SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The simple present tense is one of several forms of present tense in English. It is used to
describe habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed arrangements. The
simple present tense is simple to form. Just use the base form of the verb: (I take, you take,
we take, they take) The 3rd person singular takes an -s at the end. (he takes, she takes)

THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE IS USED:

 To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions

and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large
city (general truth)
 To give instructions or directions:
You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.
 To express fixed arrangements, present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00
 To express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as,
until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

Be careful! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now.

EXAMPLES

 For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.
 For repeated actions or events
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
 For general truths
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.

 For instructions or directions

Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
 For fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March
 With future constructions
She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.

FORMING THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: TO THINK

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I think Do I think? I do not think

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

You think Do you think? You do not think

He thinks Does he think? He does not think

She thinks Does she think? She does not think

It thinks Does it think? It does not think

We think Do we think? We do not think.

They think Do they think? They do not think.

NOTES ON THE SIMPLE PRESENT, THIRD PERSON SINGULAR

 In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:

he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.
 Negative and question forms use DOES (= the third person of the auxiliary 'DO') + the
infinitive of the verb.
He wants ice cream. Does he want strawberry? He does not want vanilla.
 Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:
fly --> flies, cry --> cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play --> plays, pray --> prays
 Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

EXAMPLES

 He goes to school every morning.

 She understands English.
 It mixes the sand and the water.
 He tries very hard.
 She enjoys playing the piano.
SIMPLE PAST TENSE

DEFINITION OF THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

The simple past tense, sometimes called the preterite, is used to talk about a completed
action in a time before now. The simple past is the basic form of past tense in English. The
time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past and action duration is not
important.

EXAMPLES

 John Cabot sailed to America in 1498.

 My father died last year.
 He lived in Fiji in 1976.
 We crossed the Channel yesterday.

You always use the simple past when you say when something happened, so it is associated
with certain past time expressions

 frequency: often, sometimes, always

I sometimes walked home at lunchtime.
I often brought my lunch to school.
 a definite point in time: last week, when I was a child, yesterday, six weeks ago
We saw a good film last week.
Yesterday, I arrived in Geneva.
She finished her work at seven o'clock
I went to the theatre last night
 an indefinite point in time: the other day, ages ago, a long time ago
People lived in caves a long time ago.
She played the piano when she was a child.

Note: the word ago is a useful way of expressing the distance into the past. It is
placed after the period of time: a week ago, three years ago, a minute ago.

Be Careful: The simple past in English may look like a tense in your own language, but the
meaning may be different.

FORMING THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

PATTERNS OF SIMPLE PAST TENSE FOR REGULAR VERBS

Affirmative

Subject + verb + ed

I skipped.

Negative

Subject + did not + infinitive without to

They didn't go.

Interrogative

Did + subject + infinitive without to

Did she arrive?

Interrogative negative

Did not + subject + infinitive without to

Didn't you play?

TO WALK

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I walked I didn't walk Did I walk?

You walked You didn't walk Did you walk?

He walked He didn't walk Did he walk?

We walked We didn't walk Did we walk?

They walked They didn't walk Did they walk?

SIMPLE PAST TENSE OF TO BE, TO HAVE, TO DO

Subject Verb

Be Have Do

I was had did

You were had did

He/She/It was had did

 Subject Verb

We were had did

You were had did

They were had did

NOTES ON AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE, & INTERROGATIVE FORMS

AFFIRMATIVE
The affirmative of the simple past tense is simple.

 I was in Japan last year

 She had a headache yesterday.
 We did our homework last night.

NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE

For the negative and interrogative simple past form of "to do" as an ordinary verb, use the
auxiliary "did", e.g. We didn't do our homework last night.
The negative of "have" in the simple past is usually formed using the auxiliary "did", but
sometimes by simply adding not or the contraction "n't".

The interrogative form of "have" in the simple past normally uses the auxiliary "did".

EXAMPLES

 They weren't in Rio last summer.

