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English Grammar Verb Tenses (Past (Present perfect (How long something has…
English Grammar Verb Tenses
Present
Present Continuous
Something happening at (around) the time of speaking
Ex.: She's taking a bath
Ex.: I'm reading an interesting book
Use with: today, this week, this season, etc.
Ex.: You're working hard today
Changing situations
Ex.: The population of the world is rising.
:!:
Future meaning: What is already arrenged to do
Ex.: She's coming tomorrow
Going to
Arranged or intended situations
Ex.: What are you going to do tomorrow evening?
What we think will happen
He's going to fall into the hole
Simple Present
Things in general
Ex.: I work in the University of the Basque Country
Happens all the time or repeatedly
Ex.: Most stores close at 9:00 p.m.
True in general
Ex.: The Earth goes around the Sun
How often we do things
Ex.: I get up at 8:00 every morning
:!:
Future meaning
Timetables, schedules, etc.
Ex.: What time does the movie begin?
Ex.: The game starts at 2:00.
Ex.: Tomorrow is Tuesday
Using
if, when, while, after, before, until, as soon as
Ex.: Wait here until I come back
Ex.: Before you leave, you must visit the museum
Ex.: If I go shopping, I'll buy some food
Future
Will
When we decide to do something
Ex.: I'll take a taxi
Offering or promesing to do something
Ex.: Don't worry. I'll lend you some money
Agreeing, refusing or asking someone to do something
Ex.: I asked him to help me, but he won't.
Ex.: Will you please be quiet?
Predictions
Ex.: He won't pass his exam.
Shall
In questions for offers, suggestions
Ex.: Where shall we go?
:warning: Only with I or We
Future Continuous
Will be doing
We will be in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the future
Ex.: Don't come at 8:30. I'll be busy.
Ask people about plans
Ex.: Will you be using your bicycle this evening?
Future Perfect
Will have done
Something will have already happened before a certain time in the future
Ex.: 9:30 will be fine. The game will have ended by then.
Past
Present perfect
First action will be finished before the second
Ex.: After I've read this book, you can have it
How long something has been happening
Ex.: How long have you been married?
Ex.: How long have you known each other?
since or for
Ex.: I've been waiting for you since 8 o'clock.
Ex.: I've been waiting for you for two hours.
How long has it been since...
you had a vacation?
It's been two years since...
I had a vacation.
It's been ages since...
we hang out together
Actions and happenings connected to the present
Ex.: I've lost my keys. Haye you seen them?
Present perfect continuous
Action began in the past and has recently stopped
Ex.: I have been talking to Tom about your problem.
Ex.: You're out of breath. Have you been running?
Ask or say how long something has been happening. :warning: Stress that it is still happening now
Ex.: How long have you been studying English?
Ex.: I've been waiting here for over an hour.
Simple Past
Ask or say
when
something happened
Ex.: When did you first meet?
Ex.: It started raining an hour ago.
Past Perfect
Say that something had already happened before a past event
Ex.: When I arrived at the party, Tom had already gone home
Ex.: I wasn't hungry. I'd just had lunch
Past perfect continuous
How long something had been happening before something else happened
Ex.: How long had your been waiting when the bus finally came?
Ex.: When I looked out the window, it had been raining
(It was't raining; it had stopped)
Passive
It's not so important who did the action
Ex: This building was built in 1920.
Focus on the object
This
'problem'
can be solved (instead of:
'We'
can solve this problem)
Past form
after modal verbs
:warning:
Use past participle
Active
Ex.: Somebody should have cleaned the windows yesterday.
Passive
Ex.: The windows should have been cleaned yesterday
Simple present
am/is/are + (done)
Active
Ex: Somebody
cleans
this room everyday.
Passive
This room
is cleaned
every day.
Simple past
was/were + (done)
Active
Ex.: Somebody
cleaned
this room yesterday.
Passive
Ex: This room
was cleaned
yesterday.
Present continuous
am/is/are being + (done)
Active
Ex.: Somebody
is cleaning
this room right now.
Passive
Ex.: This room
is being cleaned
right now.
Past continuous
was/were being + (done)
Active
Ex.: Somebody
was cleaning
this room when I arrived.
Passive
Ex.: The room
was being cleaned
when I arrived.
Present perfect
have/has been + (done)
Active
Ex.: Somebody
has cleaned
the room.
Passive
Ex.: The room
has been cleaned
.
Past perfect
had been + (done)
Active
Ex.: Somebody
had cleaned
the room when I arrived.
Passive
Ex.: The room
had been cleaned
when I arrived.
