ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

MISCELLANEOUS - 1

 In an interrogative sentence, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

E.g.
Have they gone away ?
 Who, Whose and Whom apply only to persons.
E.g.
Who has taken my pen ?
Whose is this book ?
Whom do you want to meet ?
 Who is used as a subject and Whom is used as an object.
E.g.
Who invited you ?
Whom are you inviting ?
 What can be used for both persons as well as things.
E.g.
What is in your pocket ?
What is he ?
(Keep in mind that when we use What with a person, it means that we want to know
their trade or profession.)
 Which applies both to persons and things. We use Which when we have to select
some person or thing from a given group.
E.g.
Which of you is the captain ?

QUESTION TAGS

 A question tag is a short question placed at the end of a statement and it is used to get
a statement confirmed.
 The question tag consists of only two words. It has the same subject as the statement.
We can use a pronoun of the same person as the subject.
E.g.
She has made a beautiful painting, hasn’t she ?
Madhu is proud, isn’t she ?
 If the main sentence does not have any auxiliary verb, we use do / does / did in the
question tag.
E.g.
She won the first prize, didn’t she ?
 The tense remains the same in the question tag.
 If the statement is positive, the question tag is negative. And if the statement is
negative, the question tag is positive.
E.g.
We are proud of her, aren’t we ?
You haven’t learnt painting in any school, have you ?

Page 1 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 In negative question tags, we use short forms of the negatives : haven’t, aren’t.

 Some examples of question tags are :

You will give me your notes, won’t you ?
He learnt painting in France, didn’t he ?
Mukul drives smoothly, doesn’t he ?
They can’t come so early, can they ?
It is not fair to leave him behind, is it ?
She does not tell lies, does she ?
I don’t owe you any money, do I ?

 The question tag for I am is aren’t I.

E.g.
I am right, aren’t I ?

How to form Question Tags for Imperative Sentences

 After positive commands, will you and won’t you can both be used.
E.g.
Please come in, won’t you ?
Post this letter on your way to the post office, will you ?
 After negative commands, we use only will you.
E.g.
Don’t forget to wake me up, will you ?

 After let us, we use shall we as a question tag.

E.g.
Let us sit in the Sun, shall we ?
Let us wait for the rain to stop, shall we ?

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

 Adjectives of quality have three degrees of comparison : Positive, Comparative and

Superlative
For example :
Positive Comparative Superlative
Tall Taller Tallest
Easy Easier Easiest
 The positive degree is used when no comparison is made.
E.g.
This is an old man.
 The comparative degree is used to compare two things or two groups of things.
E.g.
This man is older than the other.
(Keep in mind that we use than with the comparative degree of an adjective.)
 Other examples :

Page 2 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Preeti is taller than any other girl in the class.

Preeti is the taller of the two girls. (Here we can not use ‘than’)
 The superlative degree is used to compare more than two things or two groups of
things. And we use the with the superlative degree of an adjective.
E.g.
This man is the oldest of all.
He is the richest person in the city.

MISCELLANEOUS - 2

 Some is used in affirmative sentences and any is used in negative sentences.

E.g.
I have already purchased some books.
I have not purchased any books.
 In interrogative sentences, we use some if an affirmative answer is expected and any if
a negative answer is expected.
E.g.
I am feeling hungry. Could you give me some bread to eat ?
I hope you can do the work yourself. Do you need any help ?
 Much means a large quantity of something. It is used with the uncountable nouns.
E.g.
Much ink Much sorrow
 Many means a large number of something. It is used with the plurals of countable
noun.
E.g.
Many books Many years
 Little is used with uncountable noun and Few is used with countable noun.
E.g.
Little help Few friends
 Little means almost none.
E.g.
I have little money.
 A little means at least some.
E.g.
I have a little money. I can afford to buy a bar of chocolate with it.
 The little means the whole, though very little.
E.g.
I bought a bar of chocolate with the little money I had.
 Few means not many, infact almost none.
E.g.
Few friends visit me. So I am often lonely.
 A few means atleast some.
E.g.
Sometimes a few friends visit me and we have a nice time.
 The few means all of them, though very few.

Page 3 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
The few friends I have, visit me very rarely.
 Elder and Eldest are used with close family relations. Elder is not followed by than.
So if we have to use than, we must use the word older.
E.g.
Shuchi is older than Vandita.
 Older and Oldest denote age, they can be used with both persons and things.
Neeraj is older than Pankaj.
This is the oldest pair of shoes I have.
 Later and Latest denote time while Latter and Last denote position.
E.g.
We shall be going to the hills in the later part of the April.
What is the latest news ?
England and India entered the finals, the latter won the match.
She prefers to sit on the last bench.
 Nearest denotes distance while Next denotes position.
E.g.
Who lives nearest to the school ?
Her house is next to mine.
 Some comparatives ending in (-or) like senior, junior, inferior and superior are
followed by to and not by than.
E.g.
He is senior to me by three years.
My pen is superior to yours.
 As….as is usually used with positive statements.
E.g.
She is as cunning as a fox.
Her result was as good as we had expected.
 In negative sentences, both (as….as) and (so….as) are acceptable.
E.g.
She is not as cunning as you think.
She is not so cunning as her elder sister.
 No comparatives or superlative degree are there for these adjectives : unique, complete,
perfect, full, ideal.
E.g.
This was a unique plan. (a most unique plan ×)

MORE ON THE USE OF THAT

 We use that after adjectives in the superlative degree.

E.g.
Kapil is the best fast bowler that we have produced.
Even the most foolish person that ever lived could teach us something.
 We use that after the words : all, some, any, none, nothing, (the) only.
E.g.

Page 4 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

All that glitters is not gold.

