The present simple is used to make simple statements of fact, to talk about things that are repeated, and to describe things that are always true. To make the present simple of most verbs, use the base form (infinitive without "to").
S” AND “-ES” ENDINGS
FURTHER EXAMPLES
BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
HOW TO FORM
HAVE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
To make negative sentences using "be" in the present simple, add "not" after the verb. The subject and the verb can be contracted, or the verb and "not". They mean the same thing.
NEGATIVES WITH THE VERB “BE”
NEGATIVE CONTRACTIONSHOW TO FORM
NEGATIVES WITH OTHER VERBS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
Questions in the present simple with "be" are formed by swapping the verb and subject. For other verbs, the auxiliary verb "do" or "make" must be added before the subject.
QUESTIONS WITH “BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
QUESTIONS WITH “DO” AND “DOES”
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT PARTICIPLE SPELLING RULES
The present participle is formed by adding "-ing" to the base form of the verb. To ask questions in the present context, change the subject and the form of "to be".
QUESTIONS IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE
THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT TENSE QUESTIONS
PRESENT TENSE NEGATIVES
IMPERATIVES
NEGATIVE IMPERATIVESFURTHER EXAMPLES
SUBJECTS WITH IMPERATIVES
POLITE REQUESTSFURTHER EXAMPLES
MAKING SUGGESTIONS WITH “LET’S”
REGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE
SPELLING RULES FOR THE PAST SIMPLE
COMMON IRREGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE
IRREGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE
BE” IN THE PAST SIMPLE
It is the only verb in the simple past that changes depending on the subject.
THE PAST SIMPLE NEGATIVE
THE PAST SIMPLE NEGATIVE OF “BE”
QUESTIONS IN THE PAST SIMPLE
QUESTIONS IN THE PAST SIMPLE WITH “BE”
To make a question with the verb 'to be' in the past simple, switch the order of the subject and 'was' or 'were'.
THE PAST CONTINUOUS
THE PAST CONTINUOUS AND THE PAST SIMPLE
THE PAST CONTINUOUS FOR SCENE-SETTING
When English uses the past continuous and past simple together, the past continuous describes a longer, background action, and the past simple describes a shorter action that interrupts the background action. The present perfect simple is used to talk about events in the recent past that are still having an effect on the present moment.
PRESENT PERFECT
FURTHER EXAMPLES THE PRESENT PERFECT
REGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES
English has many irregular past tenses, which sometimes look very different from the base form.
GONE / BEEN”
THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PAST SIMPLE
THE PRESENT PERFECT IN US ENGLISH
American English often uses the past simple when British English would use the present perfect.
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
HOW TO FORM FURTHER EXAMPLES
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS AND THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
The present perfect continuous is used to show that an activity in the past was in progress. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE The present perfect simple is used to show that an activity in the past has finished.
THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
English uses the past perfect simple with the past simple to talk about two or more events that have happened.
THE PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST PERFECT
The past perfect is used to talk about an action that happened before another moment in the past. English uses the past perfect continuous with the past simple to talk about an activity that took place before another action or event happened.
THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action in progress or a repeated activity that has taken place up to the present moment. The past perfect continuous is used to talk about an ongoing action or repeated activity that took place until another specific moment in the past.
USED TO”
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY “USED TO” WITH HABITS
You can replace "used to" with "would" in written and formal speech, but only to talk about past habits.
PAST TENSES
PAST SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
KEY LANGUAGE NARRATIVE TENSES
The perfect tense is used to talk about things that happened before the beginning of the story. Used to" and "Would" are used to talk about repeated actions in the past that no longer happen.
HOW TO FORM THE FUTURE WITH “GOING TO”
GOING TO” FOR FUTURE PLANS
GOING TO” FOR PREDICTIONS
QUESTIONS WITH “GOING TO”
Going to” is also used to make predictions when there is evidence in the present moment. It can be used in several different ways, all of which are different from the future of "going to".
