Tense Use Structure Examples

Present perfect Used to talk about past Affitmative: Subject + have/has + past + I have eaten
actions that have a participle of the verb. - I haven’t eaten
connection to the Negative: Subject + haven't/hasn't + past ? Have you eaten?
present. participle.
Question: Have/Has + subject + past
participle

Past continuous To describe actions in Affirmative: Subject + was/were + gerund Affirmative: She was reading at 9 pm
progress at a specific (ing) Negative: You weren’t studying.
time in the past. Negative: Subject + was/were + not + Question: Was she cooking dinner?
To describe background gerund (ing)
actions in a story. Question: Was / were + subject + gerund
To indicate an action that (ing) + ?
was interrupted by
another action.

Past Perfect To describe an action Affirmative: Subject + had + past Affirmative: She had finished the test
finished before another participle Affirmative: She hadn’t finished the test
past action Negative: Subject + hadn’t + past Question: Had she finished the test?
participle
Question: Had + Subject + past participle
+?

Going to We use going to to talk Affirmativa: 1. I am going to visit my grandmother

about future plans, Subject + verb to be (am / is / are) + tomorrow.
intentions, or predictions going to + base verb 2. She is not going to eat breakfast
based on evidence. Negative: today.
Subject + verb to be (am/is/are) + not + 3. Are we going to play soccer this
going to + base verb afternoon?
Interrogative:
Verb to be (Am/Is/Are) + subject + going
to + base verb?
Future may We use may in the future Subject + may + base verb + complement 1. Possibility:
to express: I may travel to Spain next year.
She may get a new job soon.
1. Possibility → They may not pass the exam if they
something that could don’t study.
happen, but we are not
sure. 2. Permission (formal):
Students may use the library after 8
2. Permission (formal) → p.m. starting next week.
something that will be Employees may take an extra day off
allowed in the future. during the holidays.

Present The present continuous Affirmative: Affirmative:

Continuous in English can be used to Subject + verb TO BE + verb –ing + I'm having a party tonight.
talk about future plans, complement + time expression Negative:
especially when it comes Negative: She is not doing her homework after
to arrangements or Subject + verb TO BE+ not + verb –ing + dinner.
agreements already in complement + time expression Interrogative:
place. Interrogative: Are Jamie and his family flying to
Verb TO BE + subject + verb –ing + Toronto next week?
complement + time expression ? Or
Or: What are we having for dinner?
Question word (wh... questions) + verb
TO BE + subject + verb –ing + time
expression ?

Present simple The present simple tense Possitive Affirmative

is used for daily routines, Subject + base verb + complement -​ They study English every day.
habits, general truths, Negative
permanent situations and Subject + do/does not + base verb + Negative
instructions. complement -​ She doesn't like Coffee.
Interrogative
Do/Does + subject +base verb + compl. + Interrogative
? -​ Do you work on weekends.
Can Can is used to talk about Affirmative: Subject + can + bare infinitive ●​ She can sing.
present--or ●​ I can't finish my homework
general--abilities and Negative: Subject + can't/cannot + bare today.
possibilities. You can use infinitive ●​ Can you help me?
it to talk about abilities, ●​ Why can't you attend the
skills, or talents, and you Yes/No Question: Can/Can't + subject + meeting?
can use it to talk about bare infinitive
what is possible to
do.Can't and cannot are Wh- Question: Wh- + can/can't + subject
also used in some + bare infinitive
exaggerated idiomatic
sentences. ●​ I could read when I was three
years old.
Affirmative: Subject + could + bare ●​ She couldn't work for six
infinitive months after her accident
●​ Could you do what you wanted?
It is used to talk about Negative: Subject + couldn't/could not + ●​ What could you see?
Could past abilities and bare infinitive
possibilities. You use it to
talk about what abilities, Yes/No Question: Could/Could + subject
skills, or talents you had + bare infinitive
or developed in the past,
and what was possible Wh- Question: Wh- + could/couldn't +
for you to do in the past. subject + bare infinitive

Present simple The present simple can Affirmative: Subject + base verb (+ -s/-es Affirmative: The class begins at 10
(future) be used to talk about the for third person singular) + future time o’clock next monday
future when we refer to expression. Negative: The concert does not start at
timetables, schedules, Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base 9 p.m. on Friday.
and official programs. verb + future time expression. Interrogative: Does the bus leave at
These are events that Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + base 8:00 tomorrow?
are considered fixed, verb + future time expression + ?
planned, or outside
 personal control (e.g.,
transport, school
timetables, TV
programs).

Modal Shall and Use “Shall” to express Affirmative: Shall:

Should future obligations, Subject + Shall/Should + Base Verb + +​ I shall write a report tomorrow.
intentions or certainties Complement -​ I shall not attend the meeting this
evening
Negative: ? Shall I bring some snacks for the
Use “Should” to offer Subject + Shall/Should + Not + Base trip?
recommendations, Verb + Complement
advice or suggestions Should:
Interrogative: +​ You should eat more vegetables
Shall/Should + Subject + Base Verb + for your health.
Complement -​ You shouldn’t skip breakfast every
day
? Should we take a taxi to the airport?

