Table Of ContentSimple Tenses
English Grammar in Templates
by Den Snowell
All you need
to speak English correctly
Essential Grammar Guide in Templates
Never be wrong
Build you skills
Sharpen your style
Boo k 1
Past, Present and Future Simple tenses
English Grammar in Templates SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
NO MORE GRAMMAR RULES AND THICK CONTENT
BOOKS!
1. Verb TO BE - forms and usage in statements
English grammar is presented in the Grammar and general questions.
Templates which visually illustrate the correct
2. Verb TO HAVE - forms and usage in
construction of English sentences on any topic of
statements and general questions, countable
grammar.
and uncountable nouns.
In order to compose any English sentence, you just
3. Verb TO DO and other verbs - forms and
need to read the template from left to right. Each
usage in statements and general questions,
template provides multiple options for constructing
regular and irregular verbs.
sentences and sufficient vocabulary to use English for
everyday communication. 4. General Tag Questions
Each template is provided with a short explanation 5. Indirect General Questions
and has a "key" - variants of sentences that can be
6. Special Questions – Part 1
constructed with this template (see Appendices).
7. Special Questions – Part 2
In the Book 1, we only consider the Simple tenses
(Past Simple, Present Simple and Future Simple) in the 8. Indirect Special Questions
active voice. Simple tenses are used in 85% of
9. Infinitive – Statements
conversations. The other types of tenses, as well as the
10. Infinitive – Questions
passive voice and all grammar topics related to other
types of tenses, will be presented in the second part of 11. Complex Object with Infinitive
this book.
12. Complex Object with Zero Infinitive and
Participle 1
THE PRINCIPLE OF GRAMMAR TEMPLATES
13. There is / There are
Any language is based on 3 main parts:
14. Degrees of Comparison – Adjectives
1. Personal pronouns
15. Degrees of Comparison – Adverbs
2. The most frequently used verbs TO BE, TO HAVE, TO DO
16. Conditional 1 - Statements
and constructions based on them
17. Conditional 1 - Questions
3. Vocabulary (minimum 500 frequency words)
The verbs TO BE and TO HAVE are the most commonly used 18. Conditional 1 – Other Cases
verbs in the English language and have specific features in
usage. The verb TO DO represents all verbs (except modal)
Grammar Keys
of the English language and the rules for their use.
• To Be, To Have, To Do
Therefore, in each topic of grammar, we consider these 3
verbs and their constructions. For convenience of visual • General Questions
perception, these structures are highlighted in color:
• Special Questions
1. TO BE and adjectives – gregerene. n
• Infinitive
2. TO HAVE and nouns – brborwonw.n
• Complex Object
3. TO DO (and other verbs) – blubel.u e
• There is / There are
Complementary colors:
• Comparison Of Adjectives
• Adverbs – yeylleolwlo.w
• Comparison Of Adverbs
• Question words – blabclka.c k
• Time markers – oroarnagneg. e • Conditional 1
1. TO BE – Statements And General Questions SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
AFFIRMATIVE Past Pres. Future Name Age Nationality Profession
Time Ordinals Colors Occupation
I am
Location
He
She was in out away back
It is here there near far
Everybody will be at home at school at work at Jone’s
Nobody at the hospital at the airport at the station at the stop
in hospital in Italy in London in prison
We on leave on holiday on duty on strike
You were are on sick leave on pension on vacation on a business trip
They
Appearance
handsome short beautiful tall
NEGATIVE Past Pres. Future fat slim slender thin
ugly pretty bald pale
am
I
not Conditions
was born new (to) sure sleepy
He
not young old poor rich
She
is not won’t deaf dumb pregnant blind
It
be divorced (from) married (to) a bachelor single
Everybody
strong weak happy (with) famous (of)
healthy ill/insane crazy (at) sick (with)
We
were are hungry (for) thirsty (for) angry (with) upset (with)
You
not not late (for) tired (of) busy (with) free
They very
too hot cold lonely sad
rather worried (about) exited (about) annoyed (with) scared (of)
somewhat disappointed satisfied (with) nervous bored (with)
a bit drunk lucky afraid (of) sober
Past Pres. Future +QUESTION
quite mistaken wrong right ready (for)
in trouble in power in love (with) in debt
Am I
in a hurry in safety in despair in danger
he
Positive features
Was she
Is It well-bred clever honest (with) modest
Will everybody be polite (to) generous kind (to) decent
nobody
merry cheerful witty frank
prudent patient cultured calm
we sincere sociable reliable brave
Were Are you
careful earnest enterprising wise
they
educated faithful (to) emotional proud (of)
Negative features
Past Pres. Future -QUESTION
ill-bred silly stupid rude (to)
Aren’t I frivolous naughty lazy mean
fussy greedy impudent sly
jealous (of) selfish tiresome boring
he
Wasn’t
moody nosy cross shy
she
Isn’t
It
Won’t
everybody
be
?