 We didn't have any money.
 We didn't have time to visit the Eiffel Tower.
 We didn't do our exercises this morning.
 Were they in Iceland last January?
 Did you have a bicycle when you were young?
 Did you do much climbing in Switzerland?

Note: For the negative and interrogative form of all verbs in the simple past, always use the
auxiliary 'did''.

SIMPLE PAST, IRREGULAR VERBS

Some verbs are irregular in the simple past. Here are the most common ones.

TO GO

 He went to a club last night.

 Did he go to the cinema last night?
 He didn't go to bed early last night.

TO GIVE

 We gave her a doll for her birthday.

  They didn't give John their new address.
 Did Barry give you my passport?

TO COME

 My parents came to visit me last July.

 We didn't come because it was raining.
 Did he come to your party last week?
mi

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

FUNCTIONS OF THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case
there is no 'attitude'.

The simple future is used:

 To predict a future event:

It will rain tomorrow.
 With I or We, to express a spontaneous decision:
I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.
 To express willingness:
I'll do the washing-up.
He'll carry your bag for you.
 In the negative form, to express unwillingness:
The baby won't eat his soup.
I won't leave until I've seen the manager!
 With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to make an offer:
Shall I open the window?
 With we in the interrogative form using "shall", to make a suggestion:
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
 With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to ask for advice or instructions:
What shall I tell the boss about this money?
 With you, to give orders:
You will do exactly as I say.
 With you in the interrogative form, to give an invitation:
Will you come to the dance with me?
Will you marry me?

Note:In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make
an offer or suggestion, or to ask for advice (see examples above). With the other persons
(you, he, she, they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g. "With rings on her
fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

FORMING THE SIMPLE FUTURE

The simple future tense is composed of two parts: will / shall + the infinitive without to

Subject will infinitive without to

Affirmative

I will go

I shall go

Negative
 Subject will infinitive without to

They will not see

They won't see

Interrogative

Will she ask?

Interrogative negative

Won't they try?

CONTRACTIONS
I will = I'll
We will = we'll
You will = you'll
He will = he'll
She will = she'll
They will = they'll
Will not = won't

The form "it will" is not normally shortened.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

I will see I won't see Will I see? Won't I see?

*I shall see *Shall I see?

You will see You won't see Will you see? Won't you see?

He will see He won't see Will he see? Won't he see?

We will see We won't see Will we see? Won't we see?

*We shall see *Shall we see?

They will see They won't see Will they see? Won't they see?
 Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

*Shall is dated, but it is still commonly used instead of "will" with the affirmative or
interrogative forms of I and we in certain cases (see above).

BE GOING TO
Affirmative
Subject To be Going to Infinitive
I Am Going to Go

Negative
Subject To be Not Going to Infinitive
He IS Not Going to Go

Interrogative
To be Subject Going to Infinitive
Are They Going to Buy

INTERROGATIVE NEGATIVE
To be Subject Not Going to Infinitive
Are We Not Going to Buy
And you can add the object/time signal/place
PRESENT CONTINUOUS

FORMING THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb
to be + the present participle of the main verb.
(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)
Affirmative

Subject + to be + base + ing

She is talking.

Negative

Subject + to be + not + base + ing

She is not (isn't) talking

Interrogative

to be + subject + base + ing

Is she talking?

EXAMPLES: TO GO, PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am going I am not going Am I going?

You are going You aren't going. Are you going?

He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?

We are going We aren't going Are we going?

You are going You aren't going Are you going?

They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action
or event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that
is unfinished or incomplete

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED:

 to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You
are studying English grammar.
 to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still
working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
  to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or
prepared: We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are
they visiting you next winter?
 to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's
playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the
moment.
 with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasize a continuing series of
repeated actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly
complaining about your mother-in-law!
BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not usually used in the continuous form

VERBS THAT ARE NOT USUALLY USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states,
rather than actions or processes.