Nothing that I did pleased my father.
 Suppose in a sentence we have two nouns, one denoting a person and the other a thing,
we would naturally prefer to use that as a relative pronoun.
E.g.
Both the car and its driver that now appeared looked shabby.
 What refers to things only. Its antecedent is not expressed. It actually means that
which or the thing which.
E.g.
What can not be cured must be endured. (= that which)
We have found what we have been looking for. (= the thing which)
 The word as is used after the word such and sometimes after the word same.
E.g.
He is such a leader as the country needs today.
His problem is the same as yours.
 The relative pronoun (pronouns that relate a noun to a group of words that follow)
like who, which etc. should be placed as near as possible to the noun or the pronoun
it refers to; otherwise sometimes the sentences we write might look absurd.
E.g.
Vijay was called by the Principal, who had cheated in the examination. (×)
Vijay, who had cheated in the examination, was called by the Principal. (correct)

VERBS : MODALS

 A verb used to express the mood or attitude of a speaker is called a modal.

 The commonly used modals are :
Can Could May Might Will Would
Shall Should Must Ought to Need Dare
 Modals are used to suggest permission, possibility, ability, promise, suggestion,
advice, duty, intention, request, necessity, prohibition, wish etc.
 Modals are always followed by a main verb. They can not stand on their own, unless
they are used in a question tag.
 Modals always have the same form. The main verb used after a modal is always in the
root form.
 Modals are also helping verbs like primary auxiliary verbs (Be, Have, Do), but these
represent the mode or manner of the work done by the main verb.

CAN & COULD

 Can and Could are used to ask or give permission, ability, capacity, power and
prohibition. Can is also used to make informal requests.
E.g.
You can swim. (ability)
The Principal can grant you leave. (power)
Can you understand your teacher ? (capacity)
You can park your scooter here. (giving permission)

Page 5 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Can I smoke here ? (asking permission)

You can not smoke in the temple. (prohibition)
Can I have some tea ? (informal request)

 Could is the past form of the can. It is used in the past tense and it very polite. It also
tells ability, capacity, power, permission, prohibition etc.
E.g.
You could swim. (ability)
Could you understand your teacher ? (capacity)
Could I smoke here ? (ask permission)
You could not smoke in the temple. (prohibition)

 Could is also used to ask or give permission in the present tense.

E.g.
Could you pass on the salt, please ?
You could play in my park.
 Could is also used to show ability in the past.
E.g.
When my father was young, he could easily lift a 120kg weight.
 Could suggests lesser or extremely weak possibility in the future.
E.g.
She could come tomorrow.
He could be in his office.
 Sometimes could refers to present time.
E.g.
I am so hungry, I could eat dozen of chapatis. (now)
 Could is also used when someone is uncertain that the request will be accepted.
E.g.
Could you buy me some woolens ? (uncertain that the request will be accepted)

MAY & MIGHT

 May is very similar to can but it lacks determination or is less determined.
 May is used to give or take permission.
E.g.
May I come in ? (taking permission)
Yes, you may come in. (giving permission)
 May suggests a good possibility or probability.
E.g.
He may come here today. (possibility)
He may be in his office. (possibility)
Don’t worry, your purse may be in your bag. (possibility)
 May is also used to express a wish or pray.
E.g.
May you live long ! (wish)
May god bless you with a child ! (pray)

Page 6 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 May is used with the first form of the main verb to form present and future tenses.

 Might is the past form of the may. Might is very similar to could.
 Might is used to give or take permission in the past.
E.g.
I told him that he might go home.
He might see his father yesterday.
 Might suggests a lesser or very weak possibility in the present, past and future.
E.g.
He might be playing tennis with Vijay.
Sudha fell ill. She might fail.
It might rain yesterday.

 When we have to express any possibility in the present or future, we can use both;
either may or might. But keep in mind that, may suggests a good possibility; while
might suggests a weak possibility.
E.g.
He may attend the meeting.
He might attend the meeting.
He may enter the college now.
He might enter the college next year.

Note : May, Can and could are used to suggest permission. Can is informal.
May is polite. Could is more polite than may. May is very formal also. Could is
more polite than can.

WILL & WOULD

 Will is used with the second person (You) and third person (He, She, They) and with
all other nouns to show or express near future.
E.g.
You will read a novel.
She will sing a song.
They will play a match.
 We use will with the first person (I, We) to keep a promise, determination, threat,
intention and willingness.
E.g.
We will help you. (willingness)
I will return your book tomorrow. (promise)
I will turn you out if you are not silent. (threat)
We will not allow him to to come here. (determination)

 Would is the past form of the will.

E.g.
He wrote me that he would come here soon.
The problem was how he would reach there.
 Would is used to make very polite request.

Page 7 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
Would you speak a bit louder ?
Would you please lend me your book ?
Would you like to have a cup of tea with me ?

 Would is also used to show habitual happenings in the past.

E.g.
On Sundays, I would go to church.
Sometimes our mother would not give us food.
 Would is more polite than will.

SHALL & SHOULD

 Shall is used with the first person (I, We) to show general future tense.
E.g.
I shall read a novel.
We shall play a match.
 Shall is used with the second person (you) and the third person (He, She, They) to give
promise, command and threat.
E.g.
You shall not do it again. (command)
He shall get a bicycle. (promise)
She shall be turned out. (threat)
 Shall I and Shall we are also used to make suggestions.
E.g.
These children can not work on their own. Shall we help them.
 Should is the past form of shall.
E.g.
I said that I should buy a bicycle.
We said that we should play a match.
 Should is used to give advice or suggestion.
E.g.
You should not make a noise here. (advice)
You should try to reduce your weight. (advice)
We should include another fast bowler in the team. (suggestion)
Should we start packing the luggage ? (suggestion)
 Should is used to express or show duty or moral obligation.
E.g.
The rich should help the poor. (duty)
Everyone should obey his parents. (moral obligations)

MUST & OUGHT TO

 Must is like should. We use must, when it is compulsory to do a thing or work.
 We use must to say that it is necessary to do something. It carries the personal feelings
of the speaker.
E.g.

