English Grammar

1. Present Simple

• We use the present simple for things that are always true or happen regulary
• We often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency (every day, once a week, ever).
Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb, and after be, or at the end of the sentence or
verb phrase.

• Form: S + V* + C° // QW + Do-Doesn’t + V* + C°
* Third person singular
• Example: He plays soccer – Do you play soccer?

2. Present Continuous

• We use the P.C. for action in progress at the time of speaking. These are normally temporary
not habitual.
• The action is not complete
• The spelling rules: ing. Example: Living, playing.
• Verbs which describe actions
• Verbs which states or feeling (non actions: need, agree, be…). They are not usually used in the
present continuous.
• You can use the P.C. with periods around now (today, this weekend, this year)

• Form: S + Be + V-ing + C° // QW + Be + S + V-ing + C°

• Example: I’m cooking pasta – What are you cooking?

3. Past Simple

• Use the Past simple for finished past actions

• Form: S + Verb Past (or -ed) // QW + did/didn’t + infinitive verb?

• Example: I went to the cinema // Did you enjoy?
 4. Past Perfect

• If we talk about thing that happened before the past simple

• The past of the past

• Form: S + had + Past Participle // QW + had + S + Past Participle

• Example: He had never flown before // Had you flown before?

5. Past Continuous

• I was doing something= I was in the middle of doing something at a certain time. The action or
situation had already started before this time, but had not finished
• We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to say that something happened in
the middle of something else

Form: S + was/were + V-ing // QW + was/were + S + V-ing

Example: I was playing tennis // How fast were you driving?

6. Used to

• Something used to happen. It happened often in the past, but no longer happens
• We also use used to ... for things that were true, but are not true any more
• 'I used to do something' is past. There is no present. You cannot say 'I use to do'
• The normal question form is did (you) use to ... ?
• The negative form is didn't use to .. .

• Example: We used to Live in a small village, but now we Live in London.

 Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?
I didn't use to like him.

7. Present Perfect Simple

• We use PP for past experiences, when we don’t say exactly when they happened (we often use
ever and never when we ask, before the main verb)
• For recent past action, often with just (before the main verb)
• With yet (negative sentences and questions) and already (positive questions, in the end of the
phrase)
• Just (a short time ago), yet (until now) and already (something happened sooner than expected).
• To say “how much” (how much of that book have you read?), “how many” (I’m learning
Arabic, but I haven’t learnt very much very much yet) or “how many times” (They’ve played
tennis three times this week).

Form: S + have/has + past participle (or -ed) // QW + have/has + past participle (or -ed)
Example: He has lost his key // Have you seen it

PPS o Past simple? (1) Use PPS to talk about past experiences and recent past actions when we don’t
specify a time. (2) PS to ask or talk about finished actions in the past when the time is mentioned or
understand.

8. Present Perfect Continuous

• We use the PPC to talk about actions which started in the past and are still true now. An activity
that has recently stopped or just stopped. There is a connection with now.
• To say “How long” (for sth that is still happening): How long have you been reading that book
• Since: an specific time
• For: period of time

9. Future Form

Be Going To

• We use going to when we have already decided to do something (future plan)

• Prediction about the future with evidence

• Form: S + Be + Going to + Infinitive Verb // QW + Be + S + going to + infinitive Verb

• Example: Are you going to eat anything? // She’s going to buy a new car

Present Continuous: be + verb + -ing

• We often use the present continuous for future arrangements. The Present Continuous
emphasizes that you have made the arragement.
• We often use the present continuous with verbs relating to travel arrangements

• Form: S + be + V-ing
• Example: Lorna and Jamie are getting married in October.

Will

• Used in:
- Instant decisions: I’ll have the steak
- Promise: I won’t tell anybody where you are
- Offer: I’ll carry that bag for you
- Prediction: You’ll love New York
- Future facts: I’ll be at home afternoon
• We don’t use Will to say what somebody has already arranged or decided to do: Diane is
working (not Diane will work), are you going to watch anything on TV this evening?

• Form: S + Will + Infinitive Verb // Will + S + Infinitive Verb

Shall

• Used whit I and we in:

- Offer questions: Shall I help you with your homework?
- Suggestion questions: Shall we eat out tonight?