SENSES / PERCEPTION

 to feel*
 to hear
 to see*
 to smell
 to taste

OPINION

 to assume
 to believe
 to consider
 to doubt
 to feel (= to think)
 to find (= to consider)
 to suppose
 to think*

MENTAL STATES

 to forget
 to imagine
 to know
 to mean
 to notice
 to recognise
 to remember
 to understand

EMOTIONS / DESIRES

 to envy
 to fear
 to dislike
 to hate
 to hope
 to like
 to love
 to mind
 to prefer
 to regret
 to want
 to wish
MEASUREMENT

 to contain
 to cost
 to hold
 to measure
 to weigh

OTHERS

 to look (=resemble)
 to seem
 to be (in most cases)
 to have(when it means "to possess")*

EXCEPTIONS
Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: : I can see... These
verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning

 This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities)
 John's feeling much better now (his health is improving)
 She has three dogs and a cat. (possession)
 She's having supper. (She's eating)
 I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)
 I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

FUNCTIONS OF THE PAST CONTINUOUS

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the
past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished
or incomplete action in the past.
It is used:

 Often, to describe the background in a story written in the past tense, e.g. "The
sun was shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle.
The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved
very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was
watching her through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was
running towards the river..."
 to describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action, e.g.
"I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang."
 to express a change of mind: e.g. "I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've
decided to get my homework done instead."
 with 'wonder', to make a very polite request: e.g. "I was wondering if you could baby-
sit for me tonight."

EXAMPLES

 They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.
 Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
 When we arrived he was having a bath.
 When the fire started I was watching television.
Note: with verbs not normally used in the continuous form, the simple past is used.

FORMING THE PAST CONTINUOUS

The past continuous of any verb is composed of two parts : the past tense of the verb "to be"
(was/were), and the base of the main verb +ing.
Subject was/were base + ing

They were watching

Affirmative

She was reading

Negative

She wasn't reading

Interrogative

Was she reading?

Interrogative negative

Wasn't she reading?

TO PLAY, PAST CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I was playing I was not playing Was I playing?

You were playing You were not playing Were you playing?

He was playing He wasn't playing Was he playing?

We were playing We weren't playing Were we playing?

They were playing They weren't playing Were they playing?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

FORM
The future continuous is made up of two elements:
the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)
Subject simple future of the verb present participle
'to be'

You will be watching

I will be staying

TO STAY, FUTURE CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative
Interrogative

I will be staying. I won't be staying. Will I be staying? Won't I be staying?

You will be staying. You won't be staying. Will you be staying? Won't you be staying?

He will be staying. He won't be staying. Will he be staying? Won't he be staying?

She will be staying. She won't be staying. Will she be staying? Won't she be staying?

It will be staying. It won't be staying. Will it be staying? Won't it be staying?

We will be staying. We won't be staying. Will we be staying? Won't we be staying?

They will be They won't be Will they be Won't they be staying?

staying. staying. staying?

FUNCTIONS
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time
later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.
The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.

EXAMPLES

 This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.

 By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
 Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.
The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.

EXAMPLES

 He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.

 I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
 You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.
In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information
about the future.

EXAMPLES
  Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
 Will Jim be coming with us?
 Will she be going to the party tonight?
 Will I be sleeping in this room?
The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in
the future.

EXAMPLES

 I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.

 When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
 I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.
When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening
now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.

EXAMPLES

 In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.

 Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
 Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
 Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
 Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.
PRESENT PERFECT

DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of
the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in
the result than in the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the
meaning is probably NOT the same.

THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE

 An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have
lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
 An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the
cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
 A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have
visited Portugal several times.
 An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just
finished my work.
 An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result
of his reading is important)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past.
Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

ACTIONS STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT

 They haven't lived here for years.

 She has worked in the bank for five years.
 We have had the same car for ten years.
 Have you played the piano since you were a child?

WHEN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED

 I have worked hard this week.

 It has rained a lot this year.
 We haven't seen her today.

ACTIONS REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW.

