English Grammar Tenses and Conditionals: A Comprehensive Study
English Conditionals and Tenses
Zero Conditionals: (General truths, facts…)
If + Subject + Verb (Simple present), Subject + Verb (Simple present)
You get tired if you run a lot.
First Conditionals: (Probable situations)
If + Subject + Verb (Simple present), Subject + Verb (Future simple: will/won’t + Infinitive)
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
Second Conditionals: (Hypotheses, improbable situations…)
If + Subject + Verb (Simple past), Subject + Verb (Conditional simple: would/wouldn’t + Infinitive)
Important: When the verb of the condition is “to be”, in second conditionals we use were with all subjects (including I, he, she, and it).
If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht.
I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
Third or Impossible Conditionals: (Impossible situations)
If + Subject + Verb (Past Perfect: had + past participle), Subject + Verb (Conditional perfect: would + have + past participle)
We would have won the match if you had played better.
Present Perfect
Actions that started in the past and continue in the present, past actions or situations that influence the present, etc. (The result is important) (She has lived here for five years)
- Affirmative: Subject + have/has + verb (3rd form)
- Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + verb (3rd form) + complement
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + have/has + subject + verb (3rd form) + complement?
Just: (ACABAR DE) in affirmative sentences, between has or have and the verb.
Already: (YA) in affirmative sentences, between have or has and the verb.
Yet: in negative sentences (NOT HAVING DONE) and in interrogative sentences (HAS SOMETHING BEEN DONE?). Always at the end of the sentence.
Present Perfect Continuous
Actions that have been in development from the past until now (the action is more important than the result) (You have been waiting since two o’clock)
- Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been + verb in -ing + complement
- Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + verb in -ing + complement
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + have/has + subject + been + verb in -ing…?
Past Perfect
Actions or situations prior to a past moment. (By the time I arrived, everybody had left)
- Affirmative: Subject + had + verb (3rd form)
- Negative: Subject + hadn’t + verb (3rd form)
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + had + subject + verb (3rd form)…?
Past Perfect Continuous
Actions prior to a past moment that had been continuous. (We had been working on that for a long time before it came out)
- Affirmative: Subject + had been + verb in -ing
- Negative: Subject + hadn’t been + verb in -ing
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + had + subject + been + verb (3rd form).
Future Simple
Decisions made at a moment for the future or predictions. (I’ll help you with that) (It won’t rain tomorrow)
- Affirmative: Subject + will + verb + complement
- Negative: Subject + won’t + verb + complement
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + will + subject + verb + complement?
Future Continuous
Prediction of what will be in development at a specific moment in the future. When you think something will happen at a certain time. ”Tomorrow at this time I will be at the dentist” (My sister will be playing football at this time tomorrow)
- Affirmative: Subject + will + be + verb in -ing + complement
- Negative: Subject + won’t + be + verb in -ing + complement
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + will + subject + be + verb in -ing + complement?
Future Perfect
Prediction of what will have been completed in a future time. (We’ll have arrived at the station by nine o’clock)
- Affirmative: Subject + will + have + verb (3rd form)
- Negative: Subject + won’t + have + verb (3rd form)
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + will + subject + have + verb (3rd form)?
Conditional Simple
Hypotheses of what would happen in certain circumstances. Actions that were customary in the past. (I wouldn’t do that if I were you)
- Affirmative: Subject + would + verb
- Negative: Subject + wouldn’t + verb
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + would + subject + verb?
Conditional Continuous
Hypotheses of what would be in development in specific circumstances. (We would be playing tennis if it weren’t raining)
- Affirmative: Subject + would + be + verb in -ing
- Negative: Subject + wouldn’t + be + verb in -ing
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + would + subject + be + verb in -ing?
Conditional Perfect
Hypotheses of what would have happened. (Kate would have called you if she had known that you were here)
- Affirmative: Subject + would + have + verb (3rd form)
- Negative: Subject + wouldn’t + have + verb (3rd form)
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + would + subject + have + verb (3rd form)?
Used To
Past habits, past situations that no longer occur in the present. This expression does not exist for present habits. For example, I used to write a diary when I was 10 years old.
- Affirmative: Subject + used to + verb
- Negative: Subject + didn’t + use to + verb (without the ‘d’ in use)
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + did + subject + use to + verb?
