Key English Grammar Rules
English Verb Tenses
Present Simple
I play tennis. She does not play tennis. Does he play tennis? The train leaves every morning at 8 AM. The train does not leave at 9 AM. When does the train usually leave? She always forgets her purse. He never forgets his wallet. Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun. Does the Sun circle the Earth?
Present Continuous
You are learning English now. You are not swimming now. Are you sleeping? I am sitting. I am not standing. Is he sitting or standing? They are reading their books. They are not watching television. What are you doing? Why aren’t you doing your homework?
Past Simple
I saw a movie yesterday. I didn’t see a play yesterday. Last year, I traveled to Japan. Last year, I didn’t travel to Korea. Did you have dinner last night? She washed her car. He didn’t wash his car.
Past Continuous
I was watching TV when she called. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter. While we were having the picnic, it started to rain. What were you doing when the earthquake started? I was listening to my iPod, so I didn’t hear the fire alarm. You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off. While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car. Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane. While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
Past Perfect
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai. I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet. Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times. Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand? She only understood the movie because she had read the book. Kristine had never been to an opera before last night. We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.
Present Perfect
I have seen that movie twenty times. I think I have met him once before. There have been many earthquakes in California. People have traveled to the Moon. People have not traveled to Mars. Have you read the book yet? Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
Future Simple
I will send you the information when I get it. I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it. Will you help me move this heavy table? Will you make dinner? I will not do your homework for you. I won’t do all the housework myself!
A: I’m really hungry.
B: I‘ll make some sandwiches.
A: I’m so tired. I’m about to fall asleep.
B: I‘ll get you some coffee.
A: The phone is ringing.
B: I‘ll get it.
Future Continuous
You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight. Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight? You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
Future Perfect
You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S. Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.? You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
Relative Pronouns
Who – who, whom, which (for people)
Whom – whom, to whom (for people)
Whose – whose, of whom (for people)
Which – that, which, what (for things)
Describing Your Dream House
My dream house would be a great mansion with either a beautiful view from the top of a mountain or a view of the sea. More specifically, I’d like to have many rooms, each with a different purpose: an entertainment room, a cinema room, a pool room, a large gym, several living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, etc. Having these rooms isn’t enough; they would need to be fully equipped with modern technology. The house should be at least a two-story building with lots of railings and low walls (that can be jumped over) so I can practice parkour. Outside, there should be plenty of space, a great lawn for acrobatics training, and a large pool or two. The final touch to make this house truly a dream home? It must be filled with lots of girls.
Modal Verbs
- Present Simple: Subject + Verb (infinitive/ -e, -es, -ies)
- Present Continuous: Subject + am/is/are + Verb (-ing)
- Past Simple: Subject + Verb (past tense)
- Past Continuous: Subject + was/were + Verb (-ing)
- Past Perfect: Subject + had + Verb (past participle)
- Present Perfect Simple: Subject + have/has + Verb (past participle)
- Present Perfect Continuous: Subject + have/has + been + Verb (-ing)
- Future Simple (will): Subject + will + Verb (infinitive)
- Future Simple (be going to): Subject + be + going to + Verb (infinitive)
- Future Continuous: Subject + will + be + Verb (-ing)
- Future Perfect: Subject + will + have + Verb (past participle)
Modals of Ability:
- Can/Can’t (present)
- Could/Couldn’t (past)
- Be able to
Modals of Permission:
- Can/Could
- May I…? (formal)
Modals of Obligation:
- Must/Have to/Need to
Modals of Prohibition:
- Mustn’t
- Don’t have to (not necessary)
Modals of Advice:
- Should/Shouldn’t/Ought to
Modals of Possibility:
- May (possible)
- Might (more possible)
- Could (e.g., You could win the lottery)
Modals of Deduction:
- Must (affirmative, must be)
- Can’t (negative, can’t be)
Perfect Form of Modal Verbs:
Subject + Modal Verb + have (not) + Verb (past participle)
The Passive Voice
Active: Many students use computers.
Passive: Computers are used by many students.
Present Simple Passive:
- I am invited
- He/She/It is invited
- You/We/They are invited
Past Simple Passive:
- I/He/She/It was invited
- You/We/They were invited
Present Perfect Simple Passive:
- I’ve been invited
- He/She/It’s been invited
- You/We/They’ve been invited
Conditional Sentences
First Conditional
If + Present Simple + will + Infinitive
If you see the film, you will understand.
Possible or likely situations:
If it’s cold tomorrow, I won’t walk to college.
If she doesn’t go to the party, she won’t see David.
Promises and warnings:
If you forget her birthday, she will be upset.
Second Conditional
If + Past Simple + would + Infinitive
If you saw the film, you’d understand.
If I had more money, I’d buy it for you.
If you had a car, you’d learn to drive.
If I were you, I’d put some suntan lotion on.
If he lived in Germany, he’d learn German.
Third Conditional
If + Past Perfect + would have + Past Participle
If you had seen the film, you would have understood.
If I had known you were coming, I would have made some dinner.