Mastering English Grammar: Tenses, Verbs, and Essay Structure

Reported Speech

Direct speech: ‘I work in a bank,’ said Daniel.

Indirect speech: Daniel said that he worked in a bank.

Passive Voice

Passive: This house was built by my father.

Active: My father built this house.

Active and Passive Voice Example

Passive: A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well-chosen words.

Active: A few well-chosen words convey a great deal of meaning.

Conditional Sentences

I play the piano poorly if I don’t practice every day.

If Bill studies, he will pass the exam.

If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.

Modal Verbs

Can, May, Must, Have to, Will, Shall, Ought to, Would, Should, Need, Used to, Be to.

Connectors

Then, Next, Finally, But, If, For example, While, Because, And.

Narrative Tenses

  • Past Simple: I played soccer / What did you say?
  • Past Continuous: I was sleeping / They were playing.
  • Past Perfect: I had cleaned the car / They had played.
  • Past Perfect Continuous: I had been waiting / I had been playing.

Relative Clauses

Who, That, Which, Where, When, Whose.

Extreme Adjectives

Bad –> Furious, Big –> Huge, Bad –> Terrible

Opinion Essays

Opinion = Reasons why you support something using personal examples.

For/Against = You don’t give your opinion in the intro and body.

Discussion = It does not have your opinion at all, but the opinions of credited people within that subject. Also, the statistics and facts behind each side.

Opinion Essay Structure

Intro: Present the topic and give your personal opinion.

2nd paragraph: Give reasons to support your opinion.

3rd paragraph: More reasons to support; you can mention the opposing opinion and why you find it unconvincing.

Conclusion: Restate your opinion with different words.

Film Review Structure

Introduction – Essential details and mini-summary

Summary – A description of the film and some important details

Analysis – An evaluation of different elements

Conclusion – Your opinion and a recommendation

Writing Description Structure

Intro: Small introduction to the topic.

Body paragraph: Topic sentence that introduces the aspect to be described: light, music, smell, etc., and their contribution.

Conclusion: Restate the topic and summarize the body paragraph.

For/Against Essay Structure

Intro: Introduction of the topic in an objective manner.

2nd paragraph: Argument in favor – 2/3 advantages.

3rd paragraph: Argument against – 2/3 disadvantages.

Conclusion: Summary of the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs; you can give your personal opinion.

Narrative Text Structure

Intro: Introduction to the story.

2nd paragraph: Beginning of the story.

3rd paragraph: Middle events, climax, characters, and evolutions.

4th paragraph: End of the story.

Conclusion: Message and moral of the story.

Discussion Essay Structure

Intro: Present the topic and give your personal opinion.

2nd paragraph: What some people think, explain that thinking, and if you agree or disagree.

3rd paragraph: What other people think, explain that thinking, and if you agree or disagree.

Conclusion: Summarize the two points and give your opinion.