Master English Verb Tenses and Grammar
Present Simple
Structure: Subject + Verb + Complement
Example: I am / I am. Do/Does + Verb
Present Continuous
Structure: To be (am, is, are) + Verb-ing
Frequency Adverbs: At present, at this very moment, today, lately, tomorrow, always, now, right now.
Example: I am playing.
Past Simple
Structure: Subject + Verb (past tense or 2nd column of irregular verbs) + Complement
Time Expressions: Yesterday, last, ago, how often, before.
Example: I played yesterday.
Past Continuous
Structure: Was/Were + Verb-ing
Time Expressions: While, as, when, yesterday.
Example: I was playing while she was studying.
Present Perfect
Structure: Has/Have + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs or -ed)
Time Expressions: Since, for, just, yet, already, how long, ever, never, tonight.
Example: I have played.
Present Perfect Continuous
Structure: Has/Have + Been + Verb-ing
Time Expressions: How long, for, since, lately, finally, all my life, all morning long, all year long, never, always, recently.
Example: I have been playing.
Past Perfect
Structure: Had + Past Participle
Time Expressions: Just, before, it was the first time, until, till, as soon as, after.
Example: He had played.
Past Perfect Continuous
Structure: Had Been + Verb-ing
Time Expressions: Just, before, it was the first time, second time.
Example: I had been playing.
Conditional
Structure: Would + Infinitive
Example: I would play.
Conditional Perfect
Structure: Would Have + Past Participle
Example: I would have played if…
Future Simple (Will)
Structure: Will + Infinitive
Time Expressions: Tomorrow, next, in + time.
Example: I will play.
Future with ‘Be Going To’
Structure: Be (am, is, are) + Going To + Infinitive
Time Expressions: Tomorrow, next, in + time.
Example: I am going to play.
Future Continuous
Structure: Will Be + Verb-ing
Time Expressions: At this time tomorrow, next.
Example: I will be playing.
Future Perfect
Structure: Will Have + Past Participle
Time Expressions: By tomorrow, next morning, next month.
Example: I will have played.
Ditransitive Verbs: Give, teach, send, write, show.
Conditional Types
1st Type (Future)
Present Simple + Will + Infinitive
2nd Type (Present)
Past Simple + Would/Could + Infinitive
3rd Type (Past)
Past Perfect + Would Have + Past Participle
Passive Voice
Present Simple Passive
Am, Is, Are + Past Participle
Present Continuous Passive
Am, Is, Are + Being + Past Participle
Past Simple Passive
Was/Were + Past Participle
Past Continuous Passive
Was/Were + Being + Past Participle
Present Perfect Passive
Have/Has + Been + Past Participle
Past Perfect Passive
Had + Been + Past Participle
Future Simple Passive
Will + Be + Past Participle
Future with ‘Going To’ Passive
Be Going To + Be + Past Participle
Modal Verbs Passive
Modal + Be + Past Participle
Special Passive
The subordinate subject becomes the main subject, the main verb becomes passive, and the subordinate verb changes:
- If present or future: To + Infinitive
- If past: To Have + Past Participle
Causative Passive
Subject (who pays) + To Have (conjugated in the main verb tense) + Direct Object + Subordinate Verb (Past Participle)
‘Have’ in Different Tenses
- Present Simple: Has/Have
- Present Continuous: Am, Is, Are Having
- Past Simple: Had
- Past Continuous: Was/Were Having
- Present Perfect: Have/Has Had
- Present Perfect Continuous: Has/Have Been Having
- Past Perfect: Had Had
- Future Simple: Will Have
- Future with ‘Going To’: Am, Is, Are Going To Have
Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds (-ing)
- Used after verbs: Admit, consider, give up, it’s worth, practice, stop, avoid, feel, go on, keep, resent, suggest, can’t help, dislike, imagine, mind, miss, resist, can’t stand, enjoy, finish, involve, need.
- Used after prepositions.
- Used as the subject of a sentence.
Infinitives (To + Verb)
- Used after verbs: Afford, expect, intend, refuse, plan, agree, fail, learn, prepare, seem, forget, manage, pretend, want, help, need, promise, wish, decide, hope, propose, would like, earn, deserve, supposed, arrange.
- Used when followed by a pronoun complement.
- Used after adjectives and adverbs.
- Used after interrogative pronouns (except ‘why’).
‘Not To’
- Used after modal verbs: Can, could, may, might, must, will, should, would, need not, had better, would rather, would sooner.
- Used with ‘let’ and ‘make’ when followed by a pronoun complement.
- Used with verbs like ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘smell’, and ‘watch’ when followed by a pronoun complement.