Modals

Modal Verbs And Their Meaning 

 

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What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They are used to indicate modality. They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.

Use of modal verbs:

Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:

1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
8. probability

Remember

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to"

Examples:

• You must stop when the traffic lights turn red
• You should see to the doctor
• There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.

Exception:

• You ought to go to the doctor

A list of modals

Here is a list of modals:

Modal Verb	Meaning	Expressing	Example
must	to have to	100 % obligation	I must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
	to be very probable	logical conclusion (deduction)	He must be very tired after such enormous work
must not	not to be allowed to	prohibition	You must not smoke in the hospital.
can	to be able to	ability	I can swim
	to be allowed to	permission	Can I use your phone please?
	it is possible	possibility	Smoking can cause cancer !
could	to be able to	ability in the past	When I was younger I could stay up all night and not get tired..
	to be allowed to	more polite permission	Excuse me, could I just say something?
	it is possible	possibility	It could rain tomorrow!
may	to be allowed to	permission	May I use your phone please?
	it is possible, probable	possibility, probability	It may rain tomorrow!
might	to be allowed to	more polite permission	Might I use your phone please?
	it is possible, probable	weak possibility, probability	I might come and visit you in America next year, if I can save enough money.
need	necessary	necessity	Need I say more?
need not	not necessary	lack of necessity/absence of obligation	I need not buy any tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge.
should/ought to	used to say or ask what is the correct or best thing to do	50 % obligation	I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
	to suggest an action or to show that it is necessary	advice	You should / ought to revise your lessons
	to be very probable	logical conclusion (deduction)	He should / ought to be very tired after such enormous work
had better	to suggest an action or to show that it is necessary	advice	You 'd better revise your lessons

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Shall and Will

Shall and Will

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What is the difference between shall and will?

Shall is not used often in modern English especially in American English. In fact, shall and will have the same meaning and are used to refer to the simple future. They are use as follows:

• will is used with all persons
  

  I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will	go there

• shall is used with the first person singular and plural
  

  I, we	shall	go

• The short form of will and shall is 'll
  

  I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will or 'll	call you

  
  

  I, we	shall or 'll	call you

• In the negative, the short forms of will not and shall not are won't and shan't respectively
  

  I, you, he, she, it, we, they	won't	give up

  
  

  I, we	shan't	give up

Uses of shall

It should be noted that shall is often used to make suggestions, offers or ask for advice. It is used in questions as follows:

• Shall we stay or go out?
• Shall we dance?
• Shall I get his phone number if I meet him?
• What shall I do to get rid of my acne?

As said above shall is used with first person singular and plural (I and we.) But there is a very special use of shall with other persons to make a promise, command or threat as noted below:

• You shall not get in! (Command)
• You shall pay for it. (Threat)
• You shall get your money back soon. (Promise)

In American English shall is mainly used in formal or legal documents:

• You shall abide by the law.
• There shall be no trespassing on this property.
• Students shall not enter this room.

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Gerunds

Gerunds (-ing)

When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand that they are not the same.
When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:

• Fishing is fun.

When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present participle:

• Anthony is fishing.
• I have a boring teacher.

Gerunds are sometimes called "verbal nouns".

In this lesson, we look at how we use gerunds, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:

• Smoking costs a lot of money.
• I don't like writing.
• My favourite occupation is reading.

But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.

• Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
• I don't like writing letters.
• My favourite occupation is reading detective stories.

Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):

• pointless questioning
• a settling of debts
• the making of Titanic
• his drinking of alcohol

But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

• a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
• Making "Titanic" was expensive.
• The making of "Titanic" was expensive.

Gerunds after Prepositions

This is a good rule. It has no exceptions!
If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use an infinitive after a preposition. So for example, we say:

• I will call you after arriving at the office.
• Please have a drink before leaving.
• I am looking forward to meeting you.
• Do you object to working late?
• Tara always dreams about going on holiday.

Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns:

• I will call you after my arrival at the office.
• Please have a drink before your departure.
• I am looking forward to our lunch.
• Do you object to this job?
• Tara always dreams about holidays.

 

Gerunds after Certain Verbs

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the infinitive form, for example:

• I want to eat.

But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example:

• I dislike eating.

This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in gerund form:

• admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, report, resent, risk, can't stand, suggest, understand

Look at these examples:

• She is considering having a holiday.
• Do you feel like going out?
• I can't help falling in love with you.
• I can't stand not seeing you.

Gerunds in Passive Sense

We often use a gerund after the verbs need, require and want. In this case, the gerund has a passive sense.

• I have three shirts that need washing. (need to be washed)
  
  
• This letter requires signing. (needs to be signed)
  
  
• The house wants repainting. (needs to be repainted)

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Conjunctions

Conjunctions

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What are conjunctions?

A conjunction is a part of speech that joins two words, phrases or clauses together.
There are three types of conjunctions:

Coordinating Conjunctions	Correlative Conjunctions	Common Subordinating Conjunctions
and but or nor	either...or neither...nor not only...but also both...and whether...or	after before although though even though as much as as long as as soon as because since so that	in order that so if lest even if that unless until when where whether while

Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that connect two or more equal items.
Examples:

• He plays tennis and soccer
• He works quickly but accurately
• You'd better do your homework, or you'll get a terrible grade.

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs.They work in pairs to coordinate two items. Examples of correlative conjunctions include both...and..., either...or, not only... but also...
Examples:

• I didn't know that she can neither read nor write.
• You can either walk to school or take the bus.
• Both Sara and James are invited to the party.
• Whether you watch TV or do your homework is your decision.
• Not only are they noisy but they are also lazy.

Subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions, also called subordinators, are conjunctions that join a dependent (or subordinating) clause to an independent (or main) clause.
Examples:

• He reads the newspapers after he finishes work.
• Even if you get the best grade in the writing test, you'll need to pass an oral test.
• Although he is very old, he goes jogging every morning.
• She didn't go to school because she was ill.
• They went to bed since it was late
• As soon as the teacher had arrived, they started work.

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GRAMMAR

What is Grammar?

Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules*. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.
Do we need to study grammar to learn a language? The short answer is "no". Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word "grammar". But if you are serious about learning a foreign language, the long answer is "yes, grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently." It's important to think of grammar as something that can help you, like a friend. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
So think of grammar as something good, something positive, something that you can use to find your way - like a signpost or a map.
* Except invented languages like Esperanto. And if Esperanto were widely spoken, its rules would soon be very different.

 

English Grammar Reference Lessons

This is a list of grammar lessons arranged in different categories:
1. English tenses,
2. clauses,

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Clauses

Clauses

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What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate. There are two major types of clauses:

• Independent clauses
• Dependent clauses

Independent clauses

An indpendent clause, also called a main clause, is like a sentence. It consits of a subject and a predicate and can stand alone like a sentence.
Examples:

• She died last week
• He likes her.

Dependent clauses

A dependent clause, also called subordinate clause, has a subject and a verb but, unlike a dependent clause, it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

• because I am in love.
• that you lent me.
• who is over there.

Conditional Sentences

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Conditional Sentence Type 0

Conditional type zero is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts or things which always happen under certain conditions.

Form:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

Use:

The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts, general truths:
Examples:

If you cross an international date line, the time changes.
Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.
NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met. It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Future

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 1 refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.
Example:

If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match.

I may have time to watch the match but I'm not sure about it.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation. It is very unlikely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form:

if + Simple Past, + would + base verb

Were / Was

In conditional type 2, we usually use in the if clause "were" instead of "was" even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it. "were" here is a subjunctive form.
NOTE "was" is also a possible form.

Example:

If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle.

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 2 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change because it is very unlikely.

Example:

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

It is impossible that the condition will be met because it refers to the past.

Form:

if + Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle

Use

Conditional Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They express hypothetical results to past given situations.

