English Grammar. Simple for understanding. Prepared by Igor Kazakov for Secondary school.

There are 5 main Tenses in English Grammar. They are 1. Present Simple (Indefinite) 2. Present Continuous (Progressive) 3. Past Simple (Indefinite) 4. Future Simple (Indefinite) 5. Present Perfect

Let’s study them carefully!

PRESENT SIMPLE. If you are talking about the general present, or about regular or habitual action, you use the PRESENT SIMPLE !

1.Present Simple. I, You, We, They I, You, We, They eat eat He, She, It He, She, It eats eats We eat vegetables every day. She eats vegetables every day.  Do you eat vegetables? Does she eat vegetables? Does she eat vegetables? You don’t eat vegetables. You don’t eat vegetables. She doesn’t eat vegetables. She doesn’t eat vegetables.

When you use phrases Every day, week, year, Monday etc., Seldom Sometimes Often Usually Rarely From time to time You take the PRESENT SIMPLE! PRESENT SIMPLE!

CLEAR ?

Test yourself. Мы каждый день читаем газеты. Она не ходит в библиотеку по субботам. Пишите ли вы письма на уроках английского языка?

We read newspapers every day. She doesn’t go to the library on Saturdays. Do you write letters at English lessons?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS. If you are talking about something in the present situation you use If you are talking about something in the present situation you use PRESENT CONTINUOUS ! PRESENT CONTINUOUS ! Often is used to refer to a temporary situation.

2. Present Continuous.  I am  He, She, It is  We, You, They are + Verb ing! + Verb ing! I am playing now. He is playing now. We are playing now.  Am I playing now? Is she playing now? Is she playing now? Are you playing now? I am not playing now! He is not playing now! We are not playing now!

When you use NOW NOW You take the You take the Present Continuous! Present Continuous!

CLEAR ?

Test yourself. Мы читаем газеты сейчас. Она не идёт в библиотеку сейчас. Пишите ли вы письма на уроке английского языка сейчас?

We are reading newspapers now. She isn’t going to the library now. Are you writing letters at English lesson now?

PAST SIMPLE. If you are talking about the general past, or about regular or habitual actions in the past, you use the PAST SIMPLE !

3. Past Simple  Regular verbs – ed -  Irregular verbs – ate – I played outdoors yesterday. She ate vegetables yesterday.  Did She play outdoors yesterday? Did We play outdoors yesterday? I didn’t’ play outdoors yesterday. She didn’t play yesterday.

When you use Yesterday Yesterday You take the You take the Past Simple! Past Simple!

CLEAR ?

Test yourself. Мы читали газеты вчера. Она не ходила в библиотеку вчера. Писали ли вы письма на уроке английского языка вчера?

We read newspapers yesterday. She didn’t go to the library yesterday. Did you write letters at English lesson yesterday?

FUTURE SIMPLE. If you are talking about the general future, or about regular or habitual actions in the future, you use the FUTURE SIMPLE !

4. Future Simple  I, We – shall -  You, He, She, It, We, They – will – I shall play outdoors tomorrow. She will eat vegetables tomorrow.  Will She play outdoors tomorrow? Shall We play outdoors tomorrow? I shan’t play outdoors tomorrow. She won’t play outdoors tomorrow.

When you use Tomorrow Tomorrow You take the You take the Future Simple! Future Simple!

CLEAR ?

Test yourself. Мы будем читать газеты завтра. Она не пойдёт в библиотеку завтра. Будете ли вы писать письма на уроке английского языка завтра?

We shall read newspapers tomorrow. She won’t go to the library tomorrow. Will you write letters at English lesson tomorrow?

PRESENT PERFECT. you use the present perfect tense when you are concerned with the present effects of something which happened at an indefinite time in the past. PRESENT PERFECT

5. Present Perfect  I, You, We, they – have -ed -, or -V2-.  He, She, It, – has – ed-, or -V2-. I have already played outdoors. She has already eaten the vegetables.  Has She already played outdoors? Have We already played outdoors? I haven’t played outdoors yet. She hasn’t played outdoors yet.

When you use Ever, never, Ever, never, just, already, just, already, lately, recently lately, recently yet yet You take the You take the Present Perfect! Present Perfect!

CLEAR ?

Test yourself. Мы уже прочитали газеты. Она недавно ходила в библиотеку. Вы когда-нибудь писали письма на уроке английского языка?

We have already read newspapers. She has recently gone to the library. Have you ever written letters at English lesson?

EASY TO UNDERSTAND! If you want to understand English Grammar better, You’ll have to learn all the rules, which are given above, by HEART!