Page 8 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

You must put in real hard work if you want to do well.

You must see this movie from the very beginning.
 Must is used to show necessity or obligation.
E.g.
You must take this medicine regularly. (necessity)
We must love our motherland. (obligation)
 Must is used to show assumption or conclusion.
E.g.
My friend must be here this time. (assumption)
Mr. J N Sinha must be a good surgeon. (conclusion)
 Must is also used to express prohibition.
E.g.
You must not play in sunlight.
You must not write your name in the answer book.

Note : In modern english, we use will with first person (I, We) instead of shall.

 Ought to conveys the same sense as should, but it carries a sense of moral duty or
obligation to do something. Ought to is little stronger than should.
 Ought to is used to express moral duty.
E.g.
You ought to take care of your old parents. (moral duty)
You ought to be abide by the laws. (moral duty)
 Ought to is used to express the right thing to do.
E.g.
You are not keeping fit. You ought to go for a morning walk everyday.

Note : Now a days, should and ought to both are used to convey the same idea.

 Ought to is used to show moral obligations.

E.g.
We ought not to cheat anyone.
You ought to be a good student.
 Ought to is also used to show probability in the present and the past.
E.g.
Our team ought to win the match. (probability in present)
Our team ought to have won the match. (probability in past)
 If speaker wants to tell the subject that what work was expected by him or her.
E.g.
You ought to attend the meeting.
He was practiced bowling much. He ought to be a good bowler.

NEED & DARE

 We don’t use need in affirmative sentences. It is used only in the negative and
interrogative sentences. Need lacks the feeling of necessity or compulsion. We do not
use (s or es) or infinitive (to) with it.

Page 9 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
You needn’t worry for me.
Need I call you again ?
 When need is used as a main verb, then we can use it in affirmative sentences with (s
or es) and (do or does) with it.
E.g.
He needs some money.
I need your help.
He does not need any money.
I do not need your help.
 Needn’t (need not) suggests the absence of necessity or compulsion.
E.g.
He has fully recovered. He needn’t go to the doctor now.
I needn’t get up so early. It is vacation time.

DARE
 Dare means courage or not afraid to do something. It is used mostly in negative
sentences and in questions. In such type of examples we do not use to before the verb,
which comes after dare.
E.g.
I daren’t climb that tall tree.
The child dared not complain.
Dare you challenge him to a fight ? No I daren’t.
 Dare is also used to express challenge.
E.g.
I dare you to return my money at once.
We dared them to face the challenge.

USED TO
 It is used with subject to show the habit of them.
 It is used when past habit has been ended now. It is used only in affirmative sentences.
 It is used when things are happening again and again in past.
E.g.
I used to read novels when I was young.
My sister used to tease me everytime.

 Note : Today we use would instead of used to.

E.g.
I would read novels when I was young.
My sister would tease me every time.

MISCELLANEOUS - 3

Page 10 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

EITHER
 Either has two meanings.
 Firstly, it means any of the two different persons or things.
E.g.
You can take either bus. (any of the two buses)
Either book can serve my purpose. (any of the two books)
 Secondly, it means the both.
E.g.
Tall buildings have come up on either side of the road. (on both sides)

NEITHER
 Neither is the opposite of either. It means not the one nor the other.
E.g.
Neither candidate deserves our support.
You should take neither side.

EACH
 We use each when we think of things separately, one by one.
E.g.
Talk to each child separately.
 We use each for a small number preferrably two, or the number in the group should at
least be limited or definite.
E.g.
Each side of the square has the same length.

EVERY
 We use every when we think of things as a group. The meaning is without exception.
E.g.
Every child needs love and protection.
 We use every is used when the number is large or indefinite.
E.g.
Every Indian must be proud of their country.

FAIRLY & RATHER

 Both fairly and rather mean moderately. Fairly is used with favourable adjectives
and adverbs (clever, wise, intelligent etc.), while rather is used with the unfavourable
ones (foolish, ugly etc.)
E.g.
This child is fairly clever for his age.
She did fairly well in the interview.
This shirt is rather expensive.
He is fairly rich but his uncle is rather poor
 Some words like (hot, cold, fast, slow, high, low) in themselves are neither favourable
nor unfavourable. In such cases fairly suggests the idea of approval and rather
suggests the idea of disapproval.

Page 11 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
This tea is fairly hot. (I like it that way)
This tea is rather hot. (I don’t want it that hot)

ENOUGH
 Enough means sufficient. It is always used in the positive sense. It is placed after an
adjective or an adverb but before a noun.
E.g.
She is old enough to go alone.
She ran fast enough to overtake me.
There is enough food for both of us.

QUITE
 With adjectives that do not have a comparative and superlative degree, quite means
completely, entirely or fully.
E.g.
She is quite right. (She is fully right)
It is quite impossible. (It is absolutely impossible)
 With the other adjectives or adverbs, quite means to a fairly great extent or to a
greater extent than average.
E.g.
He sings quite well.
She speaks English quite fluently.

HARDLY & HARDLY EVER

 Hardly means very little or almost none.
E.g.
Could you speak a bit louder ? I can hardly hear you.
 Hardly ever means almost never.
E.g.
I’m not interested in films. I hardly ever go to the cinema.

************************************* THE END *************************************

Page 12 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

TENSES : PRESENT, PAST & FUTURE

 Tenses show the time of an action or event. According to the time, tenses have been
divided into three parts :
 Present Tense
 Past Tense
 Future Tense
 And each tense is further divided into four parts :
 Simple Tense / Indefinite Tense
 Continuous Tense / Imperfect Tense / Progressive Tense
 Perfect Tense
 Perfect Continuous Tense
 We use four forms of verbs to express or show tenses. These are :
 Base Form / Dictionary Form : First form of the verb. E.g. Go / Goes
 Simple Past Form : Second form of the verb. E.g. Went
 Past Participle Form : Third form of the verb. E.g. Gone
 Present Participle / (-ing) Form : Fourth form of the verb. E.g. Going

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE / PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

 It is used to express actions done as a matter of habit or actions done repeatedly.

