Conditionals

Present Real Conditional

The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations.

Present Unreal Conditional

The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

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Future Continuous

IMPORTANT:   No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time", "as soon as", "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.

EXAMPLES:

While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct

While I will be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct

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Future Perfect Continuous

IMPORTANT:   No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "until," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.

EXAMPLES:

I won't tell the student the answer until he has been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Correct

I won't tell the student the answer until he will have been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Not Correct

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Future Perfect

IMPORTANT:   No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.

EXAMPLES:

I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct

I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct

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Gerunds & Infinitives

What are Gerunds?

      1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence

Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence

I enjoy reading. object of sentence

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

He enjoys not working.

The best thing for your health is not smoking.

 

What are Infinitives?

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

To learn is important. subject of sentence

The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence

He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

I decided not to go.

The most important thing is not to give up.

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Verb Chart

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Past Continous

                        USE 1:   Interrupted Action in the Past 

 

   

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

EXAMPLES:

I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

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Used to

FORM: Used to

[USED TO] + [verb]

EXAMPLES:

I used to go to the beach everyday.

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Tough Interview Questions

Tough Interview Questions:

Be prepared to encounter most of the following "tough questions" in your interview, such as:

"Why do you want to work here?"

To answer this question, you must have researched the company. You need to reply with the company's attributes as you see them. Cap your answer with reference to your belief that this can provide you with a stable and happy work environment - the interviewer's company has that reputation - and that such an atmosphere would encourage your best work.

 

 

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Past Perfect Continous

USE 1:   Duration Before Something in the Past

 

 

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now.

EXAMPLES:

They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

James had been teaching at the University for more than a year before he left for Asia.

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The Passive

THE PASSIVE

How is the Passive formed?

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE

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Past Perfect

USE 1:   Completed Action Before Something in Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

EXAMPLES:

I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?

Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.

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The Narrative Tenses

The Narrative Tenses

Narrative tenses are the grammatical structures that you use when telling a story, or talking about situations and activities which happened at a defined past time.

When narrating past events, DO NOT mix past and present tenses (avoid using the present perfect and present simple), as these will confuse the reader/listener about when things really happened.

Here are the most common narrative tenses and how they are used:

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Superlatives and Present Perfect

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Present Continuous

USE 1:   Now                                                                                        

Use the Present Continuous with Continuous Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

EXAMPLES:

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

What are you doing?

Why aren't you doing your homework?

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Summary of Tenses

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Present Perfect Continuous

USE 1:   Duration from the Past Until Now   

 

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes", "for two weeks", and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

EXAMPLES:

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.

James has been teaching at the University since June.

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Simple Present

Simple Present

FORM Simple Present

EXAMPLE:   [ to run]

I run
you run
he runs
she runs
it runs
we run
they run

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Present Perfect

USE 1:   Unspecified Time Before Now   

 

 

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with time expressions such as "yesterday," "one year ago," "last week," "when I was a chlid," "when I lived in Japan," "at that moment," "that day" or "one day." We CAN use the Present Perfect with expressions like "ever," "never," "once," "many times," "several times," "before," "so far," "already" and "yet."

EXAMPLES:

I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.

IMPORTANT:   How do you actually use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:

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Past tense - application

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Present perfect - application

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REMEMBERING AUXILIARY VERBS

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Simple Past

Simple Past

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

We use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

 

 

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All tenses - final exercise

WRITE A SENTENCE USING THE TENSE INDICATED FOR EACH OF THE VERBS.  THE FIRST ONE IS DONE AS AN EXAMPLE.

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Simple Future

Simple Future

 

The Simple Future has two different forms in English, "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

 

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All tenses

FILL IN THE BLANKS OF THE FOLLOWING TABLES WITH THE FORM OF THE VERB IN THE GIVEN FORMS.

THE FIRST ONE IS DONE AS AN EXAMPLE.

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All tenses (To Have)

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All tenses (To Plan)

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