ENGLISH GRAMMAR
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
1) WHO?
2) DID/DOES WHAT?
3) TO WHOM?
4) HOW? WHEN? WHERE?
Percy and Mark apologised to Rudy profusely yesterday.
The black dog in spots bit me hard on the leg.
The photos will be developed for us at half price next week.
We talked and talked with each other constantly.
CONDITIONALS
1. What will you do if they catch you? – If they catch me, I will go to prison.
2. What would you do if they caught you? – If they caught me, I would go to prison.
3. What would you have done if they had caught you? – If they had caught me, I would have gone to prison.
4. Where would you now be if you had won the lottery last week?
5. I will make the bed for as long as you promise to make me breakfast in the morning.
Unless you have better ideas, I suggest consulting a specialist. We’re gonna head back home unless he shows up.
UNREAL PAST and PRESENT
If only he wasn’t so lazy, perhaps he could finally get a job.
If only James hadn’t been so rude to his boss the other day,
perhaps he wouldn’t have been fired.
I wish we didn’t have to go there, I’m really tired.
Why is he behaving as if he was my father? (he isn’t my father)
I would prefer it if you stopped smoking in here.
You look as if a train had run you over.
PAST PERFECT
Had you locked the door before you went out? – No, I hadn’t locked the door before I went out.
PAST SIMPLE
What did you do to get such a good job? – I didn’t do anything special, just applied for it.
Wasn’t she the one who lied to you? – No, it was Jenna, Suzie never lied to me.
PAST SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
What were you doing yesterday morning? – I was cleaning the kitchen.
Why was he screaming at her. – He was screaming because he was angry.
They were sleeping when I walked in. She was drawing while I was writing poetry.
Signal words: while, when, in the
meantime, meanwhile, as, during,
USED TO and WOULD
Can you see that supermarket? There used to be a school right there. / I used to live there.
Did you use to smoke when you were younger? – No, I never used to smoke. / I didn’t USE to smoke.
He promised he would help me. I tried opening it but it wouldn’t move.
Every evening, my grandpa would tell me a story from his childhood.
PRESENT PERFECT
Have you already done your homework? –No, I haven’t done it yet.
Has he ever been to China before? – Yes, he has been to china twice so far.
Signal words: recently, yet, since, never, ever,
so far, already, before, just, always
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
What have you been thinking about recently? – I’ve been thinking about moving abroad.
I’ve been wondering whether you would be kind enough to explain this to me?
PRESENT SIMPLE
What do you usually drink? – I usually drink coffee, but I try to avoid alcohol.
When does our plane leave? – Our plane leaves at about half past four.
Don’t you ever get tired? – No, I don’t get tired easily.
Signal words: always, never, usually,
typically, every day, always, every week,
regularly, seldom, rarely,
PRESENT SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
What is happening there? – They are arguing about something.
Our society is becoming more and more obsessed with money. Family life is changing in Britain.
FUTURE SIMPLE
What will you do next? – I think I will find myself a new job, that’s what I’ll do.
Won’t she miss us? – No, she says she won’t, but I believe she definitely will.
FUTURE SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
What will you be doing this time tomorrow? – I will be swimming in a lake.
FUTURE PERFECT
By the end of the year I will have worked here for two and a half years.
He will have finished by the time we get there.
Signal words: BY the time…, by 2050, by
now, by next week,
GOING TO
Are you going to help us? – No, I am not going to help you right now. (= I’m not gonna help’ya)
Do you think it is going to snow tonight? – Yes, it’s definitely going to snow.