E.g.
Monkeys eat bananas. (habit)
He goes for long walks. (repeated action)
 This tense expresses scientific facts and permanent truths.
E.g.
A magnet attracts iron. (scientific fact)
The Sun rises in the east. (permanent truth)
 It is used in proverbs and sayings because they also represent permanent truths.
E.g.
Fortune favours the brave.
Soft words win hard hearts.
 It is used to express natural qualities and professional activities.
E.g.
Fruits contain lots of minerals and vitamins. (natural quality)
A dentist takes care of teeth. (professional activity)
 In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually
taking place in the present.
E.g.
Here comes the bus !
There she goes !
 It is used to express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed programme.
E.g.
The next flight is at 7:30 tomorrow morning.

Page 13 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

The match starts at 9:00 o’clock.

When does the coffee house reopens ?
 It is used to introduce quotations.
E.g.
Keat says ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’.
 It is used instead of the simple future tense, in clauses of time and of condition.
E.g.
I shall wait till you finish your lunch.
If it rains we shall get wet.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It and any third Adding s or es in the base Does not + verb (base form) Does + subject + verb (base
person singular subject form of the verb + object form) + object
E.g. E.g. OR
Everybody loves his country. Ram does not write a letter. Ques. word + does + subject +
verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Does he go to school daily ?
When does he play ?
I, We, You, They and any third Verb (base form) Do not + verb (base form) + Do + subject + verb (base
person plural subject E.g. object form) + object
I play chess at night. E.g. OR
We do not take tea in the Question word + do + subject
summer. + verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Do you go for a walk daily ?
When do you play ?

 If there is an auxiliary verb in an interrogative sentence, we put the auxiliray verb

before the subject.
E.g.
Have they gone away ?
 In negative-interrogative forms we have :
Do you not play ? (Do + subject + not + base form of verb)
Does he not play ? (Does + subject + not + base form of verb)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS / IMPERFECT TENSE

 It is used to denote an action taking place at the time of speaking.

E.g.
She is singing.
The boys are playing hockey.
 It is used to denote a temporary action which may not be necessarily happening at the
time of speaking.
E.g.
These days, I am revising my courses.
I am reading ‘David Copperfield’.
 It is also used for an action that has already been arranged to take place in the near
future.
E.g.

Page 14 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

I am meeting him tomorrow.

We are playing a friendly match next week.
I am going to the cinema tonight.
My uncle is arriving tomorrow.

(Here note that this form is used to suggest a definite arrangement in the near future.
The time is almost always given in this type of tenses like tomorrow, next week etc.)

 We know simple present is used for a habitual action. However when the reference is to
a particularly obstinate habit (something which persists) e.g. in spite of advice or
warning, we use the present continuous tense with adverbs like always,
continually, constantly etc.
E.g.
My dog is very silly, he is always running out into the road.
 Some verbs are not normally used in the present continuous tenses. These are as
follows :
 Verbs of Senses / Perception : It includes see, hear, smell, taste, notice,
recognize.
E.g.
These grapes taste sour. (not tasting)
I see a boy playing there. (not seeing)
 Verbs of Appearing : It includes appear, look, seem, cost, consist, contain,
resemble.
E.g.
She seems sad. (not seeming)
This book contains pictures. (not containing)
 Verbs of Emotions and Feelings : It includes want, desire, feel, wish, like,
love, dislike, fear, care, respect, appreciate.
E.g.
I want a new pen. (not wanting)
He desires much wealth. (not desiring)
 Verbs of Mental States and Activity : It includes agree, disagree, believe,
disbelieve, differ, doubt, find, forget, imagine, know, mean, remember,
suppose, think, trust, understand, consider, mind, feel, expect etc.
E.g.
I doubt he will come. (not doubting)
I think we should not go. ( not thinking)
I forget your name. (not forgetting)
 Verbs showing Possession : It includes have, own, possess, belong to,
contain, consist of, owe etc.
E.g.
This house belongs to me. (not belonging)
My uncle owns a car. (not owning)

(Here keep in mind that, if we say any of these verbs to describe an action which we
can begin or stop at our will, we can use these verbs in the present continuous tense)

Page 15 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
I am thinking hard. (a controlled action, as I began to think and I can stop it also)

 See and Hear are non-action verbs while look and listen are action verbs. We can
use action verbs in continuous tenses but not non-action verbs. See and Hear do not
involve any intention of performing an action. But looking and listening are
intentional activities. So we can use both types in different way as below :
E.g.
I see a man outside. (see : non-action verb, so we will use see and not seeing here)
I hear a lot of noise. (hear : non-action verb, so we will use hear and not hearing
here)
He is looking at me. (Looking : action verb, so we will not use look here)
Are you listening to me ? (listening : action verb, so we will not use listen here)

 When have shows possession or condition, we should not use it in the present
continuous tense. Instead we should use it only in the simple present tense.
E.g.
I have all these books at home. (possession)
She has a severe headache. (possession)

But we can use have in the present continuous tense in the following cases :
 When have prefers to some arrangement for the future.
E.g.
We are having a party tomorrow.
 When have is used in the sense of taking something.
E.g.
She is having her lunch.
Rachit is having his bath.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It and any third person Is + verb (base form) +ing Is + not + verb (base form) + Is + subject + verb (base
singular subject E.g. ing + object form) + ing + object
He is playing. E.g. OR
She is not playing. Ques. Word + is + subject +
verb (base form) + ing +
object
E.g.
Is he playing football ?
What is he playing ?
I Am + verb (base form) + ing Am + not + verb (base form) + Am + subject +verb (base
E.g. ing + object form) + ing + object
I am singing. E.g. OR
I am not going to the city. Ques. Word + am + subject
+ verb (base form) + ing +
object
E.g.
Am I teaching ?
What am I eating ?
We, You, They and any third Are + verb (base form) + ing Are + not + verb (base form) + Are + subject + verb (base
person plural subject E.g. ing + object form) + ing
We are studying. E.g. OR
They are not playing. Ques. Word + are + subject
+ verb (base form) + ing +
object

Page 16 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

E.g.
Where are they playing ?
Are you reading ?

