English Verb Tenses and Grammar: A Comprehensive Review

Present Simple

Indicators: Always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day (used in the third person).

Uses:

• Habitual actions
• Universal truths
• Future use: Schedules of trains, buses, flights.

Example: I work.

Past Simple

Indicators: Yesterday, when, ago, last.

Uses: Completed past actions.

Example: I worked.

Present Continuous

Indicators: Now, at the moment, this.

Uses:

• Actions happening now
• Future use: Fixed plans, future appointments.

Example: I am working.

Past Continuous

Uses: Past actions, durative or in progress.

Example: I was working.

Present Perfect

Indicators: How long, for, since, ever, never, yet, already.

Uses: Past actions that have an effect on the present.

Example: I have worked. (Have/has + third column).

Past Perfect

Uses: An action that happened before another action in the past.

Example: I had worked. (Had + -ed/third column).

Present Perfect Continuous

Uses: Actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

Example: I have been working. (Have/has been + -ing).

Past Perfect Continuous

Uses: An action that was in progress before another action in the past.

Example: I had been working.

Future: To Be Going To

Uses: Plans and intentions.

Example: I am going to work.

Future: Will

Uses: Uncertain opinions, desires, predictions.

Example: I think I will work.

Future Continuous

Uses: An action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.

Example: I will be working.

Future Perfect

Indicators: By.

Uses: An action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.

Example: I will have worked.

Modal Verbs

• Obligation: Must/have to.
• No Obligation: Doesn’t have to/don’t have to.
• Prohibition: Mustn’t.
• Advice, Opinion: Should, shouldn’t, had better, ought to.
• Offers: Shall we/I/he.
• Certain Deduction: Must.
• Possibility: Might/may.
• Impossible Deduction: Can’t.
• Ability and Possibility: Can, could, be able to. (Can: present. Could: past. Have been able to: present perfect).

Conditionals

First Conditional: If + present simple, will/won’t + infinitive.

Second Conditional: If + past simple, would/wouldn’t + infinitive.

Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would/wouldn’t have + -ed/third column.

Relative Clauses

• Who: People.
• Which: Animals or things.
• Where: Places.
• Whose: Possession.
• When: Time.

Defining: No commas, essential information. ‘Who’ and ‘which’ can be omitted when they are the object.

Non-defining: Commas, extra information. ‘Who’ and ‘which’ are never omitted.

Comparatives and Superlatives

Equality: As + adj + as. Example: Sue is as tall as Rob.

Inferiority: Not as/so + adj + as. Example: Tom isn’t as tall as Sue.

Superiority:

• Short adjectives: adj + -er + than. Example: Phie is taller than John.
• Long adjectives: More + adj + than. Example: Jane is more beautiful than Maria.

Superlatives:

• Short adjectives: The + adj + -est. Example: Peter is the tallest in the class.
• Long adjectives: The most + adj. Example: Sue is the most beautiful.

Good – better than – the best.

Bad – worse than – the worst.

Far – farther than – the farthest.

Narrative: An Accident

My father and I were on the way home as usual, but it was very late, and my father didn’t see very well. Unintentionally, he did not see a traffic light and passed when it was red. A car coming in the opposite direction collided with us. Fortunately, there were no injuries, only the car was damaged because the windshield was broken.

Narrative: A Concert Experience

Last summer, when I was in Brazil, I decided to go to a Rolling Stones concert. I wasn’t expecting too much because we all know that the Stones are not very young, but it turned out to be one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever been to. It all started with spectacular visuals on those super-sized screens that were all about the Maracanã Stadium. It was just overwhelming but a unique experience. There was even a ceiling of screens, and on them, you could see 3D monster images trying to reach the audience. It was very modern, high-tech, and scary but fun. It continued with the band jamming a little while without the singer Mick Jagger. Later, he appeared, but he didn’t sing; he just danced for some minutes, and the dancing was, as always, outstanding.

Narrative: A Movie Review

My Favorite Film

One good example of this kind of movie is The Matrix. I don’t think there is a single person left on Earth who hasn’t seen this film yet. At least, I take for granted that humanity as a whole knows the name and what it is about. Although, sometimes I like to ask myself just that question: what is The Matrix really about?

Let’s, for starters, leave behind its sequels: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, and focus on the original The Matrix. On the verge of the twenty-first century, this amazing film came out, and not only did it break box office records, but it also made its actors famous worldwide.