Example:

If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that terrible accident.
Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so fast. So he had a terrible accident

Things to remember

1. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Examples:

"Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air."
" I will send her an invitation if I find her address."
" I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars."
"He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful."

2. Main clause and/or if clause might be negative.

Example:

If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.
If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.

Relative Clauses

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What are relative clauses?

A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a noun phrase.
Example:

The man who is smoking is the murderer

The noun the man is modified by the relative clause who is smoking.
Relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about.

How to use relative clauses

They are used to provide extra information. This information can either:

• define something (defining clause),
  Example:
  The girl who is standing there is a world champion in karate.
• or provide unnecessary, but interesting information (non-defining clause).
  Example:
  Michael Jackson, who was a famous singer, died of an overdose.

Relative clauses can be introduced by:

1. A relative pronoun: who, whom, which, that, whose.
   
   Example: "The man who is standing there is a famous writer."
   
   
2. A relative adverb: where, why and when.
   
   Example: " The restaurant where I have dinner is nice."
   
   
3. None of them.
   
   Example: "The man I met is extremely wealthy"

Relative Pronouns

who - subject or object pronoun for people

They caught the lady who killed her baby.

which - subject or object pronoun

I read the book which is on the table.
I visited the town which you told me about.

which - referring to a whole sentence

They were unsuccessful which is disappointing.

whom - used for object pronoun for people, especially in non-restrictive relative clauses (in restrictive relative clauses use who)

The boy whom you told me about got the best grades in mathematics.

that - subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in restrictive relative clauses (who or which are also possible)

I like the vase that is over there.

Relative adverbs

where - referring to a place

The restaurant where I usually have dinner is nice.

when - referring to a time

There are times when I feel so lonely.

why - referring to a reason

This is why she refused the offer.

Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun?

You can distinguish subject and object pronouns as follows:

• If the relative pronoun is not followed by a noun or pronoun, it is a subject pronoun. Subject relative pronouns can never be omitted (dropped.)
  Example:
  The apple which is lying on the table is sweet.
  The teacher who lives next door is nice.
  
  
• If the relative pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun, the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. Object relative pronouns can be omitted (dropped) in restrictive (defining) relative clauses.
  Example:
  The film (which) we watched yesterday was fantastic.
  The writer (who/whom) we met last weekend is very famous.

Restrictive Relative Clauses

1. Restrictive (identifying or defining) relative clauses give detailed necessary information. They are not put between commas.

I know the man who is standing there

2. These clauses are often used in definitions.

A novelist is someone who writes novels.

3. Object pronouns in these clauses can be omitted (dropped.)

Example:
The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is from New York.

Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses

Non- restrictive (non-identifying or non- defining) relative clauses give interesting additional information which is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. These clauses are put between commas.

Example:
Martin Luther king, who was known for his fight for the civil rights, was assassinated in 1968.

Note:
In non restrictive relative clauses:
1. who/which may not be replaced with that.

Example:
Jim, who we met yesterday, is very nice.
NOT
Jim, that we met yesterday, is very nice.

2. Object relative pronouns cannot be dropped.

Example:
Jim, who we met yesterday, is very nice.
NOT
Jim,we met yesterday, is very nice.

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Examples of English Tenses

Examples of English Tenses

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English tenses

These are examples of the English tenses. The table is provided to help you recall the different tenses studied in previous lessons. For more detailed explanations you should visit the Grammar Study Pages and study the different tenses.

Explanations	Present Simple
Action that is repeated every Friday. Habitual action.	I visit my uncle every Friday
Facts that are believed to be true. Generalizations	Cats hate mice. The sun rises in the morning.
Scheduled events in the near future	The plane takes off at 10 o'clock tonight

Explanations	Present Progressive
Action that takes place now / at the moment	I am working on my computer
Near future	I am leaving tomorrow

Explanations	Present Perfect
To talk about experiences	I have been to Italy.
Past action that has the result in the present.	She has read that book.
Action which started in the past and continued up to now.	I have lived in this town for 12 years.

