Mastering English Conditionals, Tenses, and Voice Structures

Zero Conditional (Simple Present)

Structure

• If + subject + simple present verb + complement
• Subject + simple present verb + if + complement

Examples

• If I go to Six Flags, I eat nachos.
• I eat nachos if I go to Six Flags.

First Conditional

Structure

1. If + subject + simple present verb + complement
2. Subject / pronoun + will, be going to, or might + infinitive + complement

Examples

• If I study hard, I will pass the exam.
• If I visit my grandpa, I am going to eat out with him.
• If she goes to Paris, she might visit the Louvre Museum.

Second Conditional (Simple Past / Would)

Structure

1. If + subject / pronoun + simple past + complement
2. Subject / pronoun + would + infinitive + complement

Examples

• If I had 50 million pesos, I would buy a house in Cancún.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion.

Present Modals of Obligation and Advice

Should & Shouldn't (Advice)

• You should go to bed early tonight.
• You shouldn't arrive late.

Must & Mustn't (Strong Obligation/Prohibition)

• You must revise your notes tonight.
• You mustn't hang out with friends these days!

Have To (External Obligation)

• She has to study for the exam.
• She doesn't go to school on Saturday and Sunday.

Narrative Tenses: Simple Past (Did)

Time Markers

Yesterday, in [year/month], ago, last [week/night/year].

Positive Statements

Structure: Subject + Verb (Past Tense) + complement

• Yesterday I played soccer with my brother.
• I visited my grandmother 3 days ago.
• I finished my career of International Relations in June.
• I went to a party last night.

Negative Statements

Structure: Subject + did not (didn't) + infinitive verb + complement

• Yesterday, I didn't hang out with my friends.
• I didn't go to San Luis in April.
• I didn't go to the party last night.

Yes / No Questions

Structure: Did + subject + infinitive verb + complement?

• Did you eat chilaquiles yesterday?
• Did you travel to Cancún in January?

Information Questions (Wh- Questions)

Structure: Question word + did + subject + infinitive verb + complement?

• Where did you celebrate your birthday last year? I celebrated my birthday in Morelos last year.
• Where did you go on vacation last summer? I went to Cancún last summer.

Narrative Tenses: Past Continuous (Was/Were)

Usage: Narrative Sequences (When and While)

1. Subject + was/were + verb + -ing (gerund) + complement.
2. Used often with the Simple Past to show an interrupted action.

Example

• She was studying in the class when she received a call.

Past Perfect (Had)

Time Markers: Before, After, When

Structure (Action 1: Past Perfect; Action 2: Simple Past)

Subject / pronoun + had + Past Participle + complement + Simple Past

Examples

• I had decided to go on vacation after school was finished.
• I had walked to the supermarket before it started to rain.

Present Perfect (Have / Has)

Time Markers: Already, Yet, Since, Just, Ever, Never, So Far

Affirmative Statements

Structure: Subject / Pronoun + have/has + Past Participle + complement

• I have lived in Mexico City since 2006.
• I have lived in Mexico City for 18 years.
• I have had 1 hour of class so far.
• I have already finished the career.

Negative Statements

Structure: Subject / pronoun + have/has not (haven't/hasn't) + Past Participle + complement

• I haven't watched Lilo and Stitch.
• I have never lived in London.
• I haven't finished the career yet.

Questions

Structure: Have/Has + Subject / pronoun + Past Participle + complement?

• Have you been in London?
• Have you ever lived in China?

Relative Pronouns

(That, Where, Who, When, Which)

Source Information (Liam Payne)

• He had two older sisters.
• His name is Liam James Payne.
• He was born on August 29, 1993, in the United Kingdom.
• At the age of 16 years, he began his career as a singer.
• He was part of a boyband, One Direction.
• He started his solo career at the age of 23 years old.
• At the age of 23, he had his only child.
• He died on October 16 of 2024.
• He lived with his parents.
• He has a child named Bear.
• He died at the age of 31 years old.
• He died in a hotel in Argentina.
• His funeral was in England.

Narrative Using Relative Clauses

Liam James Payne, who was born on August 29, 1993, in the United Kingdom, lived with his parents and his two sisters. At the age of 12 years old, he discovered his talent for singing, which later helped him build a music career. At 16 years old, he began his career as a singer and later became a member of the boyband One Direction, which was one of the most important groups in the world. In 2016, when he was 23 years old, he started his solo career after the band separated, and in the same year, he had his only child, Bear Payne. Sadly, Liam died on October 16, 2024, when he was 31 years old, after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The hotel that he was staying in became the center of attention after the accident. His funeral was on November 20 in England, more than a month after his death.

