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Essential English Grammar: Tenses and Irregular Verbs

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Present Simple

It has the same form as the infinitive for all persons, except for the third person singular, which usually adds an -s.

  • A: I eat a lot
  • N: I don't eat much
  • I: Do you eat much?

Present Continuous

Formed with the simple present of the verb to be + main verb + -ing.

  • A: I am eating a hot dog
  • N: I'm not eating a hot dog
  • I: Am I eating a hot dog?

Past Simple

Formed by adding -ed to the infinitive. Negation and interrogation are formed with the auxiliary did. Remember that didn't is the contraction of did not.

  • A: I played in the park
  • N: I didn't play in the park
  • I: Did I play in the park?

Past Continuous

Formed with the past tense of the verb to be + main verb + -ing.

  • A: I was sleeping in the park
  • N: I wasn't sleeping in the park
  • I: Was I sleeping in the park?

Past Perfect

Formed with the verb to have + the past participle of the main verb.

  • A: I've (have) walked for two hours
  • N: I haven't walked for two hours
  • I: Have I walked for two hours?

Future Perfect Continuous

Formed with the perfect tense of the verb to be + -ing of the main verb.

  • A: I've (have) been running this morning
  • N: I haven't been running this morning

Future Simple

Formed with will + infinitive for all persons.

  • A: I will return tonight
  • N: I will not return tonight

Future with Going To

Formed with the present continuous of the verb to go + infinitive of the main verb.

  • A: I'm (I am) going to stay at home
  • N: I'm not going to stay at home

Relative Pronouns

  • For people: who, whom, that
  • For things: which, that
  • Possessive: whose
  • Location: where

Irregular Verbs List

  • Be: was/were - been
  • Become: became - become
  • Begin: began - begun
  • Bite: bit - bitten
  • Break: broke - broken
  • Bring: brought - brought
  • Build: built - built
  • Burn: burnt - burnt
  • Buy: bought - bought
  • Can: could
  • Catch: caught
  • Choose: chose - chosen
  • Come: came - come
  • Cost: cost - cost
  • Cut: cut - cut
  • Dig: dug - dug
  • Do: did - done
  • Draw: drew - drawn
  • Dream: dreamed
  • Drink: drank - drunk
  • Drive: drove - driven

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