Explanations	Present Perfect Progressive
To show that something started in the past and has continued up until now.	He has been sleeping for the last 3 hours
To talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently.	The grass is wet because it has been raining all day long.
To talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now.	I have been watching TV for 2 hours / since you left.

Explanations	Past Simple
Completed action in the past.	She left yesterday.
To talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently.	She woke up, had a shower and left.
To talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now.	If I had a million dollar, I would help the poor.
An action taking place in the middle of another action.	She was playing when the accident occurred.

Explanations	Past Progressive
Actions happening at the same time in the past.	He was reading a newspaper while his wife was preparing dinner.
Interrupted action in the past.	Sh was reading a book when the light went off, had a shower and left.

Explanations	Past Perfect Simple
Completed action before another action in the past.	She had left when I arrived.

Explanations	Past Perfect Progressive
To show that something started in the past and continued up until another action stopped it.	They had been playing soccer when the accident occurred
To show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.	I had been living in that town for ten years before I moved to New York.
We use the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past to show cause and effect.	I was so tired. I had been working for 6 hours.

Explanations	Future  Simple
Instant decisions	I've left the door open; I'll close it.
We use the simple future , when we predict a future situation	She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking.
We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I am sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".	It will probably rain tonight
Conditional sentence type one	If I have enough time, I'll watch the film.

Explanations	Future Progressive
Action that will be taking place at some time in the future.	When you arrive, I'll be sleeping .

Explanations	Future Perfect
Completed action before another action in the past	By tomorrow, I will have finished the work.

Explanations	Future Perfect Progressive
It is used to show that an action will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.	She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time her children arrive.