HOW TO FORM THE FUTURE WITH “WILL”
THE FUTURE USING “WILL”
WILL” FOR PREDICTIONS
WILL” FOR QUICK DECISIONS
Will” is used to talk about predictions about the future when there is no solid evidence for that prediction. Will” is used to describe quick decisions that someone has made at the time of the speaker.
WILL” FOR MAKING OFFERS
WILL” FOR MAKING PROMISES
THINK” WITH “WILL”
FUTURE WITH “SHALL”
FURTHER EXAMPLESFURTHER EXAMPLES
Think" can be used with "will" to show that a prediction is only an opinion or a decision is not final. Shall" is used instead of "will" when asking for a decision or making an offer or suggestion.
THE PRESENT SIMPLE FOR FUTURE EVENTS
The present simple and present Continuous can be used to talk about future events that have already been planned.
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS
FURTHER EXAMPLESHOW TO FORM
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS WITH WILL
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS WITH “ANYWAY”
NEUTRAL QUESTIONS
The future continuous can also be used to talk about events that will happen naturally or "anyway". You can also use the future continuous to speculate about what is happening in the present moment.
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESENT
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS WITH “GOING TO”
It can be used in most future continuous constructions except for speculation about the present.
THE FUTURE PERFECT
THE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
There are a number of constructions in English that can be used to describe thoughts about the future that someone has had at some point in the past.
THE FUTURE IN THE PAST USING “WAS GOING TO”
THE FUTURE IN THE PAST USING “WOULD”
THE FUTURE IN THE PAST USING THE PAST CONTINUOUS
Where 'will' is used to talk about a future event in the present, 'would' is used to talk about a past view of it.
THE FUTURE
GOING TO” AND “WILL”
The future perfect is used to predict when an action or event will end. It is also useful when describing a process where the result of the action is important.
THE PRESENT SIMPLE PASSIVE
The agent (the thing that performs the action) can be introduced with 'by', but the sentence would still make sense without it. Passive sentences take the emphasis away from the agent (the person or thing performing the action) and place the emphasis on the action itself, or on the person or thing receiving the action.
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
In most sentences, the subject performs an action and the object receives it, or its result. English uses the past passive voice to emphasize the effect of an action that occurred in the past, rather than the cause of that action.
THE PAST SIMPLE PASSIVE
THE PAST CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
THE PRESENT PERFECT PASSIVE
THE PAST PERFECT PASSIVE
The past perfect passive is used to refer to events that happened before another event in the past. English uses the future passive voice to emphasize the effect of an action that will happen in the future, rather than the cause of that action.
THE FUTURE SIMPLE PASSIVE
THE FUTURE PERFECT PASSIVE
As with other passive constructions, the accent changes on the object receiving the action.
MODALS IN THE PRESENT PASSIVE
MODALS IN THE PERFECT PASSIVE
REPORTING WITH PASSIVES
USING “GET” IN PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS
Conditional sentences are used to describe real or hypothetical outcomes of real or hypothetical situations.
THE ZERO CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONALS WITH IMPERATIVES
THE FIRST CONDITIONAL
THE SECOND CONDITIONAL
The second conditional, also called the "unreal" conditional, uses "if" to describe an unlikely or unreal action or event.
THE THIRD CONDITIONAL
THE MIXED CONDITIONAL
Mixed conditionals are usually used to talk about hypothetical current consequences of unreal past situations. First, second and third conditional sentences can use different modal verbs in their 'result' clauses.
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES WITH MODAL VERBS
FIRST CONDITIONAL WITH “UNLESS”
The third conditional can be made more formal by swapping "had" with the subject and "if." to abandon
TYPES OF CONDITIONAL
USING COMMAS IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
The third conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations that definitely won't happen. The first conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations that are likely to happen.
UNLIKELY FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
LIKELY FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
IN CASE
THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED
Just" is added to "in case" to talk about preparing for a situation that is less likely. Wish" is used with the past simple to express regrets and wishes about the present, what may yet happen or come true .
