Mastering English Verb Tenses and Grammar

Past Simple

The past simple is formed by using the second column of irregular verbs or by adding -ed to regular verbs.

Use when with the past simple.

Past Continuous

The past continuous is formed with was/were + verb + -ing.

Use as or while with the past continuous.

Past Perfect

The past perfect is formed with had + past participle.

When used with the past simple and past perfect, it always goes before the past simple.

The Future

Will-Future

Will + infinitive is used for:

• Predictions
• Promises
• Spontaneous decisions
• Probability
• First conditional

Going to-Future

Going to + infinitive is used for:

• Future plans
• Intentions
• Predictions based on present evidence (e.g., "It's going to rain because there are clouds.")

Present Continuous

Am/is/are + -ing is used for plans.

Future Continuous

Will be + -ing (e.g., "Tomorrow at 5, I will be reading.")

Future Perfect

Will have + past participle (e.g., "When I'm 23, I will have my car.")

Modals

Possibility

May, might, could

Certainty or Deduction

Must (It must be her), can't (It can't be her)

Advice

Should (also in the negative), ought to

Prohibition

Mustn't (You mustn't do it), may not (You shouldn't do it), can't (You can't do it)

Ability

Can, could (same, but could is used for the past), be able to (I am able to, you are able to, she/he/it is able to, we are able to, you are able to, they are able to), was/were able to (past)

Obligation

Must (obligated), have to (I have to do it)

Lack of Obligation

Don't/doesn't have to (You can do it, but it's not mandatory)

Conditionals

Zero Conditional

Used for the present and real situations.

If + subject + infinitive + condition + subject + don't/doesn't (he/she/it) + infinitive + ...

Example: If I drink coffee at night, I don't sleep well.

First Conditional

Used for the future and real situations.

If + subject + infinitive + condition + subject + won't + infinitive + ...

Example: If I drink coffee tonight, I won't sleep well.

Second Conditional

Used for the present or future in imaginary situations.

If + subject + second column + condition + subject + wouldn't/could + infinitive + ...

Third Conditional

Used for the past unreal or imaginary situations.

If + subject + past perfect (third column) + condition + subject + wouldn't/could + have + third column + ... (If I were - be -)

Quantifiers

Too: + adjective

Too much: for uncountable nouns

Too many: for countable nouns

Enough: sufficient, enough + noun, adjective + enough

Adverbs of Frequency

Ever: for questions (Have + subject + ever + ...?)

Never: for negative (subject + verb (have) + never + ...)

Just: something you've just done (subject + has (he/she/it) / have + just + verb + ...)

Already: affirmative (subject + verb + already + ...)

Yet: negative or questions, at the end.

Negative Prefixes

Unhappy, uncomfortable, irrelevant (not important), unlucky (unfortunate)

Phrasal Verbs with 'Have'

Have a blast: to laugh a lot

Have a meal: to eat

Have a break: to take a break

Have a nap: to take a nap

Have fun: to have a good time

Have time: to have time

Have a look: to search