English Grammar Notes

12 Basic Tenses

Simple Present

• Form: Subject + Verb (base form)
• Example: S + V (present)

Present Continuous

• Form: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing
• Example: S + am/is/are + V-ing

Present Perfect

• Form: Subject + have/has + Past Participle
• Example: S + have/has + PII

Present Perfect Continuous

• Form: Subject + have/has + been + Verb-ing
• Example: S + have/has + been + V-ing

Simple Past

• Form: Subject + Verb (past form)
• Example: S + V (past)

Past Continuous

• Form: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing
• Example: S + was/were + V-ing

Past Perfect

• Form: Subject + had + Past Participle
• Example: S + had + PII

Past Perfect Continuous

• Form: Subject + had been + Verb-ing
• Example: S + had been + V-ing

Simple Future

• Form: Subject + will + Verb (base form)
• Example: S + will + V

Future Continuous

• Form: Subject + will be + Verb-ing
• Example: S + will be + V-ing

Future Perfect

• Form: Subject + will have + Past Participle
• Example: S + will have + PII

Future Perfect Continuous

• Form: Subject + will have been + Verb-ing
• Example: S + will have been + V-ing

Passive Voice

Simple Present

• Form: Subject + is/am/are + Past Participle
• Example: S + is/am/are + PII

Present Continuous

• Form: Subject + is/am/are + being + Past Participle
• Example: S + is/am/are + being + PII

Present Perfect

• Form: Subject + have/has + been + Past Participle
• Example: S + have/has + been + PII

Simple Past

• Form: Subject + was/were + Past Participle
• Example: S + was/were + PII

Past Continuous

• Form: Subject + was/were + being + Past Participle
• Example: S + was/were + being + PII

Past Perfect

• Form: Subject + had been + Past Participle
• Example: S + had been + PII

Simple Future

• Form: Subject + will + be + Past Participle
• Example: S + will + be + PII

Modal Verbs

• Form: Subject + modal verb + be + Past Participle
• Example: S + modal verb + be + PII

Conditional Sentences

Type 1: Real Condition in the Present

• Structure: If + simple present, subject + will + verb
• Example: If it rains, I will stay at home.

Type 2: Unreal Condition in the Present

• Structure: If + simple past, subject + would/could + verb
• Example: If I were you, I would not do that.

Type 3: Unreal Condition in the Past

• Structure: If + past perfect, subject + would/could/might + have + past participle
• Example: If I had known about the party, I would have gone.

Wish Clauses

Unreal in the Present

• Structure: wish + past simple clause
• Example: I wish I spoke French.

Unreal in the Past

• Structure: wish + past perfect clause
• Example: I wish I hadn't done it.

Wishes about the Future

• Structure: wish + subject + would/could + verb
• Example: I wish I could play the piano.

Reported Speech

Steps to Change from Direct to Indirect Speech

Step 1: Backshift the Tense

• Direct Speech: Simple Present -> Indirect Speech: Simple Past
• Direct Speech: Present Continuous -> Indirect Speech: Past Continuous
• Direct Speech: Present Perfect -> Indirect Speech: Past Perfect
• Direct Speech: Simple Past -> Indirect Speech: Past Perfect
• Direct Speech: Past Continuous -> Indirect Speech: Past Perfect Continuous
• can -> could
• may -> might
• must -> had to
• will -> would

Step 2: Change Time and Place Expressions

• Direct: Today -> Indirect: That day
• Direct: Yesterday -> Indirect: The day before
• Direct: Next week -> Indirect: The following week
• Direct: Tomorrow -> Indirect: The next/following day
• Direct: Ago -> Indirect: Before
• Direct: Now -> Indirect: Then
• Direct: This -> Indirect: That
• Direct: These -> Indirect: Those
• Direct: Here -> Indirect: There

Step 3: Change Sentence Structure

• Declarative Sentences: S + say/said/told + (that) + S + V
• Yes/No Questions: S + asked/wanted to know + if/whether + S + V
• WH- Questions: S + asked/wanted to know/wondered + Wh words/how + S + V

So - Such; Too - Enough

• So + adjective/adverb + that
• Such + a/an + adjective + noun + that
• Too + adjective/adverb + (for + object) + to do something (Too… to…)
• Adjective/adverb + enough + (for + object) + to do something (…enough to…)

Comparison Structures

Short Adjectives

• Equal comparison: $S<em>1$ + V + as + adj/adv + as + $S</em>2$ + V
• Comparative: $S<em>1$ + V + adj/adv + -er + than + $S</em>2$ + V
• Superlative: $S_1$ + V + the + adj/adv + -est

Long Adjectives (2+ syllables)

• Comparative: $S<em>1$ + V + more + adj/adv + than + $S</em>2$
• Superlative: $S_1$ + V + the + most + adj/adv

Though, Although, Even though

• Usage: Followed by a clause
• Example: Although I tried very hard, I didn't succeed.