English Tenses, Grammar, and Vocabulary Essentials
English Tenses and Grammar
Simple Present
- (+) Affirmative: If the subject is he, she, or it, add ‘-s’ to the verb. Example: I love you, He loves you.
- (-) Negative: Use ‘do not’ or ‘does not’ (for 3rd person singular). Example: I do not love you.
- (?) Interrogative: Use ‘do’ or ‘does’ (for 3rd person singular) before the subject. Example: Do you love me?
Present Continuous
- (+) Affirmative: Use ‘am’, ‘is’, or ‘are’ + verb-ing.
- (-) Negative: Use ‘am not’, ‘is not’, or ‘are not’ + verb-ing.
- (?) Interrogative: Use ‘am’, ‘is’, or ‘are’ + subject + verb-ing.
Simple Past
- Regular verbs add ‘-ed’.
- Irregular verbs have unique forms.
- Verbs like ‘like’ and ‘hate’ can be followed by a verb-ing form.
Past Continuous
- (+) Affirmative: Use ‘was’ or ‘were’ + verb-ing.
- (-) Negative: Use ‘was not’ or ‘were not’ + verb-ing.
- (?) Interrogative: Use ‘was’ or ‘were’ + subject + verb-ing.
Used To
Expresses past habits. Use ‘did not use to’ for negative and ‘did…use to?’ for questions.
Present Perfect
- (+) Affirmative: Use ‘have’ or ‘has’ + past participle.
- (-) Negative: Use ‘have not’ or ‘has not’ + past participle.
- (?) Interrogative: Use ‘have’ or ‘has’ + subject + past participle.
Already: Placed between ‘have/has’ and the past participle.
Yet: Used in negative sentences. Example: I have not left home yet.
For: Used with time periods. Example: 1 year, 1 month, 1 day, 1 min.
Since: Used with specific times. Example: 1994, December 30th.
Comparisons
Add ‘-er’ to the adjective and then ‘than’.
Use ‘more + adjective + than’ for longer adjectives.
Superlative
Add ‘-est’ to the adjective or use ‘most + adjective’.
Equality
Use ‘as + adjective + as’.
Future Tense
Will
Used for immediate decisions or promises. Example: Subject + will.
Going To
Used for planned actions or predictions.
Conditional Sentences
- Conditional 1: If + present simple, subject + will + base verb.
- Conditional 2: If + past simple, subject + would + base verb.
Should
- (+) Affirmative: I should…
- (-) Negative: I should not…
- (?) Interrogative: Should I…?
Reported Speech
Change pronouns and verb tenses when reporting what someone said.
Relative Pronouns
- Who: For people.
- Which: For things.
- Where: For places.
Vocabulary
Fashion
bracelet, earring, glasses, make-up, necklace, piercing, ring, sunglasses, tattoo, casual, old-fashioned, scruffy, smart, sporty, trendy
City
block of flats, bridge, motorway, factory, carpark, railway, advertisement, traffic light, street lamp, pavement, post box, recycling bins
Senses
smell, taste, sight, hearing, touch
Jobs
architect, cashier, chef, coach, firefighter, flight attendant, lawyer, plumber, soldier, surgeon, tour guide, vet
Money
banknote, cash, cash machine, check book, coin, credit card, currency, purse, receipt, till, wallet
Materials
leather, cotton, steel, glass, rubber, carbon fiber, plastic, aluminum, concrete, wood
Question Words
what, who, how, why, when