English Verb Tenses, Passive Voice, Infinitives & Gerunds
English Verb Tenses Explained
Present Simple
Used for routines, habits, and general truths.
Present Continuous
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking or temporary situations.
Present Perfect
Formula: Subject + have/has + past participle
Used with ‘for’ and ‘since’, for past actions with present results or consequences, and for life experiences.
Present Perfect Continuous
Formula: Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing
Used to emphasize the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present, or recently finished actions with present results.
Past Simple
Formula: Subject + past tense verb (regular: -ed, irregular forms)
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past.
Past Continuous
Formula: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
Used for actions in progress at a specific time in the past, interrupted past actions, or two simultaneous past actions.
Past Perfect
Formula: Subject + had + past participle
Used for an action that happened before another action or specific time in the past.
Future Simple (will)
Formula: Subject + will + base infinitive
Used for predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises, and offers of help.
Future Simple (going to)
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base infinitive
Used for intentions, plans, and predictions based on present evidence.
Future Continuous
Formula: Subject + will be + verb-ing
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future or to ask politely about future plans.
Future Perfect
Formula: Subject + will have + past participle
Used for actions that will be completed by a specific time in the future.
Passive Voice Construction
The passive voice is formed using the appropriate tense of the verb ‘to be’ + past participle of the main verb.
Present Simple
Active: writes / write
Passive: is / are written
Present Continuous
Active: is / are writing
Passive: is / are being written
Past Simple
Active: wrote
Passive: was / were written
Past Continuous
Active: was / were writing
Passive: was / were being written
Present Perfect
Active: has / have written
Passive: has / have been written
Past Perfect
Active: had written
Passive: had been written
Future Simple (will)
Active: will write
Passive: will be written
Future Perfect
Active: will have written
Passive: will have been written
Simple Conditional
Active: would write
Passive: would be written
Perfect Conditional
Active: would have written
Passive: would have been written
Infinitive Forms
Active: to write / to have written
Passive: to be written / to have been written
Gerund / Participle Forms (-ing)
Active: writing / having written
Passive: being written / having been written
Infinitives and Gerunds Usage
Verbs Followed by ‘to + Infinitive’
Certain verbs are typically followed by the infinitive with ‘to’:
- afford
- agree
- appear
- attempt
- decide
- expect
- fail
- forget
- help
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- need
- offer
- plan
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- propose
- refuse
- seem
- want
- wish
- would like
Verbs + Object + ‘to + Infinitive’
Some verbs take an object before the ‘to + infinitive’:
- advise
- allow
- ask
- enable
- encourage
- expect
- forbid
- force
- help
- invite
- need
- order
- persuade
- prefer
- recommend
- remind
- teach
- tell
- want
- warn
- would like
Verbs Followed by Bare Infinitive (without ‘to’)
The infinitive without ‘to’ is used after:
- Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would)
- Let (e.g., Let me go)
- Make (in the active voice, e.g., She made him wait)
- Help (can be followed by bare infinitive or ‘to + infinitive’, e.g., He helped me carry / to carry the bags)
Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)
Certain verbs are typically followed by the gerund:
- admit
- avoid
- can’t help
- can’t stand
- consider
- deny
- dislike
- enjoy
- fancy
- feel like
- finish
- give up
- go on (continue)
- imagine
- involve
- it’s worth
- keep (on)
- like
- mind
- miss
- need (passive meaning, e.g., The car needs washing)
- practice
- resent
- resist
- risk
- stop (cease an action)
- suggest
Verbs Followed by Gerund or ‘to + Infinitive’ (Similar Meaning)
These verbs can be followed by either form with little or no change in meaning:
- attempt
- begin
- continue
- dislike
- hate
- intend
- like
- love
- prefer
- start
Verbs Followed by Gerund or ‘to + Infinitive’ (Different Meaning)
The meaning changes depending on whether a gerund or infinitive follows these verbs:
- Forget:
- forget + to + infinitive: Fail to remember to do something (future action). Ex: Don’t forget to lock the door.
- forget + gerund: Not recall a past event. Ex: I’ll never forget seeing the Grand Canyon.
- Go On:
- go on + to + infinitive: Finish one action and start a new, different action. Ex: She finished her presentation and went on to discuss next steps.
- go on + gerund: Continue doing the same action. Ex: Please go on talking; it’s interesting.
- Regret:
- regret + to + infinitive: Be sorry to announce bad news (often formal, refers to present/future). Ex: We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
- regret + gerund: Feel sorry about a past action. Ex: He regrets shouting at her.
- Remember:
- remember + to + infinitive: Not forget to do something (future action). Ex: Did you remember to buy bread?
- remember + gerund: Recall a past event or action. Ex: I remember visiting Paris as a child.
- Stop:
- stop + to + infinitive: Pause one activity temporarily to do something else. Ex: He stopped to tie his shoelace.
- stop + gerund: Cease an activity permanently or temporarily. Ex: She stopped smoking years ago.
- Try:
- try + to + infinitive: Make an effort to do something, attempt something difficult. Ex: Please try to understand my situation.
- try + gerund: Experiment with something to see if it works or if you like it. Ex: Try adding less sugar next time.