 They have seen that film six times

 It has happened several times already.
 She has visited them frequently.
 We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST)

 Have you just finished work?

 I have just eaten.
 We have just seen her.
 Has he just left?
WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN

 Someone has eaten my soup!

 Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
 She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and
"yet", and about using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".

FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the
auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past
participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see
the Table of irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative

Subject to have past participle

She has visited.

Negative

Subject to have + not past participle

She has not (hasn't) visited.

Interrogative

to have subject past participle

Has she visited?

Negative interrogative

to have + not subject past participle

Hasn't she visited?

TO WALK, PRESENT PERFECT

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?

You have walked You haven't walked. Have you walked?

He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it walked?

We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?

You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?

They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked?

PAST PERFECT TENSE
FUNCTIONS OF THE PAST PERFECT

The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one
event happened before another in the past. It does not matter which event is mentioned first
- the tense makes it clear which one happened first.

In these examples, Event A is the event that happened first and Event B is the second or
more recent event:

Event A Event B

John had gone out when I arrived in the office.

Event A Event B

I had saved my document before the computer crashed.

Event B Event A

When they arrived we had already started cooking.

Event B Event A

He was very tired because he hadn't slept well.

FORMING THE PAST PERFECT

The Past Perfect tense in English is composed of two parts: the past tense of the verb to
have (had) + the past participle of the main verb.

Subject had past participle

Affirmative

She had given

Negative

She hadn't asked.

Interrogative

Had they arrived?

 Subject had past participle

Interrogative Negative

Hadn't you finished?

TO DECIDE, PAST PERFECT

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I had decided I hadn't decided Had I decided?

You had decided You hadn't decided Had you decided?

She had decided She hadn't decided Had she decided?

We had decided We hadn't decided Had we decided?

They had decided They hadn't decided Had they decided?

PAST PERFECT + JUST

'Just' is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time earlier than
before now, e.g.

 The train had just left when I arrived at the station.

 She had just left the room when the police arrived.

 I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.

FUTURE PERFECT
FORM
The future perfect is composed of two elements
the simple future of the verb "to have" (will have) + the past participle of the main verb

Subject + will have + past participle of the main verb

He will have finished.

I will have finished.

TO ARRIVE, FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

I will have arrived I won't have arrived Will I have arrived? Won't I have arrived?

You will have arrived You won't have arrived Will you have arrived? Won't you have
arrived?

He will have arrived He won't have arrived Will he have arrived? Won't he have arrived?

We will have arrived We won't have arrived Will we have arrived? Won't we have arrived?

They will have They won't have Will they have Won't they have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?

FUNCTION
The future perfect tense refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we
are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be
completed some time later than now. It is most often used with a time expression.

EXAMPLES

 I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.

 By the time you read this I will have left.
 You will have finished your report by this time next week.
 Won't they have arrived by 5:00?
 Will you have eaten when I pick you up?
CONDITIONAL
Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have
happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional
contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include
verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use
a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There
are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these
sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional
sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Conditional
If clause
sentence Usage Main clause verb tense
verb tense
type

Zero General truths Simple Simple present

present

Type 1 A possible condition and its probable result Simple Simple future
present

Type 2 A hypothetical condition and its probable Simple Present conditional or

result past Present continuous
conditional

Type 3 An unreal past condition and its probable Past Perfect conditional
result in the past perfect

Mixed type An unreal past condition and its probable Past Present conditional
result in the present perfect
ZERO CONDITIONAL
FORM
In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple present simple present

If this thing happens that thing happens.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical. In zero
conditional sentences, you can replace "if" with "when", because both express general truths. The meaning will
be unchanged.

EXAMPLES
 If you heat ice, it melts.
 Ice melts if you heat it.
 When you heat ice, it melts.
 Ice melts when you heat it.
 If it rains, the grass gets wet.
 The grass gets wet if it rains.
 When it rains, the grass gets wet.
 The grass gets wet when it rains.

FUNCTION
The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as
scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible.