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English tenses

16 Kinds of tenses Tenses is very important in English language, because it helps to know the situation in time. There  are 16 kind of tenses. That is Present Tense (Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous), Past Tense (Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous), Future Tense (Simple future, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous), and Past Future (Simple Past Future, Past Future Continuous, Past Future Perfect, Past Future Perfect Continuous). Present Tense Simple Present Tense Function: -          To express the habitual action -          To express the General Truth -          Using when meet the non-progressive verb Formula (Verbal) ( + ) S + V1(s/es) + O + Ts ( – ) S + do/does + not + V1 + O + Ts ( ? ) Do/Does + S + V1 + O + Ts? E.g.  (+) I plays video games every night (-) You dont play video games every night (?) Do you play video games every night? (Non Verbal) ( + ) S + is/am/are + A.N.A ( – ) S + is/am/are + not + A.N.A ( ? ) Is/am/are + S + A.N.A? *Ts = Time Signal *A.N.A = Adjective, Noun, Adverb. E.g. (+) I am a director (-) I am not a pilot (?) Am i a doctor? Present Continuous Tense Function -          Declare ongoing activities -          Declare the activities in the process -          Declare pique using Forever, constantly, always, etc. Formula ( + ) S + is/am/are + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + is/am/are + not + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) Is/am/are + S + V-ing + O + Ts? E.g. (+) You are running your car so fast today (-) You aren’t running your cycle so fast today (?) Are you running your truck so fast today? Present  Perfect Tense Function -          Declare activity has happened -          Declare the repetition activity -          Using Since/For to declare the duration Formula ( + ) S + has/have + V3 + O + Ts ( – ) S + has/have + not + V3 + O + Ts ( ? ) has/have + S + V3 + O + Ts + ? E.g. (+) I has believed you everytime (-) I hasn’t believed you everytime (?) Hve they believed you everytime? Present Perfect Continuous Tense Function -          Declare the duration an activities Formula ( + ) S + has/have + been + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + has/have + been + not + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) has/have + S + been + V-ing + O + Ts + ? E.g. (+) She has been borrowing your pen for a week (-) He hasn’t borrowing your book for an hour (?) Have you borrowing my door for 2 days? Past Tense Simple Past Tense Function -          Express habit in the past -          Express something happens in the past Formula (Verbal) ( + ) S + V2 + O + Ts ( – ) S + did + not + V1 + O + Ts ( ? ) Did + S + V1 + O + Ts + ? E.g. (+) I smoked when i was student. (-) I didn’t smoke when i was student. (?) Did you smoke when he was student? (Non Verbal) (+) S + was/were + A.N.A (-)S + was/were + not + A.N.A (?) was/were + S + A.N.A + ? E.g. (+) I was student (-) I wasn’t a student (?) Were you a student? Past Continuous Tense Function -          Express an activity that happening in the past Formula ( + ) S + was/were + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + was/were + not + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) was/were + S + V-ing + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) Dari was teaching english while she past S2 Degree (-) Sira wasn’t cooking while Doni going home last night (?) Was Andri running when it rained? Past Perfect Tense Function -          Declare an activity which has been done before other activities in the past Formula ( + ) S + had + V3 + O + Ts ( – ) S + had + V3 + not + O + Ts ( ? ) Had + S + V3 + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) I had already remembered you before you remembered me (-) I hadn’t already taken a bath before I want to school (?) Had you taken a bath when you go to school? Past Perfect Continuous Tense Formula ( + ) S + had + been + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + had + been + not + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) had + S + been + V-ing + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) You had been leaving me for 2 months before you forgot me to forever (-) I had been not leaving you for 2 months to forget you (?) Had she been leaving him forever? Future Tense Simple Future Tense Formula ( + ) S + will/shall + V1 + O + Ts ( – ) S + will/shall + not + V1 + O + Ts ( ? ) will/shall + S + V1 + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) (-) (?) Future Continuous Tense Formula ( + ) S + will/shall + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + will/shall + not + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) will/shall + S + V-ing + O + Ts + ? E.g. Future Perfect Tense Formula (Verbal) ( + ) S + will/shall + have+ V3 + O + Ts ( – ) S + will/shall + not + have + V3 + O + Ts ( ? ) will/shall + S + have + V3 + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) I will have gone home by the end of this year (-) I will not have gone home by the end of this year (?) Shall you have gone home by the end of this year? (Non Verbal) (+) S + will/shall + have + been + A.N.A (-) S + will/shall + not + have + been + A.N.A (?) Will/shall + S + have + been + A.N.A + ? E.g.  (+) I will have been a director by the five years (-) I will not have been a lawyer by the end of this year (?) Will you have been a driver by the end of this month? Future Perfect Continuous Tense Formula ( + ) S + will/shall + have + been + V-ing + O + Ts ( – ) S + will/shall + not + have + been + V-ing + O + Ts ( ? ) will/shall + S + have + been + V-ing + O + Ts + ? E.g.  (+) I will have been staying in Bogor for 1 years by the end of this month (-) I will not have been staying in Jakarta by tomorrow (?) Will you staying in Jogjakarta by the end of this week? Past Future Tense Simple Past Future Tense Function -          Express the activities which will going on but it has happened in past Formula ( + ) S + should/would + V1 ( – ) S + should/would + not + V1 ( ? ) should/would + S + V1 + ? E.g.  (+) I would buy a new sport car (-) I wouldn’t sing a song (?) Would you love me? Past Future Continuous Tense Function -          Express the activities which happening, but it was past Formula ( + ) S + should/would + be + V-ing ( – ) S + should/would + not + be + V-ing ( ? ) should/would + S + be + V-ing + ? E.g.  (+) I would be playing baseball at 10 yesterday (-) I wouldn’t be playing billiard (?) Would you be driving for me? Past Future Perfect Tense Formula ( + ) S + should/would + have + V3 ( – ) S + should/would + not + have + V3 ( ? ) should/would + S + have + V3+ ? E.g. (+) I would have worked (-) I wouldn’t have swum (?) Would you have bought a travel bag? Past Future Perfect Continuous Tense Formula ( + ) S + should/would + have/has + been + V-ing ( – ) S + should/would + have/has + been + V-ing ( ? ) Should/would + S + have/has + been + V-ing + ? E.g.  (+) I would have been eating when you scream my name loudly (-) We would have been talking when you have a lot of time (?) Would you have been disappointing fo her? Simple Present
Affirmative	She drinks.
Negative	She does not drink.
Interrogative	Does she drink?
Form	I, you we they play | he, she, it plays
Uses	action in the present taking place once, never or several times facts actions taking place one after another action set by a timetable or schedule

