Mastering English Verb Tenses and Conditional Structures

Understanding English Verb Tenses and Conditionals

Conditional Sentences

Zero Conditional

Structure: If + Present Simple, Present Simple

Use: Used to talk about general truths or universal facts.

Example: If you don't wash your socks, they smell bad.

First Conditional

Structure: If + Present Simple, Will + Infinitive

Use: Used for real or possible situations in the future.

Example: If you eat too much, you will get sick.

Second Conditional

Structure: If + Past Simple, Would + Infinitive

Use: Used for hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present or future.

Example: If I were taller, I would wear high heels.

Third Conditional

Structure: If + Past Perfect, Would + Have + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, meaning situations that did not happen.

Example: If you hadn't been looking at your phone, you wouldn't have missed the bus.

Verb Tenses and Voice

Present Simple

• Active: The waiter serves the customers.
• Passive: The customers are served by the waiter.

Structure: Am/Is/Are + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about habitual actions or general facts.

Present Continuous

• Active: Is serving
• Passive: Are being served

Structure: Am/Is/Are + Being + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions happening at the present moment.

Past Simple

• Active: Served
• Passive: Were served

Structure: Was/Were + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that occurred and were completed in the past.

Past Continuous

• Active: Was serving
• Passive: Were being served

Structure: Was/Were + Being + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past.

Present Perfect

• Active: Has served
• Passive: Has been served

Structure: Has/Have + Been + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that occurred at some point in the past and have relevance in the present.

Past Perfect

• Active: Had served
• Passive: Had been served

Structure: Had + Been + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that occurred before another action in the past.

Future Simple

• Active: Will serve
• Passive: Will be served

Structure: Will + Be + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that will happen in the future.

Modals

• Active: Must serve
• Passive: Must be served

Structure: Modal + Be + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about necessary or probable actions.

Modal Perfects

• Active: Must have served
• Passive: Must have been served

Structure: Modal + Have + Been + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that were necessary or probable in the past.

Have to

• Active: Has to serve
• Passive: Has to be served

Structure: Have/Has + To Be + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about obligations.

Be going to

• Active: Is going to serve
• Passive: Is going to be served

Structure: Am/Is/Are + Going To Be + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about future plans.

Future Perfect

• Active: Had served
• Passive: Had been served

Structure: Will + Have + Been + Past Participle

Use: Used to talk about actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.