• Form: Shall + S + Infinitive Verb

 10. 10. Present Perfect

11. Comparisson

Comparing two something

• The comparative form is -er or more, -er for short word (one syllable and two-syllable words
that end in -y) and more for longer word (two-syllable or more, and end in -ly).
• Few adjectives and adverb have irregular comparative form:
good/well →better,
bad/badly → worse
Far → farther/further
Further (but no farther) can also mean “more” or “additional”: let me know if you hear
any further news (any more news)
• Before comparative you can use: much, a lot, far, a bit, a little, slightly. Also you can use any
and no
• Repeat comparatives to say that something changes continuously: better and better, bigger and
bigger, more and more.
• We also use the ... the ... to say that one thing depends on another thing: The younger you are,
the easier it is to learn.

Comparing two actions

as… as… → Jack isn't as old as he looks. (= he looks older than he is)
not as… as… → I got here as fast as I could
Also twice as ... as, three times as ... as → Their house is about three times as big as ours

Superlatives

• The superlative form is -est or most .. .. In general, we use -est for short words and most ...
for longer words. The rules are the same as those fo r the comparative
• Use “The superlative”
• After superlatives use in with places and groups of people. And of for a period of time
 12. Articles: a / an / no article

The

• When we talk about something we’ve already mentioned: I saw an old man with a dog. The dog
was barking
• When it’s clear what you’re referring to: the children are at school
• When there’s only one of sth: The moon. Exception: Earth (planets) and Space (in the universe)
• With places in a town: The theatre. Exception, when you’re using the place. She’s at school
• With superlatives: The best
• We use the with the names of oceans, seas, rivers and canals
• Names with of usually have the. For example: the Bank of England

* Noun + number without the: Room 860, page 29, question 3.

* When we use Mr / Mrs / Captain / Doctor, etc. + a name, we do not use the
* We use Mount(= mountain) and lake before a name in the same way (without the): Mount Everest
(not the ... )
* We do not use the with names of most city streets/roads/squares/parks etc.

A / an

• The first time you mention a thing/person: I saw an old man with a dog
• When you say what sth is or what somebody does: It’s a nice house. She’s a lawyer
• In exclamation with What: What an awful day
• In expression of frequency: I have classes three times a week

No article

• When we are speaking in general: I love flowers

• With some nouns, after at / to / from: She’s not at home today
• Before meals, days and month: I never have breakfast
• Before next / last + day, week, etc.: See you next friday

13. Passive Voice

• The object in active sentence becomes the subjet in the passive sentences
• Tense of active sentence? Present simple
• Be change “Be” verb into the tense of active sentence = am/is/are
• Change the main verb in active sentence to past participle; example: write - written

• Focus on activity
• Not important who did it or you don’t to say

• Be:
Present simple: am/is/are
Past simple: was/were
Present continuous: am/are being
 Past continuous: was/were been
Past perfect: had been
Future: will be

• You can use get instead of be in the passive: There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt.
(= nobody was hurt). We use get only when things happen. For example, you cannot use get in
these sentences: Jessica is Liked by everybody. (not gets liked - this is not a 'happening').

• Example: Prince (subject) write songs (object) // Songs (object) are written by Prince (subject).

14. May and Might (Possibility, opinion)

• We use may or might to say that something is possible

• Structure: S + May/Might (not) + Be (doing, making, etc) or Infinitive Verb or Be (+ noun)

• Example: She might not work here any more

• For the past, we use may have (done) or might have (done)

• Structure: S + May/Might (not) + Have + Been ( + noun) or Been (gerund) or Been (+ noun)
• Example: She may have been asleep; You might have left it at work

• Could is similar to may and might. But couldn't (negative) is different from may not and might
not.
• We also use may/might be -ing for possible plans. Example: I might be going (or I may be
going) to Ireland soon. (possible)

• You use Can’t when you are absolutely sure something is impossible or no true. And you can
use Must when you are sure something is true. And Might/May when you think something is
possibly true.
• Must used to obligation is different to must used to opinion; Must (obligation) ≠ Must
(opinion).

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