in the morning in 1999 now (then)
we
in the evening in winter at 6 o’clock
Weren’t Aren’t you
in the afternoon in October 2 days ago
they
in 2 hours on October 15th next week
on Monday last year
2. TO HAVE – Statements And General Questions
SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
a lot of | enough | some
few little
POSITIVE Past Pres. Future a few a little
both … and … (too) many (too) much
I either … or …
We neither … nor …
have
You not only… but also … any | enough
They
will a / the
He had have many much
She
It has Count Non-count
Singular Plural
Everybody
a (n)+ +s
Nobody friend work
enemy time
relative news
brother glory
SIMPLE NEGATIVE
no (without a(n)) sister love
niece courage
nephew happiness
NEGATIVE Past Pres. Future
uncle progress
aunt experience
I
family patience
We don’t
You have husband success
They wife power
didn’t won’t daughter strength
He have have son freedom
She fiancé money
doesn’t
It fiancée fun
have
Everybody lover joy
Nobody kid pity
neighbor mercy
car shame
house currency
Past Pres. Future QUESTION
umbrella wine
I book water
Do
we ticket food
---------
you idea fruit
Don’t
they date milk
Did Will ?
have thing meat
-------- --------
he problem fish
Didn’t Won’t
Does she
fault sugar
--------- it
asset salt
Doesn’t everybody
duty bread
nobody
right butter
debt coal
Actions or Conditions doubt oil
answer cotton
a + dance word nap toothache
question wool
rest meal shave headache
holiday wood
wonderful walk trip snack head cold
impression cattle
terrible smoke party break cold
illusion poultry
good drink ball baby fever
suggestion petrol
bad row feast day off cough
suit iron
nice fight argue swim wedding
shirt
quarrel dream run honeymoon
hat
talk bath sleep cup of tee breakfast
coat
chat shower wash cup of coffee lunch
skirt
Dinner
dress
with (someone)
3. TO DO – Statements And General Questions
SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
regular + ed
POSITIVEE Past Pres. Future
love cure pour tease fire
I need envy promise betray receive
We marry bother deceive punish offer
. . .
You believe admire answer obey greet
. . .+ed
They praise spoil refuse annoy invite
will rob hire show adore order
or
He . . . offend help hate join follow
She kill respect miss treat save
V2
It . . . +s arrest invite divorce call ask
Everybody warn owe scold charm respect
always
Nobody amuse cook rape blame kiss
never
often
regular with prepositions
usually
NEGATIVE seldom Past Pres. Future smile + ed lough + ed at me
look shout at her
I arrive stay at / in / with him
We don’t work play at / for us
You . . . wait look for you
borrow conceal from them
They
live study in / with everybody
didn’t won’t
die cure of / from / in nobody
He . . . . . .
