Gramatica inglés present simple

Marta Monraval

Present Simple We use present simple when we express

routines or customs:I go to school every day.

Permanent situations or states.The tradition continues today.

Describe general facts.Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Marta Monraval

Present Simple Form

Add an –s for the 3rd person singular.She loves swimming.

Use do/ does+ s+ verb (base form) in the interrogative.Does she love swimming? Yes, she does.

Use do not/ don’t, does not/ doesn’t + verb (base form) in the negative.She doesn’t love swimming.

Marta Monraval

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

We use interrogative pronouns or ‘question words’ in some questions:

What is your favourite food? Where do you live?

Marta Monraval

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS cont’d

How to ask for:Location - Where?Persons - Who?Reason - Why?Things - What?Time - When?Choice - Which?

Marta Monraval

GERUND

We use the gerund, the ing form of a verb as the subject of a sentence:

Smoking is unhealthy. Playing football is fun.

Marta Monraval

GERUND

We also use the gerund after verbs of preference:(love, like, hate, mind) I like travelling. I love reading. I hate doing homework. I don`t mind washing up.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We use the present continuous for actions happening at the moment:

I am reading a book now. Jane is watching TV at the moment.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We also use the present continuous for future arrangements:

Where are you going tonight? I’m going to the cinema.

Marta Monraval

USED TO

We use used to + verb to describe a habit or a state in the past:

I used to go walking everyday. He used to be my neighbour. They used to play in a band.

Marta Monraval

PAST SIMPLEWe use the past simple to describe a finished action in the past:The plane arrived at the airport last night.The concert finished after midnight.

To describe states in the past: We were scared. I was tired.

Marta Monraval

PAST CONTINUOUS

We use the past continuous to describe the progress of an action in the past:

I was watching TV last night. We were travelling all day yesterday.

Marta Monraval

INTERRUPTED PAST We can use past simple and past

continuous in the same sentence:

Past continuous is the longer action Past simple describes the interruption

I was watching TV when she arrived. She arrived while I was watching TV.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECT We use the present perfect to talk about experiences in

our lives:I have been to London twice.

An action that began in the past and continues up to the present time.He has studied English since he was a child.

Indefinite events, which happened at an unknown time in the past. No definite time is given.Jim has had three car accidents.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECTcont’d

Ever means “in your life”:

Have you ever been to Africa? I have never driven a car.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECTcont’d

We often use YET and ALREADY with the present perfect: YET: at the end of question, in a negative

sentence.

Has she arrived home yet? He hasn’t phoned yet.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECTcont’d

We often use YET and ALREADY with the present perfect: ALREADY: before the past participle (main verb).

He has already finished his presentation. We have already bought the tickets.

Marta Monraval

THE PASSIVEPresent

To form the correct passive in present: BE (in present tense) + Past Participle

They make cars in Germany. Cars are made in Germany.

Marta Monraval

THE PASSIVEPast Simple

To form the correct passive in past simple:

BE (was, were) + Past Participle

They cleaned the rivers. The rivers were cleaned. The student recycled the paper. The paper was recycled by the students.

Marta Monraval

BY in PRESENT

We use by when we want to emphasize an agent: Active: Robbie Williams sings this song. Passive: This song is sung by Robbie

Williams.

Marta Monraval

BY in PAST

We use by when we want to emphasize an agent: Active: Bell invented the telephone. Passive: The telephone was invented by

Bell.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECTWith for and since

We use FOR with periods of time. FOR shows the duration of an action: For a minute - For a few hours For centuries - For a hundred years

I’ve been here for days

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECTWith for and since

We use SINCE with points in time. SINCE shows when an action started: Since 1968 - Since June Since Monday - Since yesterday

He’s lived in London since 1999.

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECT &PAST SIMPLE We use the present perfect for an

action that started in the past, when the time period is not finished: I’ve lived in Paris since 1999

(I’m living in Paris now)- I’ve lived in this house for ten years- (I’m living in this house now)

Marta Monraval

PRESENT PERFECT &PAST SIMPLE We use the past simple with a

completed action in the past: I lived in Paris between 1999 and 2001

(I’m not living in Paris now)- I have lived in this house for ten years- (I’m living in this house now)

Marta Monraval

POSSIBILITYmay/might & must/can’t

Probability or Possibility of something being true:

Your painting must be a copy. It can’t be the original painting.

Marta Monraval

POSSIBILITYmay or might

Something which is possible but not certain: I may arrive late tomorrow. She might not understand your speech.

May and might have similar meanings: I may be late. = I might be late

Marta Monraval

POSSIBILITYmust or can’t

Things that we think are certain:

Your painting must be a copy. It can’t be the original painting.

Marta Monraval

POSSIBILITYmust or can’t

Must – affirmative sentences:- The lights are on. They must be at home.

Can’t – negative sentences:- The lights are off. They can’t be at home.

Marta Monraval

POSSIBILITYmay/might & must/can’t

All of the above are modal verbs and are all followed by:

Infinitive without to

Correct: She must like you.Incorrect: She must to like to.

Marta Monraval

OBLIGATIONhave to & had to

We use affirmative forms of have to and had to when we talk about obligation in the present and in the past.