WISH” AND PAST SIMPLE
WISH” AND PAST PERFECT
Wish” with “could” is usually used when someone expresses the desire to do something themselves. Wish” with “would” is used when someone expresses a wish for someone else to do something.
WISH” FOR FUTURE HOPES
PAST REGRETSFURTHER EXAMPLES
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY “I WISH”
Stronger present regrets can be expressed by using "if only" and the past simple. If a statement uses "be" or an auxiliary verb, its question form is made by inverting that verb and the subject.
QUESTIONS WITH “BE”
QUESTIONS WITH “BE” IN THE PAST
QUESTIONS WITH AUXILIARY VERBSFURTHER EXAMPLES
QUESTIONS WITH “DID”
QUESTION WORDS
WHAT / WHICH”
HOW OFTEN” AND “WHEN”
How often” is used to ask about the frequency with which someone does an activity. If the main verb of the sentence is "be", the question word is at the beginning of the question and the form of.
OPEN QUESTIONS WITH “BE”
For all questions, except those formed with "be", the question word is followed by an auxiliary verb. If there is already an auxiliary verb in the sentence, it is also used in the question.
OPEN QUESTIONS WITH OTHER VERBS
The aid tells you whether the question is about the past or the present. They are called object questions because the question word is the object of the main verb.
OBJECT QUESTIONS
SUBJECT QUESTIONS
They are called subject questions because the question word is the subject of the main verb. After the question word, the word order in indirect questions is the same as in positive statements.
INDIRECT OPEN QUESTIONS
INDIRECT CLOSED QUESTIONS
When a question has an opening phrase, the word order in indirect questions is the same as in a statement. The simplest question tags use the verb "to be" with a pronoun that matches the subject of the sentence.
QUESTION TAGS USING “BE”
A positive statement is followed by a negative question, and a negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
QUESTION TAGS USING AUXILIARY VERBS
INTONATION WITH QUESTION TAGS
For most verbs other than "be", a present simple statement is followed by a question mark with. If the intonation rises at the end of the question mark, it is a question that requires an answer.
SHORT QUESTIONS
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH AUXILIARY VERBS
SHORT QUESTIONS IN US ENGLISHFURTHER EXAMPLES
If the verb 'to be' is used in the question, 'to be' is used in the same tense in the short answer. When the question uses the auxiliary verb 'do', 'do' is used in the same tense in the short answer.
SHORT ANSWERS
SHORT ANSWERS WITH AUXILIARY VERBS
SHORT ANSWERS WITH “THERE”
When the question uses an auxiliary verb, including modal verbs, the same auxiliary verb is used in the short answer. If a question uses an auxiliary verb, including modal verbs, it must be used in the short answer.
SUBJECT AND OBJECT QUESTIONS
QUESTION TAGS AND SHORT QUESTIONS
CLOSED AND OPEN QUESTIONS
Question marks are added to the end of a question, usually to ask someone to agree with you. Closed questions can only be answered with "yes" or "no". When spoken, the voice often rises at the end of the question.
REPORTED SPEECH
TELL” IN REPORTED SPEECH
The time used in reported speech is usually some time back in time, compared to the time in direct speech.
REPORTED SPEECH IN DIFFERENT TENSES
REPORTED SPEECH AND THE PAST SIMPLE
REPORTED SPEECH WITHOUT CHANGE OF TENSE
The past simple in direct speech can either remain as the past simple or change to the past perfect in reported speech. If the situation being described is ongoing, the verb does not need to change tense in reported speech.
TIME AND PLACE REFERENCES
OTHER CHANGES IN REPORTED SPEECH
If speech is reported some time after it is said, words used to talk about times and places may need to change. In reported speech, "said" can be replaced with a wide variety of verbs that give people more information about how someone said something.
REPORTING VERBS WITH “THAT”
REPORTING VERBS WITH OBJECT AND INFINITIVE
REPORTING NEGATIVE AUXILIARIES
REPORTING OTHER VERBS WITH NEGATIVES
Direct open questions are reported by swapping the order of the subject and the verb.