 We use aren’t I or ain’t I in place of Am I not.

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :
Is he not catching the fish ? (Is/Am/Are + subject + not + verb (base form) + ing +
object)
Why are the farmers not working today ? (Ques. Word + is/am/are + subject + not +
verb (base form) + ing + object)

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

 It is used to denote an action that has been completed recently. The word just is often
used with this type of tense to suggest that the action was completed only a little while
ago.
E.g.
He has just left.
We have just received this information.
 It is also used to denote an action which was completed in the past but whose effect
can be felt at the time of speaking.
E.g.
I have taken my breakfast. (so I am not hungry now)
I have seen this movie. (so I need not see it again)
I have finished my work. (now I am free)
 It is also used to denote past actions whose time is not given and not definite.
E.g.
Have you read this book ?
I have never known him to be angry.
 It is also used to denote an action beginning at sometime in the past and continuing up
to the present moment with since and for.
E.g.
I have known him for a long time.
We have lived here for ten years.
We have not seen Preeti for several months.
 The present perfect is never used with adverbs of past time. We should not say like this
as :
He has gone to Kolkata yesterday. (×)
In such cases the Simple Past Tense should be used as :
He went to Kolkata yesterday.

Here are some uses of just, already, yet, ever in the Present Perfect Tenses.

Just : It means a very short time ago.

E.g.
I have just taken a glass of milk.
I have just gone through your essay.

Page 17 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Already : It is used to suggest that something happened sooner than expected.

E.g.
I have already invited her.
I have already paid it.

Yet : It is normally used in questions and negative sentences. It means until now.
E.g.
Has the train arrived yet ?
I havn’t sent him a reply yet ?

Ever : It is often used in the present perfect tense. It is used in questions. It means
in the whole of your life.
E.g.
Have you ever been to France ?
Have you ever taken part in a play ?

Difference between Simple Past and Present Perfect Tenses

Both tenses express an action completed in the past. But there are some
differences :
 We use simple past to express an action which took place at some moment in
the past and is not linked with the present. But if a past action is linked with
the present, we express it in the present perfect tense.
E.g.
I have lost my pen. (so I don’t have a pen to write with)
(This action of loosing the pen is linked with present, so it is in the present
perfect tense)
I lost my pen yesterday.
(No link with the present, so it is in the simple past tense)
 The most important thing to remember is that we should not use any time
expression denoting past time with the present perfect tense.
E.g.
Our school won this tournament last year. (Simple Past)
Our school has won this tournament. (Present Perfect)

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Subject
He, She, It and any third
person singular subject
I, We, You, They, Any third
person plural subject
Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
Has + verb (past-participle) Has + not + verb (past- Has + subject + verb (past
E.g. participle) + object participle) + object
He has played. E.g. OR
She has not played. Ques. word + has + subject +
verb (past participle) + object
E.g.
Has he played ?
Why has he played ?
Have + verb (past-participle) Have + not + verb (past- Have + subject + verb (past
E.g. participle) + object participle) + object
I have played. E.g. OR
I have not played. Ques. word + have + subject +
verb (past-participle) + object
E.g.
Have they played ?
What have you played ?

Page 18 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Has he not played ? (Has/have + subject + not + past participle form of verb +
object)
Why has he not played ? (Ques. word + has/have + subject + not + past participle
form of verb + object)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 The present perfect continuous tense is used to express an action that began in the past
and has been in the progress till the time of speaking.
E.g.
Rashi has been playing chess. (she may still be playing chess)
 It is also used to express an action that has just finished or that finished only a short
time ago.
E.g.
Shuchi has been talking to some friends. (she is no longer talking to them)
Saloni has been watching television. (she has stopped watching now)
 It is also used to express an action already finished. In such cases the continuity of the
activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.
E.g.
Why are your clothes so wet ? – I have been watering the garden.
 We use since and for in sentences of this tense.
Since : Since is used to suggest the point of time at which an action started.
E.g. since 7am, since 2009, since childhood etc.
Menon has been talking to some friends since 10am.
For : For is used to suggest the period of time for which an action has been going on.
E.g. for an hour, for a long time, for ages etc.
He has been sleeping for five hours.

Difference between Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous

 Sometimes we want to suggest that an action is going on at the present

moment but do not care how long it has been going on. In such cases we use
the present continuous tense.
 But if we also want to take into consideration the time for which it has been
going on we use present perfect continuous tense.
E.g.
Umesh is sleeping. (at the present moment)
Umesh has been sleeping for half an hour. (he went to sleep half an hour
ago and is still sleeping)
 In the present perfect continuous tense, a time expression is usually given.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It and any third person Has been + verb (base form) + Has + not + been + verb Has + subject + been + verb
singular subject ing + since / for (opt.) (base form) + ing + since / (base form) + ing + since /
E.g. for (opt.) + object for (opt.) + object

Page 19 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Sonu has been sleeping for two E.g. OR

I, We, You, They and any third
person plural subject
hours. He has not been reading
since last Sunday.
Have been + verb (base form) Have + not + been + verb
+ ing + since / for (opt.) (base form) + ing + since /
E.g. for (opt.) + object
I have been playing for 3 E.g.
hours. They have not been playing
football for two weeks.
Ques. word + has + subject +
been + verb (base form) +
ing + since / for (opt.) +
object
E.g.
Has she been playing ?
What has she been playing
since morning ?
Have + subject + been +
verb (base form) + ing +
since / for (opt.) + object
OR
Ques. word + have + subject
+ been + verb (base form) +
ing + since / for (opt.) +
object
E.g.
Have you been playing for
three hours ?
What have you been playing
since afternoon ?

