Used when someone else performs a service for you.

• The hairdresser is cutting my hair. → I'm having my hair cut.
• A jeweler has repaired Kevin's watch. → Kevin has had his watch repaired.
• Someone checks our alarm every year. → We have our alarm checked every year.
• A company cleaned their carpets. → They had their carpets cleaned.

Reported Speech Expressions

Common changes when shifting to reported speech:

• this → that
• these → those
• here → there
• now → then
• tonight/today → that day/night
• yesterday → the day before
• tomorrow → the following day
• last week/night/year → the previous week