I had to go. (I was obliged to go).She had to come earlier.

Marta Monraval

OBLIGATIONhave to & had to

We use negative forms when there is not an obligation to do anything.I didn’t have to go (It was not necessary)

You don’t have to wash the dishes, I will do it.

Marta Monraval

RELATIVE CLAUSES 1We can join two sentences with WHO, WHICH, THAT

This is the man. He broke his finger.This is the man who broke his finger.This is the finger. It hurts.This is the finger which hurts.

The function here is SUBJECT.

WHO = peopleWHICH= thingsTHAT= people and things

Marta Monraval

RELATIVE CLAUSES 2If the relative pronoun replaces the object of the second

sentence, we can leave it out.This is the woman. I saw her.

This is the woman who/that I saw.This is the woman I saw.

WHO = peopleWHICH= thingsTHAT= people and things

Marta Monraval

RELATIVE CLAUSES 3WHEN = time

That was the time when I was in hospital.

WHERE= placesThis is the hospital where I was born,

Notice what happens with the preposition:This is the nurse. I talked to her.This is the nurse (that/who) I talked to.

Marta Monraval

FIRST CONDITIONAL

We use the First conditional to talk about things that will possibly or probably happen in the future.

We also use it to make promises.Condition Result If I miss the bus, I’ll arrive late. If it doesn’t rain, we’ll have a picnic.

Marta Monraval

FIRST CONDITIONAL The verb in the if (conditional) part of the sentence is in the

Present Simple. The verb in the result part of the sentence is in the Future (will)

or uses a modal (can, may, might).Condition Result

If the weather is fine, we may/ might go for a walk.Unless he studies, he won’t pass the exam.

• Unless= if not• When the if clause doesn’t come first, we don’t need the comma.

Marta Monraval

FIRST CONDITIONAL

We can reverse the order of the clause. When the “if clause” comes first, use a

comma between the two clauses If I see Linda, I’ll say ‘Hello’ I’ll say ‘Hello’ if I see Linda.

Marta Monraval

FUTURE will & going to We use both to talk about the future. We use will for predictions:

I think that she’ll be happy. We use going to for plans & intentions:

She’s going to start a new job soon.

(‘ll = will/ won’t = will not)

Marta Monraval

SECOND CONDITIONAL

We use the second conditional to express a hypothesis (the possible consequence of an action).If I had more money, I’d buy a car.

Marta Monraval

SECOND CONDITIONAL

If+past simple = This clause describes a situation that is unreal at the moment: If I had more money, ...

Would + infinitive = This clause describes a possible consequence of the situation: ... I’d buy a car

Marta Monraval

SECOND CONDITIONAL

We can reverse the order of the clauses. When the “if clause” comes first, there is

a comma between the two clauses: If I had money money, I’d buy a car. I’d buy a car if I had more money.

Marta Monraval

EXPRESSING PREFERENCEwould+ like, love, prefer, and hate

Affirmative: would+verb+to+verb I’d love to visit Peru. We would like to visit Peru.

We usually use ‘d, the short form of would.

Marta Monraval

EXPRESSING PREFERENCEwould+ like, love, prefer, and hate

Negative: like or would+verb+noun He’d hate those pink shorts, but she’d love them I wouldn’t like them.

Marta Monraval

PAST PERFECT

We form the past perfect with had or hadn’t + past participle:

To talk about an action in the past, which happened before another action in the past. First Action: Past Perfect. Second Action: Past Simple.

Marta Monraval

PAST PERFECT

When he’d finished his homework, he went out.

Or:He went out when he’d finished his homework

1. Action: He’d finished his homework.2.Action: He went out.

Marta Monraval

REPORTED SPEECH

We form the reported speech to report what people have said:Direct Speech Reported SpeechPresent Simple Past SimpleIt looks great He said it looked great.Past Simple Past PerfectI saw the film. She said that she’d seen

the film.

Marta Monraval

REPORTED SPEECH

Direct Speech Reported SpeechPresent Perfect Past PerfectHe’s seen us. I said that he’d seen us.will wouldThis will help you He said that this would

help.can couldIt can’t see us. She said that it couldn’t

see us.

Marta Monraval

TIME EXPRESSION

FUTURE: next, this, and also tomorrow, morning, afternoon, evening, night. Next Sunday, next week. This weekend, this year.

Marta Monraval

TIME EXPRESSION

PAST: last, two (number), and also yesterday, morning, afternoon, evening, night. last Sunday, last week. Two weekends ago, two years ago.

Marta Monraval

TIME EXPRESSION

We do not use an article before next or last in time expressions.

Correct: I’m going to London next Sunday.Incorrect: I’m going to London the next Sunday.

Correct: Jen was here last weekend.Incorrect: Jen was here the last weekend.

Marta Monraval

Reported Questions

When we report questions, the word order follows the rules for statements. We do not use question marks.

Yes/ No questions.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

“Does shespeak English?” He asked if/

whether she spoke English.

Marta Monraval

Reported Questions

Wh- questions.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

“When will She asked when the train arrive?” the train would

arrive.