Present Progressive
Affirmative	He is reading.
Negative	He is not reading.
Interrogative	Is he reading?
Form	To be (in the simple present) + verb + ing
Uses	action taking place at the moment of speaking action arranged for the future

Simple Past
Affirmative	I cried.
Negative	I did not cry
Interrogative	Did I cry?
Form	Regular verbs: Verb + ed | Irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs
Uses	action in the past taking place once, never or several times actions taking place one after another

Past Progressive
Affirmative	He was driving.
Negative	He was not driving.
Interrogative	Was he driving?
Form	to be (in the simple past) + verb + ing
Uses	action going on at a certain time in the past actions taking place at the same time action in the past that is interrupted by another action

Present Perfect Simple
Affirmative	They have slept.
Negative	They have not slept.
Interrogative	Have they slept?
Form	Have / has + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)
Uses	emphasis is on the result (not the duration) action that started in the past & is still going on action that stopped recently finished action that has an influence on the present

Present Perfect Progressive
Affirmative	He has been thinking.
Negative	He has not been thinking.
Interrogative	Has he been thinking?
Form	have or has + been + verb + ing
Uses	putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result) action that recently stopped or is still going on finished action that influenced the present

Past Perfect Simple
Affirmative	She had won.
Negative	She had not won.
Interrogative	Had she won?
Form	had + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)
Uses	action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

Past Perfect Progressive
Affirmative	He had been waiting.
Negative	He had not been waiting.
Interrogative	Had he been waiting?
Form	had + been + verb + ing
Uses	action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action

Future Simple
Affirmative	You will win.
Negative	You will not win.
Interrogative	Will you win?
Form	will + verb
Uses	action in the future that cannot be influenced spontaneous decision assumption with regard to the future

Near Future (going to)
Affirmative	He is going to watch TV.
Negative	He is not going to watch TV.
Interrogative	Is he going to watch TV?
Form	to be (in the simple present) + going + to + verb
Uses	decision made for the future conclusion with regard to the future

Future  Progressive
Affirmative	She will be listening to music.
Negative	She will not be listening to music.
Interrogative	Will she be listening to music?
Form	will + be + verb + ing
Uses	action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near future

Future Perfect
Affirmative	He will have spoken.
Negative	He will not have spoken.
Interrogative	Will he have spoken?
Form	will + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)
Uses	action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

Future Perfect Progressive
Affirmative	You will have been studying.
Negative	You will not have been studying.
Interrogative	Will you have been studying?
Form	will + have + been + verb + ing
Uses	action taking place before a certain time in the future putting emphasis on the course of an action

Conditional Simple
Affirmative	We would relax.
Negative	We would not relax.
Interrogative	Would we relax ?
Form	would + verb
Uses	action that might take place

Conditional Progressive
Affirmative	He would be writing.
Negative	He would not be writing.
Interrogative	Would he be writing?
Form	would + be + verb + ing
Uses	action that might take place putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action

Conditional Perfect
Affirmative	He would have written.
Negative	He would not have written.
Interrogative	Would he have written?
Form	would + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart This is a list of irregular verbs)
Uses	action that might have taken place in the past

Conditional Perfect Progressive
Affirmative	She would have been sleeping.
Negative	She would not have sleeping speaking.
Interrogative	Would she have been sleeping?
Form	would + have + been + verb + ing
Uses	action that might have taken place in the past puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action

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