Be Going To
Plans for the future; predictions based on certain indications. (They’re going to move to another town)
- Affirmative: Subject + am/are/is + going to + verb
- Negative: Subject + am not/aren’t/isn’t + going to + verb
- Interrogative: (Question word if any) + am/are/is + subject + going to + verb?
Dear Ms. Chalupova,
We have launched an internal investigation to determine what could have happened. Unfortunately, we did not act earlier to resolve things. We realize that apologizing isn’t enough and that we should have acted before this accident happened. We deeply regret the problems caused during your stay at the hotel. We are aware of the seriousness of the problem caused, and we want to convey our sincere apologies. We reiterate our sincere apology and remain at your disposal for any clarification you need. We compensate for the inconvenience, providing full payment for the medical services you need at no cost and reimbursement of the fare poorly paid. Sincerely, After reviewing the facts, we found that there has been a problem on the part of the hotel service, which is already corrected.
I recommend you: Te recomiendo
I suggest you: Te sugiero
If I were you: Si yo fuera tu
Maybe I Could: Quizá yo podría
Accommodation: Alojamiento
Wedding: Boda
Arrived: Llegadas
Advise: Aconsejar
Book a trip: Reservar un viaje
Cruise: Crucero
Departures: Salidas
Luxurious: Lujoso
Boarding Card: Tarjeta de embarque
Stag Party: Despedida de soltero
Available: Disponible
Profit margin: Margen de beneficio
Flight attendant: Asistente de vuelo
Excess baggage: Exceso de equipaje
Drizzle: Llovizna
Currency Exchange: Cambio de divisa
Archeological site: Sitio arqueológico
Breeze: Brisa
Climate: Clima
Cloudy: Nublado
Disruption: Ruptura
Fog: Niebla
Forecast: Previsión del tiempo
Monsoon/Rainy Season: Temporada de lluvias
Shower: Chaparrón
Landscape: Paisaje
Complex: Complejo
Affordable: Asequible
Lively: Animado
Overrated: Sobrevalorado
Packed: Lleno
Value for Money: Relación calidad/precio
Mountain Ranges: Cadena montañosa
Mountain peaks: Picos montañosos
Waterfalls: Cascadas
Plains: Mesetas
Wilderness: Desierto
Canvas: Lienzo
Oil on canvas: Óleo sobre lienzo
Wildlife: Vida salvaje
Angling: Pesca con caña
Climbing: Escalada
Hang-gliding: Ala delta
Horse-riding: Montar a caballo
Rafting: Ir en balsa
Skiing: Hacer esquí
Trekking: Senderismo
Whalewatching: Avistamiento de ballenas
Damp: Húmedo
Intervals: Intervalos
Mist: Niebla
Overcast: Nublado
Sunny: Soleado
Wind: Viento
Departure gate: Puerta de salida
Traffic lights: Semáforo
Petrol station: Gasolinera
Security control: Control de seguridad
Pilgrimage: Peregrinación
Health and wellness: Salud y bienestar
Soldier: Soldado
Trenches: Trincheras
Holy: Fe/Sagrado
Low-calories: Bajo en calorías
Slum: Suburbio/Barrio bajo
Stress: Estrés
Wellness tourism: Turismo de bienestar
Beauty Tourism: Turismo de belleza
Spiritual tourism: Turismo espiritual
Enrol: Inscribirse
Culinary: Culinario
High-spender: Grandes gastadores
Lifestyle: Estilo de vida
Surgery: Cirugía
Aesthetic improvements: Mejoras estéticas
As a result: Como resultado
However: Sin embargo
On the whole: En conjunto
Although: Aunque
Furthermore: Además
Consequently: Consecuentemente
Artifact: Artefacto
Audio guide: Audio guía
World Heritage site: Patrimonio de la Humanidad
Display: Mostrar
Entry fee: Cuota de inscripción
Excavate: Excavar
Exhibit: Exposición
Script: Escritura
Hieroglyph: Jeroglífico
Bed-night: Cama de noche
Casual labor: Trabajo eventual
Cost-cutting: Reducir costes
Empower: Autorizar
Occupancy rate: Tasa de ocupación
Rewire: Renovar el alumbrado
Staff: Personal
Motivating: Motivador
Rewarding: Remunerado