Passive Voice: Simple Present

Markers: In, By

Structure

• Active Voice: Subject + Verb (Simple Present) + Object
• Passive Voice: Object + Verb to be (is/are) + Verb (Past Participle) + (by agent)

Examples (Active to Passive)

1. Mexico exports a lot of avocado. / A lot of avocado is exported in Mexico.
2. Peter Pan invites Wendy to Neverland. / Wendy is invited to Neverland by Peter Pan.
3. My dog eats croquettes. / Croquettes are eaten by my dog.

Yes / No Questions

• Active: Do / Does + subject + verb (infinitive) + complement?
• Passive: Verb to be (Is/Are) + object + verb (past participle) + (by agent)?

Examples

1. Do they play soccer in Fes Aragon at night? / Is soccer played in Fes Aragon at night by them? (Answers: Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.)
2. Do you eat meat? / Is meat eaten by you?

Information Questions (Wh- Questions)

• Active: Question word + do / does + subject + verb + complement?
• Passive: Question word + verb to be (is/are) + object + verb (past participle) + (by agent)?

Examples

1. Where do they watch movies? / Where are movies watched by them?

Passive Voice: Simple Past

Structure

• Active: Subject + Verb (Simple Past) + Object
• Passive: Object + Was/Were + Verb (Past Participle) + (by agent)

Examples (Active to Passive)

1. A: Daniela painted the wall last Monday. / P: The wall was painted by Daniela last Monday.
2. A: They cleaned the house yesterday. / P: The house was cleaned yesterday.

Negative Statements (By, In)

• Active: Subject + didn't + infinitive verb + object + complement
• Passive: Object + wasn't/weren't + Past Participle + complement + (by agent)

Example

A: They didn't clean the room yesterday. / P: The room wasn't cleaned yesterday by them.

Interrogative Yes/No Questions

• Active: Did + subject + infinitive verb + complement?
• Passive: Was/Were + object + Past Participle + (by agent)?

Example

A: Did the students answer the questions? / P: Were the questions answered by the students?

Information Questions (Wh- Questions)

• Active: Wh- word + did + subject + infinitive verb + complement?
• Passive: Wh- word + was/were + Past Participle + (by agent)?

Examples

1. A: Where did Dany study? / P: Where was it studied by Dany?
2. A: What did Dani eat last night? / P: What was eaten by Dani last night?

Simple Present Passive Examples (Review)

1. A: Many countries sign trade agreements. / P: Trade agreements are signed by many countries.
2. A: The UN organized a peace conference last year. / P: A peace conference was organized by The UN last year.

Common English Idioms

1. Break the Ice: Romper el hielo (To start a conversation in a formal setting).
2. Thrown in at the Deep End: Tirado al agua (To be given a difficult task without preparation).
3. See Eye to Eye: Ver las cosas de frente (To agree completely with someone).
4. Get in Hot Water: Meterse en agua caliente (To get into trouble).
5. Put Your Foot in It: Meter la pata (To accidentally say something embarrassing or tactless).
6. Get on Like a House on Fire: Llevarse bien (To have a very good, friendly relationship).
7. Like a Fish Out of Water: Como pez fuera del agua (Feeling uncomfortable or unfamiliar in a situation).
8. Eye-Opener: Revelador o abrir los ojos (Something that reveals a surprising truth).

Sports and Competition Idioms

• A Level Playing Field: Deben estar al mismo nivel de campo (A situation where everyone has the same fair chance).
• In the Driving Seat: Tomar el control de una situación (To be in control of a situation).
• Neck and Neck: Algo está muy cerca de otro objeto, algo muy parejo - hombro a hombro (When competitors are level with each other).
• Flogging a Dead Horse: Pérdida de tiempo - ya se dio por perdido (Wasting effort on something that cannot be changed).
• A Major Player: Lo que hagan afecta a los demás. Se destaca del resto (An important person or company with significant influence).
• Move the Goalposts: Mover los postes. Cambiar de decisión (To unfairly change the rules or criteria during a process).
• Keep Your Eye on the Ball: No deje de mirar la bola. No te distraigas del objetivo principal (To remain focused on the main aim).
• Ahead of the Race: A la cabeza, liderar (In a leading position).
• A One-Horse Race: Caballo poderoso. Aprovechado, alguien de mucho poder. Un solo competidor (A competition where only one competitor has a real chance of winning).
• On the Ropes: En las cuerdas. Tuvo demasiados problemas (Close to defeat or failure).