Master English Verb Tenses, Modals and Conditionals

Verb Tenses and Forms

PreS - 1º / s - p - are + 3º column. Present Continuous (PC) - to be + -ing. Past Simple (PastS) - 2º - P - to be past + 3º. Past Continuous (PastC) - to be past + -ing - P - to be past + -ing + 3º. Future (Futu) - will + infinitive - P - will be + 3º. Be going to (BeGT) - be going to – P - are going to + be + 3º. Present Perfect (PrePer) - have/has + 3º - P - have + been + 3º. Past Perfect (PastP) - had + 3º - P - had been + 3º.

Conditionals: First, Second and Third

• 1st conditional: IF + subject + verb (present) / subject + WILL + INFINITIVE.
• 2nd conditional: IF + subject + verb (past) / subject + WOULD + INFINITIVE.
• 3rd conditional: IF + subject + past perfect (had + past participle) / subject + WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE.

Reported Speech and Tense Backshift

Direct → Indirect changes: He said that:

• Present → Past Simple / Past Simple → Past Perfect.
• Present Continuous → Past Continuous.
• Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous.
• Present Perfect Simple → Past Perfect Simple; present perfect continuous → past perfect continuous.
• Future (will) → Conditional (would). Can → could. May → might. Have to → had to.

Relative Pronouns and Purpose Connectors

• who — persona
• which — cosa
• whose — la cosa que posee alguien
• when — cuando
• where — donde

Purpose connectors: in order to (not) — para que (no); to prevent — para prevenir; so that — para que; to avoid — para evitar.

Modals: Forms and Uses

Modals: can / cannot (present); be able to (rest of forms). Could / could not (past). May (formal request) → might (remote possibility). Should / should not (obligation or advice).

Gerund vs Infinitive: Uses

Gerund (-ing): used for actions, as subject or direct object. Infinitive (to + verb): used for specific actions, after certain verbs and constructions (often after direct/indirect objects). Examples and contrasts:

• forget + infinitive (to + verb) — forgetting an action you will do later; forget + gerund — forgetting a past action.
• remember + gerund — recall a past action; remember + infinitive — remember to do something in the future.
• regret + gerund — regret a present/past action; regret + infinitive — often used to apologize for something (I regret to tell you...).
• stop + gerund — stop doing a habit; stop + infinitive — stop in order to do something else.

Passive Voice: Forms

• Present Simple Passive: am / is / are + past participle (3º).
• Past Simple Passive: was / were + past participle (3º).
• Present Continuous Passive: am / is / are + being + past participle (3º).
• Past Continuous Passive: was / were + being + past participle (3º).
• Future Passive: will + be + past participle (3º).
• Be going to: are going to be + past participle.
• Present Perfect Passive: have / has been + past participle (3º).
• Past Perfect Passive: had been + past participle (3º).

Exercises and Phrases

EJERCICIO: Halfway / Made their way / Setting up / Keep in touch / See eye to eye / Take advantage of / Lavish / Willing / The effects / Mouth-watering

Corrected Example Sentences

• My friend Rose, whose father is a film director, wants to be an actor.
• If only you had been able to go with us last weekend.
• I wouldn't confide in Amanda if she gossiped.
• There’s a bicycle shop near the beach where we can rent bikes.
• My mum suggested that I should ask for a refund.
• The manager with whom I had my first interview forgot me at the company.
• It might rain this weekend.

Opinion and Respecting Views

First, I would like to give my opinion. You can address this issue from two perspectives, but not everyone thinks this way. We can find other reasons why someone might not like it (podemos encontrar otros motivos para que esto no te guste). Therefore, everyone must respect the opinions of other people (por eso, todo el mundo tiene que respetar la opinión del resto de personas). Definitely.