Essential English Grammar and Conditional Structures

Present Perfect Tenses

Present Perfect Simple

Structure: to have + past participle [accions acabades].
Examples: known, had, been.
Keywords: for, already (ja), just (just), yet (encara), ever, never, since.

Present Perfect Continuous

Structure: to have + been + -ing [acció finished in the passat fins ara].
Keywords: since, recently / lately, how long.

Past Tenses

Past Simple

Structure: (did / didn't) + infinitive / -ed [curta actions, while, actions completed in the past].

Past Continuous

Structure: was / were + -ing [long actions interrupted in the past].

Past Perfect

Structure: had + past participle (haurà fet) [to say that you had already done something before another past action].

Determiners: Both, Neither, and Either

Both

Usage: [tots dos] J & A both have red hair. [AND - així com] Both J and A have red hair.

Neither

Usage: [cap] Neither of them plays tennis. [NOR - ni... ni] Neither J nor A plays tennis.

Either

Usage: [qualsevol de les dues opcions] There are two books she's lent me, but I have not read either of them. [OR - o... o bé] You can choose either exit or exit 4. [qualsevol] None (cap).

Modal Verbs

• Must / Mustn't: Prohibitions, duties, personal obligations.
• Have to / Had to: External obligations (less strong than must).
• Should / Ought to / Shouldn't: Recommendations.
• May / Might: Possibility.
• Can / Can't / Could: Options or ability.
• Be able to: Used in present, past, future, and present perfect.

Time Clauses

Common conjunctions: as soon as (tan aviat com), before, when, while, as long as (sempre que), provided that (amb la condició que), until (fins que), after.

Future Forms

Will / Won't

Structure: (+) will + inf, (-) will not + inf, (?) Will / won't + subject + inf.
Usage: Predictions without evidence, requests, promises, threats, orders, opinions, and speculation.

Shall

Usage: Used with I and We for suggestions and questions. Example: Shall we play?

Going to

Structure: to be + [not] + going to + inf, (?) to be + subject + going to + inf.
Usage: Future intentions, plans, and predictions with evidence.

Conditionals

Zero Conditional [0]

Usage: General truths and conditions. If / when + present simple, present simple.
Example: "If it rains hard, people stay at home."

First Conditional [1]

Usage: Possible situations in the present or future. If + present simple, future (will).
Example: "If you don't study, you'll fail."

Second Conditional [2]

Usage: Imaginary, hypothetical, or improbable situations in the present or future. If + past simple, would / wouldn't + infinitive.
Example: "If there was an earthquake, it would be easy to die."
Note: For the verb to be, use were for all subjects: "If I were stupid, I would be like Pau."

Third Conditional [3]

Usage: Hypothetical past situations and their consequences. If + past perfect, would / wouldn't + have + past participle.
Example: "If I had taken my umbrella, I would not have gotten wet."

Likely and Probably

• Likely: be + likely + infinitive. Example: "She's likely to be off work."
• Probably: (+) Before the main verb. Example: "She'll probably be off work." (-) Before the auxiliary verb. Example: "I probably will not come."

Phrasal Verbs and Vocabulary

• Dress up: To dress formally (fix-it).
• Hang up: To end a phone call or hang something.
• Fit: Refers to size/height.
• Suits: Refers to style (et queda bé).
• Matches: To go well together as a whole.
• Get changed: To change clothes (canviar-se).
• Get dressed / undressed: To put on or take off clothes.