Mastering English Grammar and Usage
Modal Verbs
It’s possible: could. It’s impossible: couldn’t. Perhaps it’s probable: may, might. It’s necessary: have to. It’s unnecessary: don’t have to. It isn’t necessary: you needn’t go. It was wrong, it was a mistake, it was a waste of time: you shouldn’t have. To know how: can. To be obliged: must.
Deduction
I’m sure he isn’t: can’t. I don’t think he is: can’t. I’m sure he is: must. I think he is: must.
Tense Changes in Reported Speech
Present Infinitive without to becomes Past Present perfect.
- Play – played
- ‘m playing – was playing
- Have been playing – had been playing
- Played (2ยบ) did – had played
- Was playing – had been playing
- Had played – had played
- Had been playing – had been playing
- Will (won’t) – would (wouldn’t)
Other Changes in Reported Speech
Order: to/ not to / Suggestion: (not) v+ing/ that subj bf
- Can – could
- My – her, his
- Shall – should
- May – might
- Must – had to
- Now – then
- Today – that day
- Yesterday (last week) – the previous day (week)
- A month ago – the previous month
- Tomorrow (next x) – the following day, the day after
- Here – there
- This – that
- These – those
- Yet – at that moment
- Tonight – that night
Example: “What’s your name?” Anna asked me what my name was.
Example with “if”: “Do you like fish?” Anna asked me if I liked fish.
Example: Anna said, “I go to school every morning.” Anna said she went to school every morning.
Conditionals
Type 0 or 1
- Present – Present: Universal truths or things that are always true. Example: If you boil butter, it melts.
- Present – Imperative: Example: If you are hot, open the door.
- Present – Future: Example: If you study, you will pass.
Type 2
Possible situations. Past Simple – Conditional Simple: Example: If you studied, you would pass.
Type 3
Impossible situations. Past Perfect – Conditional Perfect: Example: If you had studied, you would have passed.
Passive Voice
The direct object becomes the subject. Pay attention to the verb “to be” and the past participle (3rd column or -ed).
- Present simple: is kept
- Present continuous: is being kept
- Simple past: was kept
- Past continuous: was being kept
- Present perfect: have/has been kept
- Past perfect: had been kept
- Future: will be kept
- Conditional: would be kept
- Conditional perfect: would have been kept
- Present infinitive: to be kept
- Perfect infinitive: to have been kept
- Present participle/gerund: being kept
- Past participle: having been kept
Advice: Should and Shouldn’t
You should:
- Help poor people
- Care for people
- Consider what to be in the future
- Forgive
- Give affection to those who want it
You shouldn’t:
- Bully anyone at school
- Envy anyone
- Worry about what other people think of you
- Abuse people
- Be afraid of anything or anyone
Since and For
Since (refers to a specific point in time)
- I’ve lived here since 1992.
- She has been here since 8 p.m.
- She hasn’t seen him since April.
- I haven’t seen him since last Sunday.
- I haven’t seen him since last week.
For (refers to a duration of time)
- I’ve studied English for a long time.
- I haven’t played the guitar for 10 years.
- I haven’t seen my cousins for 3 months.
- My grandfather has been in a nursing home for 2 years.
- My dog has been at the vet for 2 weeks.
How long (used to ask about duration)
- How long have you been at this school? I have been at this school for four years since 2004.
- How long have you known your best friend? I have known my best friend for 13 years since 1995.
- How long have you had these shoes? I have had these shoes for eight months since October.
- How long have you had your mobile phone? I have had my mobile phone for a long time.
- How long have you lived in your house? I’ve lived in my house for 5 years since 2003.