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Has she not been playing since evening ? (Has/Have + subject + not + been + base
form of verb + ing + since / for + object)
Why have you not been playing for two weeks ? (Ques. word + has/have + subject +
not + been + base form of verb + ing + since / for + object)

SIMPLE PAST TENSE / PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

 It is used to express actions that took place at sometime in the past and are over now.
These do not have any connection with the present. It often occurs with adverbs or
adverb phrases of past time like (yesterday, last week, last evening, last night, last
year, long ago, few days ago, few days ago or any previous date month or year)
E.g.
I posted the letters yesterday.
She left school last year.
We saw a movie last night.
We went to a hotel for dinner.
 Sometimes this tense is used without an adverb of time. In such cases the time may be
either implied or indicated by the context.
E.g.
I learnt Hindi in Nagpur.
I didn’t sleep well. (talking about last night)
Babur defeated Rana Sanga at Khanwa.
 It is also used to express some past habits.
E.g.
We usually went to the school by bus.
She never worked at night.
(Note that when we want to suggest some past habit, we often use words like usually,
generally, always, sometimes, frequently, never, often with the simple past tense)
 It is also used to express an action that took place over a period of time in the past.
E.g.

Page 20 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

I lived in the hostel from 2009 to 2011.

SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It and any third person Verb (past form) Did not + verb (base form) + Did + subject + verb (base
singular subject E.g. object form) + object
He played a match yesterday. E.g. OR
He did not play. Ques. word + did + subject +
verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Did he play ?
What did he play ?
I, We, You, They and any third Verb (past form) Did not + verb (base form) + Did + subject + verb (base
person plural noun E.g. object form) + object
They played in the evening. E.g. OR
We did not play cricket. Ques. word + did + subject +
verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Did we play ?
What did they play ?

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Did he not play football ? (Did + subject + not + base form of verb + object)
When did they not play chess ? (Ques. word + did + subject + not + base form of verb
+ object)

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

 It is used to express an action which was in progress at some point of time in the past
but whose time limits are not mentioned.
E.g.
They were playing in the park.
We were listening to the radio all evening.
It was getting darker.
 Very often simple past and past continuous tenses are used together to suggest
that something happened when another action was in progress.
E.g.
The phone rang when he was watching television.
The boys were making a noise, when the teacher entered the class.
 It is also used with always, continually etc. for persistent habits in the past.
E.g.
He was always grumbling.
 It is also used when any plan is being made in the past but that has not been completed
yet.
E.g.
My uncle was coming to India in January. (but not came yet)
They were planning to visit the book fair. (but not visited yet)
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It, I and any third Was + verb (base form) + ing Was not + verb (base form) + Was + subject + verb (base
person singular subject E.g. ing + object form) + ing + object
He was playing. E.g. OR

Page 21 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

He was not playing. Ques. word + was + subject +

You, We, They, and any third
person plural subject
Were + verb (base form) + ing
E.g.
You were playing.
Were not + verb (base form) +
ing + object
E.g.
You were not playing ?
verb (base form) + ing +
object
E.g.
Was he playing ?
What was he playing ?
Were + subject + verb (base
form) + ing + object
OR
Ques. word + were + subject +
verb (base form) + ing +
object
E.g.
Were you playing ?
What were you playing ?

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Was I not watching a movie every Sundays ? (Was/Were + subject + not + base form
of the verb + ing + object)
What was he not doing yesterday ? (Ques. word + was/were + subject + not + base
form of the verb + ing + object)

PAST PERFECT TENSE

 It is used to express an action completed before a given moment in the past.

E.g.
The train had left before we reached the station.
The message came after he had left the office.
The forces had reached the airport before the plane landed.

(Note that if two actions happened in the past, it may be necessary to show which
action happened earlier than the other. So if we join them, the action taking place first
has to be expressed in the past perfect tense)
E.g.
When I reached the station the train had started.
(happened later) (happened earlier)

 It is used with such verbs as hope, expect, think, mean, suppose, want etc. to suggest
that an expected past action did not take place.
E.g.
We had hoped that most of the guests would come. (but they didn’t)
I had thought of inviting at least my close friends. (but I didn’t)
I had hoped that I would pass. (but I didn’t)
PAST PERFECT TENSE
Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It, I, We, You, They Had + verb (past participle) Had not + verb (past Had + subject + verb (past
and any third person singular or E.g. participle form) + object participle form) + object
plural subject He had played cricket before E.g. OR
study. He had not played cricket Ques. word + had + subject +
before study. verb (past participle form) +
object
E.g.
Had he played cricket ?
What had he played ?

Page 22 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Had he not played ? (Had + subject + not + past participle form of verb + object)
What had he not played ? (Ques. word + had + subject + not + past participle form
of verb + object)

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 It is used to express an action which began before a definite moment in the past, had
continued up to that moment and was still in progress at that moment or had very
recently finished.
E.g.
He had been sleeping for two hours.
We had been waiting for him for two hours.
The child had been sleeping since 10am.

(We use since and for in these tenses when the time period has given. Since and for
are often used with perfect continuous tenses)

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
He, She, It, I, We, You, They and Had + been + verb (base Had + not + been + verb Had + subject + been + verb
any third person singular or plural form) + ing + since / for (base form) + ing + since / (base form) + ing + since /
subject (opt.) for (opt.) + object for (opt.) + object
E.g. E.g. OR
He had been sleeping since He had not been sleeping Ques. word + had + subject +
4am. since 4am. been + verb (base form) + ing
+ since / for (opt.) + object
E.g.
Had he been eating
vegetables for seven months
?
What had he been eating for
3 years ?