:warning:Two objects verbs:
teach, send, give, ask, tell show, pay
Begin with the person
Active
Ex.: The didn't offer
'her'
'the job'
.
Passive
Ex.:
'She'
wasn't offered
'the job'
. (better than:
'The job'
was't offrered to
'her'
.)
Ex.: '
'I' was given
two days to finish 'the work'.
Ex.:
Have 'you' been shown
'the project'?
:warning: to born
Always passive
Ex.: Where were you born?
Ex.: I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ex.: How many babies are born in this hospital every day?
-ing verbs
being (done)
Active
Ex.: I do'nt like people
telling
me what to do.
Passive
Ex.: I don't like
being told
what to do.
:red_flag: Reporting verbs:
said, thought, believed, reported, understood, known, expected, alleged, considered
Active
Ex.: It
is believed
that he
is living
in New York.
Ex.: It
is expected
that the strike
will begin
tomorrow.
Ex.: It
is reported
that two people
were killed
in the attacks.
Passive
Ex.. He
is believed
to
be living
in New York.
Ex.: The strike
is expected
to
begin
tomorrow.
Ex.: Two people
are reported
to
have been killed
in the attacks.
Reported speech
Verbs change to past
Reported
Ex.: He said he
was feeling
sick
Direct
Ex: He said, "I
am feeling
sick".
:recycle:
simple past remains the same
:warning:
If something is still true we did not have to change the verb to the past
:check:
He told (asked) me
,
He said (talked, spoke)
Ex.: The doctor
told me to
stay in bed for a few days
Ex.: I
told him not to
shout
Ex.: She
asked him to
open the door for her.
:red_cross: He told, He said me...
Get/Have something done
(...) have + object + past participle
I have the paper reviewed
(someone did it for me)
I reviewed the paper
(I did it myself)
Ex.: Where did you
have your hair done
?
Ex.: We are
having the house painted
right now.
Ex.: He has just
had a paper accepted
for publication.
Ex.: How often do you
have your car serviced
?
Ex.: Why don't you
have your paper reviewed
by a professional English teacher?
Ex.: I want to
have my picture taken
.
Ex.: I
have my face cut
in a fight.
Questions
Question words
What
is/are
will/would
do/does
have
was/were
had
did
When
Ex.:
When did you
finish your PhD?
Why
Which
Who
How
Whose
Where
Ex.:
Where does she
live?
:warning: If
who/what/which
is the
subject
,
do not use do
Ex.:
Who invested
the print?
(not who did invent)
Ex..
What happened
to you last night?
(not what did happen)
Is/Are
Was/Were
Do/Does
Did
Ex.:
Did you have
a good time?
Will/Would
Can/Could
May/Might
Negative questions
To show surprise
Ex..: Ex..
Haven't we met
before?
In exclamations
Doesn't it look
nice!
When we expect agreement
Ex.:
Didn't you hear
the phone?
:warning: When the question (
Where has he gone?
) is part of a bigger sentence (
Do you know.../Could you tell me...
) it loses the normal question order.
When will she arrive?
Do you have any idea when she will arrive?
What time is it?
Could you tell me what time it is?
When does the movie begin?
Do you know when the movie begins?
Why did whe leave early?
I wonder why she left early.
The same for reported questions
The police officer asked us where we were going.
We wanted to know what time the banks closed.
Short questions
Keep the conversation going
Ex.. It rained every day during our vacation.
Did it?
Ex.: She isn't feeling well today. Oh,
Isn't she?
Show surprise
Ex: They are getting married.
Are they? Really?
Suggestion
Let's go for a walk,
shall we?
Open the door,
will you?
Short answers
So and Neither
Ex.: I'm feeling tired.
So do I.
Ex.: I never read newspapers.
Neither do I.
Ex.: I passed the exam and
so did Tom
.
Ex.: I don't have any money.
I don't either
.
I think (guess, hope, suppose, affraid) so (not).
Ex.: Is she Basque?
I think so.
Ex: Will he come?
I don't think so.
Ex.: Is it going to rain?
I hope not.
:red_flag:
If Sentences
If I (do)... I will (do)
Real possibility
Ex.: If I find it, I will give it to you.
Ex.: If I go to the conference, I will present it to you.
If I (did)... I would (do)
Not thinking about a real possibility
Ex.: What would you do if you didn't receive the grant?
Ex.: He would't help me if I asked him.
Ex: I would travel if I had money.
:recycle: Might or could is also possible
Ex.: She could get a job more easily if she could speak English.
Ex.: If it stopped raining, we could go out.
:warning:
Do not use when in sentences like these
Wish
To say we regret something
Something is not the way we would like it to be
Ex.: I wish it didn't rain so much in this city.
