General Grammar Structures

Structure of present simple

I don't (do not) work in a

I work in a bank. Do you work in a bank?
bank.

He doesn't (does not) work Does he work in a

He works in a bank.
in a bank. bank?

Present simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The gerund ing form is

I working in London. I work in London. not used in the present
simple.

The third person he, she,

He work in London. He works in London.
it adds the letter s.

He work in London? Does he work in London? Questions - third person:

does + subject +
infinitive.
Work he in London? Does he work in London? All other persons:
do + subject + infinitive.

Negatives - third person:

subject + doesn't +
infinitive.
He not work in London. He doesn't work in London.
All other persons:
subject + don't +
infinitive.

Structure of past simple

I didn't (did not) see him

I saw him yesterday. Did you see him?
yesterday.

Past simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

In positive sentences, a
I was work in London. I worked in London.
helping verb such as 'was'
 General Grammar Structures

or 'did' is not used.

The helping verb 'did' is

He worked in London? Did he work in London? used in past simple
questions.

The helping verb 'did' is

Worked he in London? Did he work in London? used in past simple
questions.

The main verb is used in

Did he wrote a letter? Did he write a letter? the infinitive form in
questions and negatives.

The main verb is used in

He didn't wrote a letter. He didn't write a letter. the infinitive form in
questions and negatives.

Structure of future simple

I'll (I will) be there I won't (will not) be there Will you be there
tomorrow. tomorrow. tomorrow?

Future simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

If the action is decided at

- The phone's ringing.
- OK, I'm going to answer
it.
the moment of speaking,
Ok -I'll answer it.
we use will / will not
(won't).

When we say what we think

I'm sure he is going to
I'm sure he will help you. or expect, we use will
help you.
(won't).

I promise I'm going to After promise we usually

I promise I'll help.
help. use will.

When we refer to the future

I'll call you when I'll come
to my office.
in adverbial clauses, we
I'll call you when I come to
normally use present
my office.
simple (after when, as soon
as, until).

If you will give me your If you give me your When we refer to the future
 General Grammar Structures
address, I'll send you a
postcard.
I can't see you next week.
I will return to Paris.
Structure of present continuous
I'm (I am) reading a
book.
He's (he is) reading a
book.
Present continuous - common mistakes
Common mistakes
They still waiting for you.
They are still waiting for
you?
Do they still waiting for
you?
Where they are waiting for
you?
She doesn't watching TV.
I'm believing you.
address, I'll send you a in conditional clauses, we
postcard.
I can't see you next week.
I am returning/am going
use the present continuous
to return to Paris.
I'm (I am) not
reading.
He is not (he's not/he
isn't) reading a book.
Correct version
They are still waiting for
you.
Are they still waiting for
you?
Are they still waiting for
you?
Where are they waiting for
you?
She isn't watching TV.
I believe you.
normally use the present
simple.
To show that the decision
was made in the past, we
or the 'going to' future.
Are you reading?
Is he reading a book?
Why?
to form a continuous
tense we use be + -ing.
In questions the subject
(they) and the auxiliary
verb (be) change places.
To form the negative we
put not after the verb be
(am not, is not = isn't,
are not = aren't).
Some verbs are not used
in continuous tenses -
these are called stative
verbs (e.g. believe,
come from, cost,
depend, exist, feel, hate,
like).
 General Grammar Structures

Structure of past continuous

I wasn't (was not)

I was reading a book. Was I reading?
reading.

You were reading a You weren't (were not)

Were you reading?
book. reading.

Past continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

I waiting for him almost I was waiting for him

two hours. almost two hours. To form the past
continuous we use
What did he doing when What was he doing when was/were + ing.
you saw him? you saw him?

We use the past simple for

We were playing tennis We played tennis every
repeated actions in the
every morning. morning.
past.

We use the past

continuous when we want
They watched TV when I They were watching TV to say what was happening
came. when I came. (what was in progress) at
a particular time in the
past.

Structure of future simple continuous

I won't (will not) be

I'll (I will) be waiting there Will you be waiting there
waiting there at five
at five o'clock. at five o'clock?
o'clock.

Structure of present perfect

I haven't (have not) seen

I've (I have) seen him. Have you seen him?
him.
 General Grammar Structures

He's (he has) gone. He hasn't (has not) gone. Has he gone?

Present perfect simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The past participle of the

Steven has wrote a new Steven has written a new verb must be used - wrote
book. book. is past simple, written is
the past participle.

The helping verb 'have' is

used in the present
Did you have seen him
Have you seen him before? perfect- it is inverted with
before?
the person (you have
becomes have you).

The helping verb 'have' is

used in the present
I didn't have seen him
I haven't seen him before. perfect- to make it
before.
negative we simply add
not (n't).

The present perfect is used

I have been here since last to show an action which
I am here since last week.
week. continues to the present
(an unfinished action).

Verbs such as know, want,

I've been knowing him for
5 years.
like, etc. (stative verbs)
I've known him for 5 suggest permanent states,
years. not actions, so are used in
the simple form, NOT the -
ing form.
 General Grammar Structures

Structure of past perfect

You hadn't (had not) seen

I'd (I had) seen him. Had you seen him?
him.

Past perfect - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The helping verb had /

I didn't been to London. I hadn't been to London. hadn't is used in the past
perfect.

The action (haircut) which

happened before another
When I saw him, I noticed When I saw him I noticed past action must be put
that he had a haircut. that he had had a haircut. into the past perfect to
make the time order clear
to the listener.

His original words were: ''I

have been to London.''
However, in reported
He told me has been to He told me he had been to
speech we move the tense
London. London.
back - the present perfect
(have been) becomes past
perfect (had been).

Structure of future perfect simple

The film will not (won't)

The film will have started Will the film have started
have started by the time
by the time we get there. by the time we get there?
we get there.
 General Grammar Structures

Structure of future perfect continuous

Next year I'll (I will) have I won't (will not) have Will you have been
been working in the been working in the working in the company for
company for 10 years. company for 10 years. 10 years?

Future perfect continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The form of the future

I will have working in the
company for 5 years next
month.
I will have been working in
perfect continuous is
the company for 5 years
will + have + been +
next month.
past participle.

I will not (won't) have

I will haven't been working The form of the negative is
been working in the
in the company for 5 years will not + have + been
company for 5 years next
next month. + past participle.
month.

Will have you been Will you have been The form of the question is
working in the company for working in the company for will + subject + have +
5 years next month? 5 years next month? been + past participle.

I'll have been working in I'll have worked in three

three different positions at
the company by the end of
the year.
We use the simple form
different positions at the
when we talk about an
company by the end of the
amount or number.
year.