REPORTED OPEN QUESTIONS
REPORTING QUESTIONS WITH “DO”
If the answer to a question in direct speech is "yes" or "no", "if" or "whether".
REPORTED CLOSED QUESTIONS
REPORTING QUESTIONS WITH “OR”
If' or 'whether' can also be used to report questions that use 'or' in direct speech.
CHANGING REFERENCES IN REPORTED SPEECH
REPORTING VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSE
REPORTING MODAL VERBS
No matter what the tense of direct speech is, they do not change in reported speech.
MAIN VERBS
AUXILIARY VERBS
LINKING VERBS
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS
Some verbs take an object, which is a noun or a clause that receives the action of the verb.
ACTION AND STATE VERBS
USING STATE VERBS IN CONTINUOUS FORMS
INFINITIVES
PRESENT PARTICIPLES AND GERUNDS
PRESENT PARTICIPLE AND GERUND SPELLING RULES
PAST PARTICIPLES
SPELLING RULES FOR PAST PARTICIPLES
IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES
VERBS WITH INFINITIVES
OTHER VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVES
VERBS WITH GERUNDS
OTHER VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS
English uses the infinitive with "to" after certain verbs that describe someone's plans or wants to do an activity. Some verbs can be followed by a gerund (an "-ing" form) or an "after" infinitive, with little or no change in meaning.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE OR GERUND (NO CHANGE IN MEANING)
OTHER VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE OR GERUND (NO CHANGE IN MEANING)FURTHER EXAMPLES
VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE OR GERUND (CHANGE IN MEANING)
When these verbs are followed by infinitives or gerunds, the object must be between the verb and the infinitive or gerund. Some verbs that are followed by the infinitive must also have an object before the infinitive.
VERB WITH OBJECT AND INFINITIVE
VERB + OBJECT + GERUND PATTERNS
When the verb "want" is followed by an object and an infinitive, it is not formed with the clause "that". If the indirect object is a pronoun, it can come before or after the direct object.
USING DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS WITH PRONOUNS
If the indirect object is the focus of the sentence, it comes after the direct object plus "to" or "for.".
VERB WITH PREPOSITION AND GERUND
VERB WITH OBJECT, PREPOSITION, AND GERUND
If a verb takes an object, that object must come between the verb and the preposition.
PHRASAL VERBS
PHRASAL VERBS IN DIFFERENT TENSES
If a phrasal verb has a direct object, it can sometimes be placed between the verb and the particle. If the direct object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun, it must be between the verb and the particle.
INSEPARABLE PHRASAL VERBS
The object must always come after the particle; can never come between the participle and the verb.
THREE-WORD PHRASAL VERBS
INTONATION
GET BACK FROM”
NOUNS BASED ON PHRASAL VERBS
Some nouns are made from phrasal verbs, which are often formed by joining the verb and the particle.
USES OF MODAL VERBS
MODAL VERB FORMATIONS
"Should" and "shall" are exceptions because they use "to" before the base form. "Should" is a more formal way of saying "should" and "shall" means "shall." They both function as normal verbs.
CAN / CANNOT / CAN’T”
COULD” FOR PAST ABILITIES
CAN” IN THE FUTURE
Can” is the most common modal verb used to ask permission or make a request. Could” replaces “can” for more formal situations, such as in business or talking to strangers.
ASKING PERMISSION AND MAKING REQUESTS
Can”, “could” and “may” are used to ask permission to do something, or to ask someone to do something for you.
SHALL FOR OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS
SHOULD” FOR ADVICE
OUGHT TO” FOR ADVICE
HAD BETTER”
IF I WERE YOU”
Better had” can also be used to give very strong or urgent advice that could have a negative consequence if not followed.
