Mastering Essential English Grammar Points

English Grammar Essentials

Verb Tenses

Simple Present

Used for the 3rd person singular with -s. Auxiliary verbs Do or Does are used for questions and negatives, except with 'to be', 'have got', and modal verbs.

• EJ: I am Gara / Are you Gara? / She lives in Santa Cruz / Do you live in Arafo?

Present Continuous

Used for actions happening at this moment, now. Formed with the verb 'to be' + verb with -ing.

• EJ: I am reading / She is writing / Is she writing?

Past Simple

Used for a finished action. Auxiliary verb did for interrogative and negative forms. Use the second column of irregular verbs or add -ed to regular verbs.

• EJ: I went to the cinema yesterday / I played football yesterday / Did you go to the cinema? / I didn't go...

Past Continuous

Used for an action in progress in the past. Formed with was/were + verb -ing.

• EJ: I was reading / She was having breakfast when he phoned me.

Present Perfect

Used for a past action that continues up to the present or has a result in the present. Formed with have/has + third column (past participle).

• EJ: He has just arrived.

Present Perfect Continuous

Used for an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, focusing on duration.

• EJ: He has been working for two hours.

Past Perfect

Used for an action that happened prior to another past action. Formed with had + third column.

• EJ: He had finished when I arrived.

Future Simple (Will)

Used for conditions, spontaneous decisions, and schedules.

• EJ: I will sing with you.

Be Going To

1. Used for plans or intentions that have already been decided. Formed with am, are, is + going to + infinitive verb.
2. Used for predictions based on evidence (less common).

• EJ 1: I am going to travel to London next week.
• EJ 2: Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.

Question Words

• WHAT / WHICH - ¿Cuál? (de estas)
• WHERE - ¿Dónde?
• WHEN - ¿Cuándo?
• HOW - ¿Cómo?
• HOW MANY - ¿Cuántos/as? (contable)
• HOW LONG - ¿Cuánto tiempo?
• HOW FAR - ¿Cuánta distancia? / ¿Cómo de lejos?
• WHOSE - ¿De quién?
• WHO - ¿Quién?

Phrasal Verbs & Vocabulary

• well-known - muy conocido
• check over - revisar/corregir
• get across - comunicar
• get off - bajarse (bus, train, etc.)
• get on - progresar
• turn down - bajar (volumen)
• work at - mejorar/intentar
• write down - apuntar/anotar

Adjectives & Synonyms

• challenging / thought-provoking - estimulante
• bland / uninteresting - soso
• soothing / relaxing - relajante
• high-pitched / piercing - agudo
• ear-splitting / deafening - ensordecedor
• catchy / easy to remember - fácil de recordar/pegadizo

Adverbs of Time: Just, Already, Yet

These are often used with the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle).

• JUST: justo ahora / acaba de. EJ: She has just arrived.
• ALREADY: ya (used in affirmative sentences). EJ: She has already seen this film.
• YET: todavía (used in negative and interrogative sentences). EJ: I haven't finished the book yet. / Have you finished the book yet?

Comparatives and Superlatives

• EJ: Younger people want to be like older people because they are happier.
• EJ: That car is more expensive than this one.
• EJ: That car is the most expensive.

Irregular forms:

• good - better - the best
• bad - worse - the worst

State Verbs

Normally used in the Simple Present.

• Sentiments: love, like, hate, want, wish.
• EJ: I like eating.
• EJ: I want to go to the cinema. (Note: 'want' is followed by 'to' + infinitive)

Used To

Used for past habits or states (similar to the Past Simple).

• EJ: I used to go to the cinema every week.
• EJ: Did you use to go to the cinema?
• EJ: You didn't use to go to the cinema.

Time Clauses

Introduced by conjunctions like: when, as soon as, after, before, until.

• EJ: I will phone you after the match has finished.
• EJ: I will see you when you arrive.
• EJ: As soon as they finished the exam, they went out.
• EJ: He won't come until you have phoned.

Modal Perfects

• may/might HAVE + past participle: Possibility in the Past. EJ: She may/might have won the competition.
• must HAVE + past participle: Certainty in the Past (positive). EJ: The gig must have finished late.
• can't HAVE + past participle: Certainty in the Past (negative). EJ: The gig can't have finished late.
• should/shouldn't HAVE + past participle: Criticism of Past Actions / Advice about the Past. EJ: You should have left earlier. (Meaning: You decided you should have left earlier.)