EXAMPLES
 If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
 Plants die if they don't get enough water.
 If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
 If public transport is efficient, people stop using their cars.
 If you mix red and blue, you get purple.

The zero conditional is also often used to give instructions, using the imperative in the main clause.

EXAMPLES
 If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
 Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.
 If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
 Meet me here if we get separated.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
FORM
In a Type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple present, and the tense in the main
clause is the simple future.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple present simple future

If this thing happens that thing will happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

EXAMPLES
 If it rains, you will get wet.
 You will get wet if it rains.
 If Sally is late again I will be mad.
 I will be mad if Sally is late again.
 If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.
 You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.

FUNCTION
The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. These sentences are based on facts,
and they are used to make statements about the real world, and about particular situations. We often use such
sentences to give warnings. In type 1 conditional sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation
is real.

EXAMPLES
 If I have time, I'll finish that letter.
 What will you do if you miss the plane?
 Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.
 If you drop that glass, it will break.
 If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!
 If you don't leave, I'll call the police.

In type 1 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of the future tense to
express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

EXAMPLES
 If you drop that glass, it might break.
 I may finish that letter if I have time.
 If he calls you, you should go.
 If you buy my school supplies for me, I will be able to go to the park.
TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
FORM
In a Type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause
is the present conditional or the present continuous conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional

If this thing happened that thing would happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

EXAMPLES
 If it rained, you would get wet.
 You would get wet if it rained.
 If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.
 You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
 If she fell, she would hurt herself.
 She would hurt herself if she fell.

FUNCTION
The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. These sentences are
not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation
is hypothetical.

EXAMPLES
 If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can't go.)
 If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
 If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
 If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.

It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead of "if I was" (subjunctive mood).

EXAMPLES
 If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
 If I were 20, I would travel the world.
 If I were you, I would give up smoking.
 If I were a plant, I would love the rain.

In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the
degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

EXAMPLES
 We might buy a larger house if we had more money
 He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
 If he called me, I couldn't hear.
THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"

Subject + would + infinitive

He would go

They would stay

TO GO: PRESENT CONDITIONAL

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

I would go I wouldn't go Would I go? Wouldn't I go?

You would go You wouldn't go Would you go? Wouldn't you go?

He would go He wouldn't go Would he go? Wouldn't he go?

She would go She wouldn't go Would she go? Wouldn't she go?

We would go We wouldn't go Would we go? Wouldn't we go?

They would go They wouldn't go Would they go? Wouldn't they go?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
FORM
In type 2 conditional sentences, the continuous form of the present conditional may be used.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past present continuous conditional

If this thing happened that thing would be happening.

FUNCTION
This form is common in type 2 conditional sentences. It expresses an unfinished or continuing action or
situation, which is the probable result of an unreal condition.

EXAMPLES
 I would be working in Italy if I spoke Italian. (But I don't speak Italian, so I am not working in Italy)
 She wouldn't be living with Jack if she lived with her parents. (But she is living with Jack and not with her
parents).
 You wouldn't be smiling if you knew the truth. (But you are smiling because you don't know the truth.)

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL TENSE

The present continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + be + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing ending.

Subject + would + be + present participle

He would be staying

They would be going

TO LIVE: PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

I would be living I wouldn't be living Would I be living? Wouldn't I be living?

You would be living You wouldn't be living Would you be living? Wouldn't you be living?
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

He would be living He wouldn't be living Would he be living? Wouldn't he be living?

She would be living She wouldn't be living Would she be living? Wouldn't she be living?

We would be living We wouldn't be living Would we be living? Wouldn't we be living?

They would be living They wouldn't be living Would they be living? Wouldn't they be living?
TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
FORM
In a Type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause
is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

EXAMPLES
 If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
 You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
 You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.
 If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
 I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.
 If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.

FUNCTION
The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. These
sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist.
There is always some implication of regret with type 3 conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or
contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is the past and the situation
is hypothetical.

