Past simple

The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past
simple verbs have -ed at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different
form, usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).
Eg.:
My parents called me yesterday.
I woke up early this morning.
Sam played basketball when he was at university.
We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.
Eg.:
My parents didn't call me yesterday.
I didn't wake up early this morning.
We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.
Eg.:
Did you wake up early this morning?
Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?

Past continuous
The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the
past.
Eg.: What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.
This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.
The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for
a moment.
Eg.: We were cleaning the house all morning.
We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.
Eg.:
She couldn't come to the party. She was working.
Three years ago, we were living in my home town.
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.
What were you doing this time last year?

Present simple

We use the present simple for habits or permanent situations.

Habits or actions that happen regularly

We use the present simple for habits or actions that we repeat regularly:

 I wash my hair every day.

 I never go to the library.
 I go to the library on Saturdays.

Permanent situations or things that are always or often true

 I don’t drink coffee.

 She’s very tall.
 I have two brothers.
 Water boils at 100 degrees.
 I like soup.

Adverbs and expressions of frequency

We use adverbs and expressions of frequency with the present simple to talk about how often
something happens.

 We usually order a pizza on Fridays.

 I go running twice a week.

Stative or non-action verbs

Some verbs don’t describe actions. These verbs are called stative or non-action verbs, and
we can use these verbs in the present simple but NOT in the present continuous. Some of
these verbs are be, have (=possess/own), like, love, hate, prefer, need, want, know, etc.

Present continuous

We use the present continuous for things that are happening now (at the moment of speaking)
or for temporary things that are happening around now (these days or weeks, etc.).

Actions happening now

We use the present continuous for things happening now, at the moment of speaking.

 ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I‘m watching TV.’

Actions happening around now

We use the present continuous for temporary things that are happening around now (=not
at the moment of speaking but these days, weeks, etc.)

 I‘m reading a very good book at the moment. (=I’m not reading it at the moment I’m
speaking, but I’m reading it these days.)
  What TV series are you watching these days? (=You are not watching it at the
moment of speaking, but these days.)

Now, these days, at the moment, etc.

We use the present continuous with time expressions that mean now or around now. Some
of these expressions are: now, at the moment, at present, today, these days, this week, etc.

ING Form
Here are six common uses of the "-ing" form:

1. The "-ing" form is used in progressive verb tenses with auxiliary verbs (helping verbs).
These are in active voice. Here are some examples:

 I am doing my homework.
 I have been writing all day.
 I was writing when the pizza arrived.

2. The "-ing" form can function as a noun. These nouns are called gerunds and can be
the subject of a clause, followed by a third-person singular (he/she/it) form of the verb. The
gerund in the following sample sentences is bolded, and the verb is italicized:

 Writing is an important skill.

 Hiking is one of my favorite activities.
 Reading before bed helps me fall asleep.

3. The "-ing" noun (or gerund) can be the direct object of certain verbs. Some verbs that are
followed by a gerund are the following:

 Admit
 Avoid
 Consider
 Deny
 Discuss
 Practice
 Recall
 Suggest

The verb in the following sample sentences is italicized, and the gerund is bolded:

 He often avoids answering his phone.

 I considered conducting semistructured interviews.
  She suggested taking notes.

4. The "-ing" form is used after a preposition. The preposition in the following example
sentences is italicized, and the "–ing" is bolded:

 Before conducting the research, it is necessary to complete a literature review.

 Her experience in interviewing will be beneficial.
 He is bad at remembering appointments.
 They complained about driving in rush hour.

5. Adjectives are sometimes formed using "-ing". The "-ing" in the following example
sentences is bolded:

 I read an interesting book.

 The barking dog was annoying.

6. The "-ing" form is sometimes used to include additional information in a sentence in

a reduced relative clause. The "-ing" in the following example sentences is bolded, and the
full relative clause is italicized:

 The woman wearing a dress is sitting by the window. (The woman who is wearing a
dress is sitting by the window.)
 The pens sitting on the desk belong to the teacher. (The pens that are sitting on the
desk belong to the teacher.)

Infinitive
Here are four common uses of infinitives ("to" + base form of the verb):

1. The infinitive is required after certain verbs in English. Some verbs that take an infinitive
following them are the following:

 Agree
 Choose
 Claim
 Decide
 Expect
 Manage
 Need
 Offer
 Plan
  Prove
 Refuse
 Want
 Wish

The verb in the following example sentences is italicized, and the infinitive is bolded:

 I decided to go to a movie.
 He expected to obtain reliable results.
 She offered to help.

2. The infinitive is also used after certain verb + direct object structures. Some verbs that use
this pattern are the following:

 Advise
 Allow
 Ask
 Encourage
 Help*
 Need
 Persuade
 Require

In the following example sentences, the verb is italicized, the direct object is bolded and
italicized, and the infinitive is bolded:

 I advised him to stay. ("Him" is the direct object here.)

 I encouraged the participants to ask questions. ("Participants" is the direct object
here.)
 She required us to sign the consent form. ("Us" is the direct object here.)
 He helped me to learn to read. He helped me learn to read. (With the verb "help," the
infinitive can be used with or without "to." "Me" is the direct object here.)

3. Infinitives are used after certain adjectives. Some adjectives that are followed by infinitives
are the following:

 Difficult
 Easy
 Impossible
 Wrong

The adjective in the following example sentences is italicized, and the infinitive is bolded:

 It was difficult to complete the rough draft.

 She thought it was impossible to remember all the rules.
  I was wrong to assume you did not understand.

4. Infinitives are used to express purpose (in order to do something). The infinitive in the
following sample sentences is bolded:

 She is driving quickly (in order) to arrive on time.

 He completed all his homework (in order) to earn a good grade.
 I rewrote my draft three times (in order) to revise it the best I could.