PRESENT SIMPLE Hablo

Trabajo
Use: Como
- Things that are true.
- Things that happen regularly, always, usually, often, every day/week/month/year, etc,
sometimes, rarely, never.

eg. I don’t teach English. I am a teacher. She usually goes to the gym.

Question form 1 using present simple

Auxiliary verb + subject + infinitive + … + ?

eg. Do you like milk?

Does he like milk?

Question form 2 using present simple

Question word + auxiliary + subject + infinitive + ?

eg. What time does class start ?

* Present simple + adverb of frequency + verb + ... . (before de verb)

eg. I never eat breakfast.

* Present simple + expressions of frequency. (at the end of the sentence)

eg. I go to Madrid one a week.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS Estoy hablando

trabajando
comiendo
Subject + be + verb + ing.
Use:
- Actions in progress at the time of speaking (not habits).
- Can be used for future arrangements.

eg. I am teaching.

Question form 1 using present continuous

Verb to be + subject + verb + ing + … + ?

eg. Is your husband waiting for you?

Are you waiting for your husband?

Question form 2 using present contidnuous

Question word + verb TO BE + subject + verb + ing + … + ?

eg. Why are you standing on the table?

ACTIONS VERBS  Verbs that describe an action; eg. read, eat (present simple and continuous).

NON ACTION VERBS  Feelings or states; eg. love (present simple).

FUTURE FORMS
1. Be going to + infinitive.
Use:
- We have already decided to do something.
- To make a prediction about the future (evidence based).

eg. I am going to live in Canada.

I am going to get a pay rise in May. (happens in our company this time every year)

2. Present continuous: Be + verb + ing.

Use:
- For future arrangements. (little difference between the two)

eg. I’m going to Canada this year. (decision already made)

I’m leaving in the summer. (shows that arrangement have been made)

3. Will / shall + infinitive.

Use:
- Will and won’t for instant decisions, promises, offers and suggestions.
- For predictions (based on your own opinion).
- To talk about future facts.

eg. I’ll have the tofu burger. (looking at a menu)

I think it will rain tomorrow. (prediction)
The course will finish on June 22nd. (fact)

USE SHALL with I and we for offers and suggestions when they are questions.

eg. Shall I do the shopping for you? (offer)

Shall we eat skip class tonight? (suggestion)

PRESENT PERFECT
He hablado
trabanjado
Subject + have / has + past participle Comido

Use:
- For past experiences when we don’t say when that occur (+ ever, never).
- Recent past action (+ just).
- With YET for negative (-) sentences (at the end).
- With ALREADY for positive (+) sentences (before main verb).

eg. I’ve been to China / Have you ever been to China? / I’ve never been to China.
I’ve just eaten my lunch.
I haven’t found a new apartment yet.
I’ve already found a new apartment.
 Hablé
PAST SIMPLE Trabajé
Comí
Regular: studied Irregular: ran

When to use present perfect or past simple:

- Present perfect: Past experience or recent past experience when we don’t mention time.

- Past simple: To talk about finished actions in the past. Used with past time expressions
(yesterday, last____, …)

PRESENT PERFECT + FOR / SINCE

Use:
- With non action verbs + for /since for something with started in the past and is still true
now.
- How long + present perfect … ? To ask about unfinished period of time.
- For + a period of time (7 month).
- Since + a point of time (2002).
- Cannot use for/since with present simple.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Llevo hablando
trabajando
Subject + have / has been + verb + ing Comiendo

Use:
- With action verbs + for/since to talk about action which started in the past and are still
true now.
- For continuous or repeated actions which have happened recently (actions just finished).

Don’t use present continuous with FOR or SINCE.

Work and live are often used in both present perfect and present perfect continuous with no
difference meaning.

MODALS OF DEDUCTION

MIGHT / MAY

Use: When you think something is possibly true (based on facts that you already know).

eg. He might be on his way to class right now.

She may not now that she passed her exam.

MUST

Use: When you are sure that something is true.

eg. Jane must have bought a new car. (antes conducía un Toyota y ahora un Audi)

CAN’T

Use: When you are sure that something is not true or impossible.
 eg. I can’t speak Portuguese
I can’t sleep when my neighbor paces back and forth for hours.

Don’t use can instead of might / may.

(can is a modal of ability and possibility)
(may and might are modal of deduction – deduction is where you reach a decision based
on know facts)

Could can be used instead of might in + sentence.

eg. He could / might be at the party.

Use be + gerund after might / must / can’t.

eg. They must be having a party.

CONDITIONALS
ZERO
Use: To talk about facts generally true.
If + present simple, Present simple.

eg. If you put water in the freezer, it becomes ice.

Present simple + if + present simple.

eg. The water becomes ice if you put in the freezer.

FIRST
Use: To talk about possible future situations and its consequences.
If + present simple, will / won’t + infinitive.

eg. If I work hard, I will pass the exam.

Will / Won’t + infinitive + if + present simple.

eg. I will pass the exam if I work hard.

Can replace IF: Unless = If…not eg. Alison won’t get into university unless she gets
good grade.

Future time clauses: when, as soon as, until, before, after…

SECOND
Use: For imaginary of hypothetical situations, present or future situations and its consequence.

If + past simple, would / wouldn’t + infinitive.

eg. If I had money, I’d go to Borneo.

If I had time, I would help you.
If I had a car, I wouldn’t go with you.

Would / wouldn’t + infinitive + if + past simple.

eg. I would go to Borneo if I had money.

I would help you if I had time.