:warning:
Use
'were'
instead of
'was'
Ex.: If I were a boy... I think I could understand..
Ex.: I wish I were better in math.
Ex: I would go out if it weren't raining.
Past
If I had (done)... I would have (done)
Ex.: If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you.
Ex.: We would have gone out last night if the weather hadn't been so bad.
Would
To complaint about the present situation
Ex.: I wish someone would answer that phone. It's been ringing for five minutes.
Ex.: The music next door is very loud. I wish they would turn it down.
Ex.: I wish you wouldn't drive so fast.
Remember habits in the past
Ex.: Whenever she was angry, she would just walk out of the room.
In case
:warning:
Do not use future after in case (use present simple instead)
I'll (do)... in case... something happens.
Ex.: I'll buy more food in case more people come.
Past
I (did)... in case.. something happened
Ex.: I bought more food in case more people came.
In case of...
If there is...
Ex.: In case of fire, leave the building.
Unless
Except if...
Ex.: He can't hear you unless you shout.
But only if
As long as
Ex.: You can use my car, as long as you drive carefully
Provided
Providing
Ex.: Provinding I study hard, I should pass the exam
Can/Could, Be able to, Must, May/Might, Would, Should, Have to
Can
Present
Ex.: We can do it.
Ex.: I can speak four languages.
Future
Ex.: I can't come tomorrow.
Could
Past
Ex.: I couldn't do it.
Be able to
Present perfect
Ex.: I have not been able to sleep recently.
Ex.: We have been able to work together.
Infinitive
Ex.: I should be able to meet with you tomorrow.
Managing a particular situation
Ex: Everyone was able to escape the fire.
Ex.: I was able to persuade him.
Must
We are sure something is true
Ex.. You've been traveling all day. You must be tired.
Past
Must have
Ex.: I made a lot of noise. You must have heard me.
Expressing feelings that something is necessary
Ex.. The government must do something about the unemployment
Mustn't
It is necessarary
not to do
something
Ex.: You mustn't tell anyone what I said.
Can't
To say something is impossible
Ex.: You've just had dinner. You can't be hungry.
Past
:warning: Can't have
Ex.: She passed me on the street without speaking. She can't have seen me.
Ex.: The phone rang, but I didn't hear it. I can't have been awake.
Ex.. I didn't make any noise. You can't have heard me.
May/Might
Something is possible
Present
Ex.: He may be in his office.
Ex.. He might be in his office
Past
May have, might have
Ex.: She didn't answer the doorbell. She may have been asleep.
Future
Next vacations, I may go to Italy.
Continuous
Ex.: I may be watching the game tonight.
Should meaning
May/Might as well
There is no reason not to do it
Ex.: We may as well go to the party. We have nothing else to do.
Ex.: We'll have to wait an hour for the next bus. We might as well walk.
Ask someone to do something
Can
Ex.: Can you wait a moment, please?
Can I have...
Give permission
Ex.: You can smoke if you like
Would
Ex.: Would you do me a favor?
Offering or inviting
Would you like...
Ex.: Would you like a cup of coffee?
Ex.: Would you like to the movies with me tonight?
Say you want to do something
I'd like...
Ex.. I'd like some information about the city, please.
Ex.: I'd like to try on these ones, please.
Could
Ex.: Could you tell me how to get to the bus station?
Could I have...
Ex.: Could I have the salt, please?
Should
We think is a good thing to do
Ex.. You should stop smoking,
Ask or give opinion
Say something is not right or not what we expected
Ex.: The price on this package is wrong. It says 30€ but it should be 20€.
Past
Should have...
Ex.: The party was great. You should have come.
Something will probably happen
Ex.: I should be home at 8 p.m. today
Ought to
Good thing to do
Ex.: It's a good movie. We ought to go and see it.
Have to
It is necessary to do something. It is a fact!
Ex.: I can't meet you on Friday. I have to work.
Questions and negatives (do)
Ex.: What do I have to do?
Ex.: I don't have to do it.
Don't have to
It's not necessary to do it
Ex.: I don't have to wear a suit to work
Verbs rules
Verb + -ing
stop, finish, delay, enjoy, mind, suggest, dislike, imagine, regret, admit, deny, avoid, consider, involve, practice, miss, postpone, risk
Following verb with -ing
I've
finished cleaning
the apartment.
I don't
miss working
late everynight.
Have you ever
considered going
to live in another country?
I can't
imagine
him
riding
a horse.
I
enjoy not having
to get up early on the weekends.
I
enjoy dancing
(not to dance)
Would you
mind closing
the door?
Stop talking
!
give up, go on, put off, keep, keep on
Are you going to
give up smoking
?