COULD” FOR SUGGESTIONS
COULD” AND “OR” FOR SUGGESTIONS
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS
If the main verb is the same for both prepositions, it is not repeated after "or.". In English, "have to" or "must" is used when talking about obligations or things that are necessary.
OBLIGATIONS
MUST” AND “HAVE TO” IN THE FUTURE
MUST” AND “HAVE TO” IN THE PAST
Don't" is used to tell someone that there is no need for them to do something. There is no past form of "must". The past tense of "must" is used instead.
SPECULATION AND DEDUCTION
Modal verbs can also be used to talk about how likely or unlikely something is. They can be used to guess and make inferences about what has happened or is happening now.
SPECULATION AND DEDUCTION ABOUT THE PAST
Must have' with the past participle is used to make a guess about the past when the speaker is certain that something happened. You can add "maybe" to a variety of sentences that refer to past, present, or future possibilities.
MIGHT” FOR POSSIBILITY
MIGHT” WITH UNCERTAINTY
PAST POSSIBILITY
These constructions can be used to talk about some things that may not have happened in the past. Couldn't" can only be used when the speaker is sure that nothing has happened.
THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
SOME”
SOME” AND “ANY” WITH QUESTIONS AND NEGATIVESFURTHER EXAMPLES
THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
THE” WITH ADJECTIVES FOR CERTAIN GROUPSUSING “THE” TO SPECIFY
Some adjectives can be used with the definite article to refer to a group or class of people. The” can be followed by a prepositional phrase or a defining relative clause to specify what someone is talking about.
THE ZERO ARTICLE
DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES WITH NAMES
THE ZERO ARTICLE AND GENERIC “THE”
The definite article is used before a person's name to distinguish him from another person with the same name. The zero article can be used with plural nouns to talk about a class of things in general.
SINGULAR NOUNS
PLURAL NOUNS
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNSUSING ARTICLES
INDEFINITE ARTICLE
The speaker is referring to specific money that the listener is already aware of, so the definite article is used. No article is used because 'shoes' is a plural that is spoken of in a general context.
THIS” AND “THAT” AS DETERMINERS
This," "this," "you," and "they" can be used as determiners before a noun to specify which noun is being talked about.
THESE” AND “THOSE” AS DETERMINERS
THIS” AND “THAT” AS PRONOUNS
THESE” AND “THOSE” AS PRONOUNS
SUBSTITUTING WITH “THAT” AND “THOSE”
NO” AND NOUN FOR EMPHASIS
NONE”
EACH” AND “EVERY”
EACH”
EVERY”
EITHER,” “NEITHER,” AND “BOTH”
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT
NEITHER OF,” “EITHER OF,” AND “BOTH OF”
If the second noun is singular and the first is plural, either a singular or a plural verb can be used. If the second noun is singular and the first is plural, either a singular or a plural verb can be used.
PROPER NOUNS COMMON NOUNS
IRREGULAR PLURALS
SPELLING RULES FOR PLURALS
Man" and "woman", and words made from them, such as job names, have irregular plurals. For nouns ending in "-o", the plural is usually formed by adding "-es". If the noun ends in a vowel plus "-o," the plural is formed by "-s." to add.
MAKING UNCOUNTABLE THINGS COUNTABLE
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
QUESTIONS ABOUT QUANTITIES
FURTHER EXAMPLESNEGATIVES
Many" is used to ask questions about quantities of countable nouns, and "many" to ask questions about quantities of uncountable nouns. Many" can only be used with uncountable nouns and the verb must always be singular.
PLURAL NOUNS WITH SINGULAR AGREEMENT
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
ABSTRACT AND CONCRETE NOUNS
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE ABSTRACT NOUNS
However, some can be either countable or uncountable, and the two forms often mean slightly different things. The forms have a slight difference in meaning, with the countable form being specific and the uncountable form more general.
COMPOUND NOUNS
PLURAL COMPOUND NOUNS
LONGER COMPOUND NOUNS
SAYING NUMBERS CARDINAL NUMBERS
LARGE NUMBERS
NUMBERS
