Mastering English Grammar: Tenses, Conditionals, Relatives & Modals Explained

Unit 1: Past Simple

The Past Simple expresses actions that occurred and finished at a specific time in the past, or actions that were happening at a specific moment.

• Affirmative: Subject + verb (second form)
• Negative: Subject + didn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Did + subject + base verb

Used To

• Affirmative: Subject + used to + base verb
• Negative: Subject + didn't use to + base verb
• Interrogative: Did + subject + use to + base verb

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous expresses actions that were in progress in the past (prolonged actions).

• Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb-ing (I/He/She/It - was; You/We/They - were)
• Negative: Subject + wasn't/weren't + verb-ing
• Interrogative: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing

Unit 2: Present Perfect Simple

The Present Perfect Simple expresses past actions that have a result in the present, without specifying when they occurred.

• Affirmative: Subject + have/has (3rd person) + verb (third form)
• Negative: Subject + haven't/hasn't (3rd person) + verb (third form)
• Interrogative: Have/Has (3rd person) + subject + verb (third form)

Unit 3: Future - Be Going To

Be Going To expresses plans, intentions, or something that is about to happen.

• Affirmative: Subject + to be (present) + going to + base verb
• Negative: Subject + to be (present negative) + going to + base verb
• Interrogative: To be (present) + subject + going to + base verb

Will

Will expresses spontaneous actions and predictions.

• Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb
• Negative: Subject + won't + base verb
• Interrogative: Will + subject + base verb

Future Continuous

The Future Continuous expresses what will be happening at a specific moment in the future.

• Affirmative: Subject + will be + verb-ing
• Negative: Subject + won't be + verb-ing
• Interrogative: Will + subject + be + verb-ing

Unit 4: Conditionals

First Conditional

Actions that will occur if the condition is met: If + present simple, result in will.

Second Conditional

Conditions that are unlikely to occur (giving advice): If + past simple, result with would.

Third Conditional

Conditions that will not occur: If + past perfect simple, result with would have + participle.

Unit 5: Relatives

• Who: Refers to people.
• Which: Refers to things or animals.
• Where: Refers to places.
• When: Refers to a time clause.
• Whose: Refers to a person expressing possession.

Unit 6: Modals

Should

Used to ask for advice or what should be done.

• Affirmative: Subject + should + base verb
• Negative: Subject + shouldn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Should + subject + base verb

Must

Expresses obligation.

• Affirmative: Subject + must + base verb
• Negative: (Prohibition) Subject + mustn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Must + subject + base verb

Have To

Expresses obligation (conjugated).

• Affirmative: Subject + have to/has to (3rd person) + base verb
• Negative: (No obligation) Subject + don't have to/doesn't have to (3rd person) + base verb
• Interrogative: Do/Does (3rd person) + subject + have to + base verb

Can

Expresses ability or knowledge.

• Affirmative: can
• Negative: can't
• Interrogative: Can + subject + base verb

Could

Expresses ability or knowledge in the past.

• Affirmative: could
• Negative: couldn't
• Interrogative: Could + subject + base verb

Be Able To

Means the same as can but is conjugated.

• Affirmative: Subject + to be (in the corresponding tense) + able to + base verb
• Negative: Subject + to be (in the corresponding negative tense) + able to + base verb
• Interrogative: To be (corresponding tense) + subject + able to + base verb

May/Might

Expresses possibility (maybe.../giving or asking for permission).

• Affirmative: Subject + may/might + base verb
• Negative: Subject + may not/might not + base verb
• Interrogative: May + subject + base verb (may is used)

Unit 7: Passive Voice

Present Passive

Subject + to be (am/is/are) + verb (third form).

Past Passive

Subject + to be (was/were) + verb (third form).

In sentences where the active voice has a personal pronoun as the subject, it will be converted to an object pronoun in the passive voice.