He
kept interrupting
me while I was speaking.
Remember doing something
after you do it
I clearly
remember locking
the door before I left
Try doing
Test something
Try some of these tea.
Why don't you
try putting
an ad in the newspaper?
Verb + infinitive
agree, refuse, promise, threaten, offer, attempt, manage, fail, decide, plan, arrange, hope, appear, seem, pretend, afford, forget, learn, tend, need, mean, intend, like, love, hate, can't stand, can't bear, begin, start, continue
Following verb infinitive
We
decided to
take a taxi home.
He
tends to
talk too much.
He
needs to
work harder.
They
agreed to
lend me some money.
:warning: do not use the infinitive with
think
and
suggest
Are you
thinking of buying
a car? (
not thinking to
buy)
She
suggested going
to the movies (
not suggested to
go to the movies)
Continuous and perfect infinitive
seem, appear, pretend
I
pretended to be
reading
You
seem to have lost
weight.
He
appears to be doing
a good job.
ask, decide, know, remember, forget, explain, understand, show, tell
verb + question word
We
asked how to get
to the station.
Have you
decided where to
go for your vacation?
They will
tell you what to
do.
Remeber to do something
before you do it
I
remembered to lock
the door before I left
Please,
remember to mail
the letter
Try to do
Attempt to do
Please,
try to be
quiet.
Verb + object + infinitive
want, ask, expect, help, would like, would prefer, tell order, remind, warn, force, invite, enable, teache, persuade, advise, encourage, allow, permit
I
asked him to help
me
They
would like us to com
e.
Do you
want me to come
early?
I was
warned not to touch
anything.
Verb + base form
make, let
They
made me do
it
She wouldn't
let me read
it
Preposition + -ing
after a preposition the verbs ends in -ing
Are you interested
in working
for us?
I'm not very good
at learning
languages.
He went to work
in spite of feeling
sick
This knife is only
for cutting
bread.
Verb + preposition + -ing
Has he
succeeded in finding
a job yet?
I don't
feel like going
out tonight
I'm
looking forward to meeting
you.
He
apologized for keeping
me waiting.
accuse, suspect, congratulate, prevent, stop, thank, forgive, warn
verb + object + preposition + -ing
They
accused me of telling
lies.
What
prevented him from coming
?
Thank you for being
so helpful.
Please,
forgive me for not writing
to you before.
Expressions + -ing
It's no use, there's no point in, It's (not) worth, (have) difficulty/trouble, a waste of money/time, spend/waste (time)
It is no use worrying
about it.
There was no point in waiting
, so we went.
I had difficulty finding
a place to live.
Did you have any
trouble getting
a visa.
:warning:
difficulty, trouble (not difficulties, troubles)
go: shopping, climbing, swimming, sailing, skiing, riding, fishing, sightseeing
Used to
Something happened regurlarly in the past but no longer happens
Ex.: I used to live in Brazil, now I live in Spain
Ex.: I've started to drink tea lately. I never used to to like it before.
You cannot say
I use to
(use simple present instead)
Ex.: I live alone
(not I use to live alone)
I am used to live alone (meaning I'm ok with it)
Did you use to...?
Did he use to...?
Did she use to...?
Did they use to...?
I didn't use to...
We didn't use to...
Subjunctive:
"I suggest you to do"
I, He, She, We, They...
Propose
Insist
...something be done about the problem.
Recommend
...I rest for a few days.
Demand
...she apologize to him.
Suggest
:warning:
Cannot use the infititive after subjunctive
Ex.: What do you suggest I do?
(not suggest me to do)
:recycle:
Should is also possible
Ex.: The doctor recommended that I should rest for a few days.
Have
Do you have...?
Does he have...?
Does she have...?
Do they have...?
Did you have...?
Did he have...?
Did she have...?
Did they have...?
have breakfast, lunch, dinner, a meal, a cup of coffee, a cigarette, a drink.
have a good time, nice day.
have a look at...
have a party.
have a baby.
:warning:
Do not use
will
to talk about what you have already arrenged to do
Ex.: I can't meet you tomorrow because my parents are coming to see me (
not my parents will come
)
:warning:
Do not use
for
in expressions with all (all day, all morning, all my life, etc.).
Ex.: I've lived here all my life
(not for all my life)
:warning:
Do not use
present perfect
to say when something happened.
I lost my keys yesterday
(not I've lost my keys yesterday)
:warning:
Only Simple Tenses Verbs:
want, need, prefer, have(meaning possess), like, love, hate, belong, see, hear, know, realize, believe, suppose, mean, understand, think (meaning believe/have an opinion), remember, forget, seem