 In negative-interrogative forms we have :

Had he not been eating for three hours ? (Had + subject + not + been + base form of
verb + ing + object)
What had he not been eating for three hours ? (Ques. word + had + subject + not +
been + base form of verb + ing + object)

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE / FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE

 It is used to talk about the future in a general way.

E.g.
The government will soon be able to control the inflation.
Heavy monsoon will affect rail traffic.
 It is used to express speaker’s view.
E.g.
I’m feeling feverish. I think I will consult a doctor.

Page 23 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 It is also used as an offering to do something.

E.g.
You look tired. I will get you some hot coffee.
I will open the door for you.
 It is used as a promising to do something.
E.g.
Thanks for the book. I will return it by Sunday.
 It is also used as an agree to do something.
E.g.
Can you get me some apples ? Sure. I will just go to the market and buy some.
 It is used to ask somebody to do something.
E.g.
Will you please lower the volume of your stereo. I’m getting disturbed.
 It is used to express something which is certain to happen and can not be altered and
over which we have no control.
E.g.
The school will remain close tomorrow.
They won’t declare the results before 10th May.

(The negative of will is won’t. E.g. I won’t take much time of yours. Actually won’t
is the abbreviated form of will not.)
(Normally we use will with all persons. But with the first person ‘I and We’ we may
use shall instead of will. But this is not commonly used in speaking english.)

 Shall I and Shall We are used in questions to make offers or suggestions.

E.g.
Shall I get you some coffee ? (offering)
Shall we visit the adventure island this weekend ? (suggestion)

Going to :

 We use the going to form to suggest that there is an intention or a decision to

do something in the near future.
E.g.
We are going to shift to a new house tomorrow.
We are going to play a friendly match tomorrow.
 We use this form to make a prediction about the future when there are clear
signs that this prediction will come true.
E.g.
She is getting wet in rain. She is going to catch flu.
The signal has turned green. The train is soon going to enter the platform.
 It is used when there is indications that something is going to happen in the
near future with clear signs in the present.
E.g.
That building is in a very poor shape. It is going to collapse any day.
It is going to rain, look at those black clouds.

Page 24 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 It is also used to express an action which is on the point of happening.

E.g.
Let’s get into the train. It’s going to leave.
Look ! The cracker is going to explode.

Will or Going to :

 Going to is used when an intention or decision exists beforehand or has

already been made.
E.g.
We are going to shift to our new house. (The decision has already been made)
 Will is used if a decision is made at the time of speaking or used for an instant
decision.
E.g.
The landlord is going to increase the rent of this house. We won’t accept that.
We will shift to a new house. (The decision is made at the time of speaking)

Will / Shall :

 It is used to talk about the future events that the speaker can not control.
E.g.
Communication will be much faster in the future. (something which we can
not control)
 It is used to talk about the future in a general way.
E.g.
I will go to the school tomorrow.

Present Continuous with a Future Meaning

 We use the present continuous tense to express a future action if the speaker
knows that something is going to happen because an arrangement has already
been made.
E.g.
Preeti is getting married next week.
I am leaving this office next month.

(Note here that the meaning of Present Continuous is almost the same as
the one suggested by the going to form. But there is only a slight difference
between these two forms. The difference is, in the going to form, there is
intention or decision but there may not be any arrangement. But in the
Present continuous Tense, there is some kind of arrangement also.)

E.g.
I am leaving this office next month. (arrangement)
I am going to leave this office next month. (Decision, but there may not be
any arrangement)

Note : In most of the cases, either of them can be used.

Page 25 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Simple Present with a Future Meaning

 We sometimes use the simple present tense to talk about or express future
events or official programmes fixed by the calender or an official timetable.
E.g.
The train leaves tomorrow morning at 6am.
I reach Mumbai tomorrow morning at 9am.
The exam begins next week.

(But here the speaker has no control over these events. We could have
expressed them by using will also.)

E.g.
The train will leave tomorrow morning at 6am.
I will reach Mumbai tomorrow morning at 9am.
The exam will begin next week.

 The simple present tense is often used for future time in clauses with if,
unless, when, while, as, before, after, until, by the time, as soon as.
The simple future tense is not used in such cases.
E.g.
I won’t go out if it rains. (not will rain)
Can I have some milk before I go to bed. (not will go to bed)

Be + Infinitive / Be about to

 It is not used very often. It is also used to express future time. It is used when
any future event is just going to happen or it is used for the immediate future.
E.g.
The match is about to begin.

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I, We Shall + verb (base form) Shall not + verb (base form) + Shall + subject + verb (base
E.g. object form) + object
We shall go to cinema. E.g. OR
We shall not go to cinema. Ques. word + shall + subject +
verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Shall we go to cinema ?
What shall we do now ?
He, She, It, You, They and any Will + verb (base form) Will + not + verb (base form) Will + subject + verb (base
third person singular or plural E.g. + object form) + object
subject She will help you. E.g. OR
She will not help you. Ques. word + will + subject +
verb (base form) + object
E.g.
Will she eat mango ?
What will she does now ?

 In negative-interrogative form we have :

Will she not mango ? (Will/Shall + subject + not + base form of verb + object)

Page 26 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

Why will Arvind not come here ? (Ques. word + will/shall + subject + not + base
form of verb + object)

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

 It is used to express an action which will be in progress at a given moment in the future.
E.g.
Tomorrow at 6am, Grover will be flying to Paris.
At this time next Monday, we will be celebrating your birthday.
 We also use this tense to express an action that is fairly certain to happen in the future.
E.g.
Next week we will be shifting to our new house.
He will be meeting us next week.