Modals May and Both express probability Subject + may/might + base verb + • I may go to the party.
Might or possibility complement • She might call you later.

May: Higher degree of Negative: • I may not attend the meeting.

probability. Subject + may/might + not + base verb + • He might not come today
Might: Lower degree of complement
probability.
Interrogative:
It also helps when we May/Might + subject + base verb +
want to express that two complement?
situations are opposite,
but one does not prevent
the other.

Future The Future Continuous is •Affirmative

Continuous used to talk about
 actions that will be Subject + will/shall + be + main verb
happening at a specific (-ing) + complement
moment in the future.
•Negative

Subject + will not (won’t)/shall not (shan’t)

+ be + main verb (-ing) + complement

•Interrogative

Will/shall + Subject + be + main verb

(-ing) + complement?

Must / have to They are both used to Must Must

express obligation, but Affirmative: Affirmative:
they have different Subject + Must + Verb infinitive + We must wear uniform at school.
nuances. complement. Negative:
-​ Must: is used for Negative: Students mustn’t smoke at school.
internal Subject + Must not/ mustn’t + Verb Interrogative:
obligations, infinitive + Complement. Must it be that way?
personal Interrogative: Have To
decisions, or very Must + Subject + Verb Infinitive + Affirmative:
strict rules, while. Complement + ? You have to get a visa in order to enter
-​ Have to: is used Have To the United Kingdom.
for external Affirmative: Negative:
obligations, Subject + Have to + Verb infinitive + You don’t have to pay for the entrance.
imposed rules, or complement. The fee is voluntary.
circumstances. Negative: Interrogative:
Subject + Do/Does not (Don’t/Doesn’t) + Do you have to get a visa to enter
Have to + Verb infinitive + Complement. Europe?
Interrogative:
Do/Does + Subject + Have To + Verb
Infinitive + complement + ?
Need/ Needed ●​ Use need in the ●​ Affirmative ●​ Affirmative:
present simple subject + need/needs + object They need some help or We
with I, you, we, need to study for the exam
they and in the ●​ Negative
infinitive with “to” Subject + do/does + not + need + ●​ Negativa:
or with a noun. object. I do not don't need to study.
●​ Used needed as
the simple past or ●​ Interrogative ●​ Interrogative:
past participle of Do/Does + Sujeto + need + Does he need to come?
the verb need to objeto?
express a need in
the past or as an
adjective

Future will Probably future events. Affirmative: Affirmative:

Decisions or Subject + auxiliary will + infinitive verb + She will come to the country next year
spontaneous ideas. complement Negative:
Willingness to do an Negative: They will not cook this week
activity. Subject + auxiliary will + not + infinitive Question:
give orders. verb + complement Will he play in the next match?
propose or invite Question:
something. Auxiliary will + subject + infinitive verb +
complement?

Present Used for actions

Continuous happening at the
moment of speaking,
temporary situations, and
future arrangement
Other/ another/ Other Affirmative: Subject + verb + other + noun I need other books.
other Used to refer to Negative: Subject + auxiliary + not + verb We don’t need other information.
something or someone + other + noun ¿Do you have other questions?
different or additional. Question: Auxiliary + subject + verb +
other + noun + ?
Others
Pronoun form of “other”. Affirmative: Subject + verb + others Some students are reading, others are
Replaces “other + noun” Negative: Subject + auxiliary + not + verb writing.
when the noun is already + others He didn’t invite me, but he invited
clear or known. Question: Auxiliary + subject + verb + others.
others + ? ¿Are there others waiting outside?
Another
Means one more Affirmative: Subject + verb + another + She bought another dress.
(additional) or a different singular noun I don’t want another problem.
one. Used only with Negative: Subject + auxiliary + not + verb ¿Would you like another slice of cake?
singular countable + another + singular noun
nouns. Question: Auxiliary + subject + verb +
another + singular noun + ?

Past simple To express something Affirmative: Subject + verb in past + I watched TV last night
that happened once in complement I Did not watched TV last night
the past Negative: Subject + did not + verb in past Did I watch TV last night?
tense + complement
Question: Did + Subject + Base form verb
+ complement

Verb + A direct object receives Sentence Structures Direct Object:

direct/inderect the action of a verb, Affirmative: The noun or pronoun that directly
object answering "who?" or Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct receives the action of the verb.
"what?" after the verb, Object Example: "He read the book." ("the
while an indirect object Example: He gave her the book. book" is the direct object).
receives the direct Negative:
object and answers "to Subject + DO/Auxiliary Verb + Not + Verb Indirect Object:
+ Indirect Object + Direct Object
whom?" or "for whom?" it Example: He did not give her the book. The noun or pronoun that receives the
is done Interrogative: direct object.
DO/Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb + Example: "He read her the book." ("her"
Indirect Object + Direct Object? is the indirect object, "the book" is the
Example: Did he give her the book? direct object).