Essential English Grammar Rules: Tenses and Conditionals

Essential English Grammar Foundations

Articles and Quantifiers

• A/An: uno/a
• Any: alguno/a
• Some: algunos/as
• The: la/el

Key Question Words

• How many: cuántos
• How much: cuánto cuesta (or quantity)
• How often: con qué frecuencia
• How far: hasta dónde
• How long: cuánto tiempo

Verb Tenses: Past Simple

Structure of the Past Simple Tense

• Affirmative (A): Subject + Verb in past (irregular or -ed form) + Complement.
• Negative (N): Subject + didn't / did not + Main Verb (base form) + Complement.
• Interrogative (I): Did + Subject + Main Verb (base form) + Complement + ?

Usage

Used to talk about actions that happened in the past and are finished.

Comparative Note

Used to describe an action finished at a specific time before now.

Verb Tenses: Past Continuous

Structure of the Past Continuous Tense

• Affirmative (A): Subject + Verb to be in past (was/were) + Main Verb -ing + Complement.
• Negative (N): Subject + Verb to be in past not (wasn't/weren't) + Main Verb -ing + Complement.
• Interrogative (I): Verb to be in past (Was/Were) + Subject + Main Verb -ing + Complement + ?

Usage

Used to talk about an action that was happening during a period of time in the past and is finished.

Comparative Note

Used to describe an action that occurred over a duration in the past.

Future Tenses

Key Uses

• Predictions / Statements of Fact (using Will).
• Intentions (using Going to).
• Arrangements (using Present Continuous, +ing).
• Scheduled Events (using Present Simple).

Basic Structure (Future Simple)

Subject + Will/Won't + Base Verb + Complement.

Conditional Sentences

Zero Conditional

Structure

If + Present Simple, ... Present Simple (Example: If you heat ice, it melts.)

Usage

It is used to make statements about the real world and general truths, such as scientific facts. The time is present (now or always), and the situation is real and possible.

First Conditional

Structure

If + Present Simple, ... Will + Infinitive (Example: If I study today, I will go to the party tonight.)

Usage

It is used to talk about highly possible future situations. While we cannot know what will happen, the First Conditional discusses facts that could easily come true.

Adjective Comparisons

• Superiority: more + adjective + than (for long adjectives). Note: Short adjectives use -er + than.
• Equality: as + adjective + as (for all adjectives).
• Inferiority: less + adjective + than (for all adjectives).

Verb Tenses: Present Perfect Simple

Usage

To indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now, but not specified. We are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.

Structure

• Affirmative (A): Subject + to have (have/has) + Past Participle of Main Verb + Complement.
• Negative (N): Subject + to have not (haven't/hasn't) + Past Participle of Main Verb + Complement.
• Interrogative (I): To have (Have/Has) + Subject + Past Participle of Main Verb + Complement + ?