EXAMPLES
 If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the
exam.)
 If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)
 I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I am not
happy.)

In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the
degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

EXAMPLES
 If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.
 You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.
 If he called you, you could go.
 If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.

CONTRACTIONS
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not confident with type 3
conditional sentences. Remember 2 rules:
1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be abbreviating had.
2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be
abbreviating would.
EXAMPLES
 If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.
 If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
 I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.
 I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.
 If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.
 If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.

THE PERFECT CONDITIONAL TENSE

The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + have + past participle
Have followed by the past participle is used in other constructions as well. it is called the "perfect infinitive".

Subject + would + have + past participle

He would have gone

They would have stayed

TO GO: PERFECT CONDITIONAL

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

I would have gone I wouldn't have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I have gone?

You would have gone You wouldn't have gone Would you have gone? Wouldn't you have gone?

He would have gone He wouldn't have gone Would he have gone? Wouldn't he have gone?

She would have gone She wouldn't have gone Would she have gone? Wouldn't she have gone?

We would have gone We wouldn't have gone Would we have gone? Wouldn't we have gone?

They would have gone They wouldn't have gone Would they have gone? Wouldn't they have gone?
PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
FORM
In type 3 conditional sentences, the perfect form of the present conditional may be used.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would have been happening.

FUNCTION
The perfect continuous conditional can be used in type 3 conditional sentences. It refers to the unfulfilled result
of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an unfinished or continuous action.

EXAMPLES
 If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden when he arrived (but I
wasn't).
 If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in Paris (but she wasn't).
 If I had had a ball I would have been playing football.
 If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff.

THE PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL TENSE

The perfect continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of four elements:
would + have + been + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing ending.

Subject + would + have + been + present participle

He would have been staying

They would have been going

TO WORK: PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

I would have been I wouldn't have been Would I have been Wouldn't I have been
living living living? living?

You would have been You wouldn't have Would you have been Wouldn't you have been
living been living living? living?
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative

He would have been He wouldn't have been Would he have been Wouldn't he have been
living living living? living?

She would have been She wouldn't have Would she have been Wouldn't she have been
living been living living? living?

We would have been We wouldn't have been Would we have been Wouldn't we have been
living living living? living?

They would have been They wouldn't have Would they have been Wouldn't they have been
living been living living? living?
MIXED CONDITIONAL
It is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and the resulting sentence is a
"mixed conditional" sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional sentence.

PRESENT RESULT OF A PAST CONDITION

FORM
In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the
main clause is the present conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + past perfect present conditional

If this thing had happened that thing would happen.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

EXAMPLES
 If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
 I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
 If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
 We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
 If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
 You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.

FUNCTION
This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. These
sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the present. In these mixed
conditional sentences, the time is the past in the "if" clause and in the present in the main clause.

EXAMPLES
 If I had studied I would have my driving license. (but I didn't study and now I don't have my license)
 I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (but I didn't take the job and I'm not a millionaire)
 If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (but you didn't spend all your money and
now you can buy this jacket)

In these mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of would to express
the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.

EXAMPLES
 If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.
 I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.
 If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.
PAST RESULT OF PRESENT OR CONTINUING
CONDITION
FORM
In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in
the main clause is the perfect conditional.

If clause (condition) Main clause (result)

If + simple past perfect conditional

If this thing happened that thing would have happened.

As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns
and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.

EXAMPLES
 If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.
 I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
 If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.
 We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.
 If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help you.
 I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another meeting.

FUNCTION
These mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal) past result.
In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause is now or always and the time in the main clause
is before now. For example, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary to present reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I
would have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I didn't pick it up.

EXAMPLES
 If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.
 I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
 If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
 If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by now.
Purpose: To Inform / To Persuade
GENERAL PURPOSE

Name :
Class :

Topic: Emergencies
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the major steps in responding to an emergency.
Central Idea: The three major steps in responding to an emergency are surveying the scene,
contacting an emergency medical service, and starting CPR if needed.