Key Concepts in English Grammar: Tenses, Adjectives, Modals

English Grammar and Vocabulary Notes

Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Usage

• Routine, habit in the present.

Form

• Affirmative: Subject + verb (base form) or verb + -s/-es (for He, She, It).
• Negative: Subject + don't / doesn't + base form.
• Interrogative: Do / Does + Subject + base form?

Adverbs

• always, usually, often, hardly ever, rarely, ever, sometimes, ... a week.

Present Continuous

Usage

• Action happening now.

Form

• Subject + am / is / are + verb + -ing.
• Negative: Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + verb + -ing.

Rules for -ing

• If ending in -e: remove -e and add -ing (e.g., dance: dancing).
• If ending in consonant + vowel + consonant (stressed syllable): double the last consonant and add -ing (e.g., run: running).

Past Simple

Usage

• Is a specific time, started and finished in the past.

Form

• Affirmative: Subject + verb + -ed (regular) or second column (irregular).
• Negative and Interrogative: Did / Didn't + Subject + base form of the verb.

Adverbs

• yesterday, last..., in (year), the day before yesterday.

Past Continuous

Usage

• Long action interrupted by a shorter one.
• Action happening at a specific time in the past.

Form

• Subject + was / were + verb + -ing.
• Negative: Subject + wasn't / weren't + verb + -ing.

Rules

• Use Was for I, He, She, It.
• Use Were for We, You, They.

Connectors

• When + Past Simple
• While + Past Continuous

Adverbs

• Yesterday at 5:00 pm (specific time).

Going to

Usage

• Plans for the future.
• Intentions.
• Predictions based on real facts.

Form

• Subject + am / is / are + going to + base form.

Adverbs

• tomorrow, next week/month/year, etc.

Will

Usage

• Spontaneous decisions.
• Promises.
• Predictions based on thoughts.
• When offering or asking for something.

Form

• Subject + will / will not (won't) + base form.

Present Perfect Simple

Usage

• The time it occurred is not specified.
• Actions that begin in the past and continue up to the present.
• Talking about experiences.
• Action with a result in the present.

Form

• Subject + have / has + past participle (verb + -ed or third column).

Rules

• Use has for He, She, It.
• Use have for I, You, We, They.

Adverbs

• still, already, just, before, so far, since, for, ever, never.

Present Perfect Continuous

Usage

• Action that lasts up to the present.
• Incomplete activity.
• Emphasizes the duration.
• Activity that has recently finished.
• Used with since and for.

Form

• Subject + have been / has been + verb + -ing.
• Negative: Subject + haven't been / hasn't been + verb + -ing.

Rules

• Use has been for She, He, It.
• Use have been for I, We, You, They.

Used to

Usage

• Habit in the past (used to).

Form

• Affirmative: Subject + used to + base form.
• Negative: Subject + didn't use to + base form.
• Interrogative: Did + Subject + use to + base form?

Past Perfect

Usage

• Indicates an action that occurred before another action in the past.

Form

• Subject + had + past participle (verb + -ed or third column).

Have got

Usage

• Indicates possession.
• Talking about plans (less common).

Form

• Subject + have got / has got.

Rules

• Use has got for He, She, It.
• Use have got for I, You, We, They.

Adjectives

Comparatives

Usage

• Compare two objects, people, or places.

Form

• Short Adjectives (1 syllable or 2 ending in -y): Adjective + -er + than (e.g., short, easy, hot).
• Long Adjectives (2+ syllables not ending in -y): more + long adjective + than.

Superlatives

Usage

• Compare one object, person, or place with the rest of a group.

Form

• Short Adjectives: The + adjective + -est.
• Long Adjectives: The + most + long adjective.

Irregular Adjectives

• List: Good, Bad, Far.
• Comparatives: better than, worse than, further/farther than.
• Superlatives: the best, the worst, the furthest/farthest.

Modal Verbs

• Needs: need (to), needn't
• Advice: should, ought to
• Obligation: must, have to
• Prohibition: mustn't
• Ability or Capacity: can, could
• Permission: can, could, may
• Requests: can, could, will, would
• Certain Possibility: can
• Uncertain Possibility: could, may, might
• Presumptions or Certainty: must, can't
• Offering: shall, would
• Suggestion: can, should, shall

Vocabulary

• Manufacturers: fabricantes
• Raw materials: materia prima
• In bulk: grandes cantidades
• Domestic market: mercado local
• Wholesaler: mayorista
• Supplies: suministros
• Retailers: minoristas
• Warehouses: depósito
• Freight forwarder: agente de transporte
• Quoted: citado o cotizado
• Meet: encontrarse o satisfacer