Master English Grammar: Verb Tenses and Modals
Future with “Going To”
“Going to” is used when talking about future intentions, for example, “I’m going to eat more fruit.” The structure is: be + going to + base form of the verb.
- Affirmative: Subject + verb to be + going to + verb infinitive
- Negative: Subject + verb to be + not + going to + verb infinitive
- Question: Verb to be + subject + going to + verb infinitive
The phrase “going to” indicates future actions with evidence or prior knowledge. For example, “My sister is going to have a baby. It’s due in three weeks.” (You see that she is pregnant, and therefore, she will have a baby.)
It is also used for an intention or plan. For example, “The astronauts are going to send regular reports back to Earth.” (That’s the intention).
Vocabulary
- Take up: Occupy
- Give up: Abandon, quit
- Throw away: Discard
- Work out: Exercise
- Keep it up: Continue
Must and Mustn’t
“Must” is used when something is necessary. For example, “You must have a passport to travel abroad.”
- To express what someone thinks is necessary (opinion). “You must tidy your room.”
- To prohibit something in the negative form – “must not” or “mustn’t” – for something you should not do. “You mustn’t be late.” (You should not be late).
Subject + must + base form of the verb + complement.
Should
“Should” is used to give advice; it means “you ought to.” “Should” is used with all subjects without changing its form. “I should work harder.” The negative is “shouldn’t,” also used for all persons without change. “We shouldn’t arrive late.”
For questions, the structure is: “Should” + subject + infinitive verb without “to.” For example, “Should I study this chapter for the exam?”
Vocabulary
- Kind: (Well-meaning) / Unkind
- Cheerful: (Happy) / Miserable
- Polite: (Respectful) / Rude
- Honest: (Truthful) / Dishonest
- Organized: (Orderly) / Disorganized
- Relaxed: (Calm) / Nervous
- Hard-working: (Diligent) / Lazy
- Friendly: (Amicable) / Unfriendly
First Conditional with “If”
The first conditional is used when the condition indicates that something is very likely to be met. For example, “If Kate gives me some…”
Structure: [Subject + will + verb + complement] + [Subject + verb + complement]
“Will” is used for the result, and “will not” for the negative.
“If” is used for situations.
When and If
“When” implies certainty about something happening. For example, “I’ll give Isaac your message when I see him.” (When he sees him, he will give Isaac the message.)
“If” implies uncertainty. “If” is used when something is not very likely, and “when” is used when it is probable.
Adjectives of Feeling
Add “ing” to describe situations that make us feel something.
When it is a personal feeling, add “ed” to the end of the adjective.
Vocabulary
- Bored
- Frightened
- Interested
- Tired, exhausted
- Excited, enthusiastic, frantic
- Annoyed, disgusted, exasperated
Present Perfect
Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle + complement. For example, “Have you seen that movie many times?”
Negative: Subject + have not/hasn’t + past participle + complement.
Questions: Have/has + subject + past participle + complement?
“I/you/they/we” use “have.”
“He/she/it” uses “has.”
Present Perfect Continuous
The “present perfect continuous” tense refers to actions that started in the past and continue in the present. For example, “I have been studying.” This means that the studying began in the past and is still ongoing.