(However, we can say the same things given above using the Present Continuous
Tense also.)
E.g.
Next week we are shifting to our new house.
He is meeting us next week.

Be to

 We use be to + verb (base form) to talk about official plans and

arrangements.
E.g.
The PM is to visit America next month.
The conference is to discuss ‘Nuclear Tests’.

(Note that, here Be can be either of the three forms : is, am are.)

 Be to is used in a formal style, often in news reports. Be is usually left out in

news headlines.
E.g.
Prime Minister is to visit America.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I, We Shall be + verb (base form) + Shall + not + be + verb (base Shall + subject + be + verb
ing form) + ing + object (base form) + ing + object
E.g. E.g. OR
I shall be writing a letter. I shall not be learning my Ques. word + shall + subject +
lesson. be + verb (base form) + ing +
object
E.g.
Shall I be playing with Rohit ?
Where Shall I be playing with
Rohit ?
He, She, It, You, They and any Will be + verb (base form) + Will + not + be + verb (base Will + subject + be + verb
third person singular or plural ing form) + ing + object (base form) + ing + object
subject E.g. E.g. OR
They will be going to park. Rohit will not be singing. Ques. word + will + subject +

Page 27 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

be + verb (base form) + ing +

object
E.g.
Will the servant be cleaning
the room ?
Where will you be playing
with Seema ?

 In negative-interrogative form we have :

Shall we not be buying the goods ? (Will/Shall + subject + not + be + base form of
verb + ing + object)
Where will you not be playing with Rohit ? (Ques. word + will/shall + subject + not
+ be + base form of verb + ing + object)

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

 It is used to express an action completed before a given moment in the future. It is used
with a time expression beginning with by like by then, by that time, by the tenth of this
month, by next Monday, by before etc.
E.g.
They will have declared the results by next Monday.
By next Monday, he will have changed his job.
 In these type of sentences two works are given which happen in future. If the sentence
has two tasks or works then the work which gets completed first will be in the future
perfect tense and the work completed later will be in the present indefinite tense.
E.g.
I will have reached the school before the bell rings.
(completed first so in future (completed later so
Perfect tense) in present indefinite tense)
We shall have learnt our lesson before the teacher comes.
(completed first so in future (completed later so
perfect tense) present indefinite tense)

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I, We Shall have + verb (past Shall + not + have + verb Shall + subject + have + verb
participle) (past participle) + object (past participle) + object
E.g. E.g. OR
We shall have completed the I shall not have written the Ques. word + shall + subject +
work by tomorrow. letter by noon. have + verb (past participle
form) + object
E.g.
Shall we have played the
match by this time ?
What shall I have eaten before
evening ?
He, She, It, You, They and any Will have + verb (past Will + not + have + verb (past Will + subject + have + verb
third person singular or plural participle) participle) + object (past participle) + object
subject E.g. E.g. OR
You will have completed the It will not have began to rain Ques. word + will + subject +
work by this month. before he reaches home. have + verb (past participle) +
object
E.g.
Will he have gone before I
reach ?
Who will have done this work
before he gets up ?

Page 28 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

 In negative-interrogative form we have :

Will he not have gone before I reach ? (Will/Shall + subject + not + have + past
participle form of the verb + object)
What will he not have eaten before night ? (Ques. word + will/shall + subject + not
+ have + past participle form of verb + object)

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 It is used to express an action which will begin before a given moment in the future,
will continue up to that moment and will be in progress even at that moment.
E.g.
By 5pm I shall have been riding the bicycle for two hours.
(Here a definite moment in the future is specified i.e. 5pm. The action of riding the
bicycle will begin two hours before 5pm. It will continue up to 5pm and will be in
progress even at 5pm.)
By 5 o’clock, Meenu will have been sitting in meditation for two hours.
Sushil will have been living in this colony for two months.
I shall have been doing this work for 15 years.

(We often use since and for in these tenses wherever required.)
(This tense is not used very often.)

Use of Seem and Appear

 When any sentence ends with seem and appear, then they are always used in
simple present tense even then also, when they have meaning in continuous
form or tense.
 We use to be with these words during formation of sentences.
E.g.
Raju seems to be happy.
The oranges appear to be sweet.

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Subject Verb
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I, We Shall have been + verb (base Shall + not + have been + verb Shall + subject + have been +
form) + ing + object + since / (base form) + ing + object + verb (base form) + ing + object
for (opt.) since / for (opt.) + since / for (opt.)
E.g. E.g. OR
I shall have been doing this I shall not have been doing my Ques. word + shall + subject +
work for fifteen years. work since 2 o’clock. have been + verb (base form)
+ ing + object + since / for
(opt.)
E.g.
Shall I have been cooking food
for two hours ?
Why shall I have been going to
school since 8 o’clock ?
He, She, It, You, They and any Will have been + verb (base Will + not + have been + verb Will + subject + have been +
third person singular or plural form) + ing + object + since / (base form) + ing + object + verb (base form) + ing + object
noun for (opt.) since / for (opt.) + since / for (opt.)
E.g. E.g. OR

Page 29 of 30
ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASIC RULES AND INFORMATIONS

You will have been waiting for
Anil for a long time.
You will not have been eating
for one hour.
Ques. word + will + subject +
have been + verb (base form)
+ ing + object + since / for
(opt.)
E.g.
Will the children have been
reading since morning ?
Why will you have been going
to school since 8 o’clock ?

 In negative-interrogative form we have :

Shall I not have been cooking food for two hours ? (Shall/Will + subject + not +
have been + base form of verb + ing + object)
Why will you not have been going to school since Monday ? (Ques. word +
will/shall + subject + not + have been + base form of verb + ing + object)

************************************* THE END *************************************

Page 30 of 30