return cry to / for
She doesn
listen toast to each of us
It ’t complain lie to none of us
Everybody . . . describe explain to
Nobody propose prove to my friend
dedicate belong to her father
reply repeat to his wife
apologize save to / for our parents
Past Pres. Future QUESTION
talk boast to /about your kids
travel agree to / with your sister
I dance smoke with their friends
Do
we quarrel argue with / about Jack
---------
you always
Don’t
Did Will they never ?
often
-------- ---------
he usually irregular V2
Didn’t Does Won’t
she seldom
--------- take took
it SOMETHING
Doesn’t do did
everybody
drink drank
nobody NOTHING
eat ate
V2 learn learnt
lose lost
say said it / something spend spent
ANYTHING
choose chose
(- / ?)
pgiavye pgaavide ero money wweina r wwoorne
lbernindg lbernotu ght me m / e msuiglka r cbaetccohm e cbaeucgahmte SOMEONE
in the morning her m bread forget forgot
o
in the evening read read him s water to know knew NO-ONE
us see saw
in the afternoon write wrote
iinn 21 9h9o9u rs sseenll d ssoenldt yt hoeum rehto ltseioctnkteger t flmeeaeevedet flmeefedtt ANYONE ( - / ?)
in winter sing sang n teach taught
a story
ionn O Occttoobbeerr 15th tgeeltl tgooltd / a flower cstoamnde cstaomoed
go went
on Monday run ran SOMEWHERE
build built me
now (then) buy bought her re house sit sat NOWHERE
at 6 o’clock h job sleep slept
find found him t
2 days ago make made us on dress for swim swam
a flower dream dreamt
nlaesxt ty weaere k dgerat w dgoret w ythoeum / a ticket tshpienakk tshpooukeg ht ANYWHE (R- E/ ?)
Grammar Templates’ Keys SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
1. TO BE. The most often used verb, has different forms for present and past tenses.
We can talk about Location, Appearance, DESCRIBE A PERSON + QUESTIONS (positive)
Conditions, Positive and Negative • She is Lily. She is 25 (years old). • Am I right?
features. • Lily is American. She is an artist. • Is he very silly?
• She is a dress designer. Her dress is yellow. • Are we too nosy?
We can add Adjectives for emotional
• It is 4 P.M. • Was she divorced from him last year?
enhancement and Time markers to
• Were we ready for the new job last week?
indicate the time of the action. + STATEMENTS (positive)
• Will they be ready tomorrow at 5?
• I am at home.
These Time markers indicate Simple
• She is at school today. - QUESTIONS (negative)
Tenses. If you say or mean one of the
• They are at work now. • Aren’t I stupid?
listed Time marker, you should use
• He was very handsome two years ago. • Isn’t she pregnant?
Simple tenses (Past, Present or Future).
• You were too short. • Aren’t you busy now?
We can use contractions (Affirmative: am • We will be in London next week. • Wasn’t he rather careful?
= I’m, she is = she’s. And negative: he is • Weren’t they somewhat sad?
- STATEMENTS (negative)
not = he isn’t, we are not = we aren’t) in • Won’t he be mistaken tomorrow?
• I am not rather young.
everyday speech and informal writing.
• Everybody is not quite sure. Note!
Contractions are usually not appropriate • We are not very rich.
in formal writing. • She wasn’t polite to me yesterday. • Everybody is / was …
• Nobody is / was …
We use contractors in Negative • We were not happy 2 days ago. “Nobody” - only in positive statements but
Questions. • You won’t be worried about me in 2 weeks. means negative: “Nobody is here”.
2. TO HAVE. The second most often used verb, can create simple negative sentences with “no”.
We use it when we talk about what we have SINGULAR vs PLURAL Use auxiliary verb “to do” (modal verb
or don’t have. Singular countable: add article “a(n)” or “the”. “will” for future tense) to create
negative sentences and questions.
And in some cases it means actions (to have a Plural countable: add ending “s”.
break = to make a break) or conditions (to - STATEMENTS (negative)
+ STATEMENTS (positive)
have a headache = to feel pain in your head). • He does not have much money.
• She has a friend.
• She won’t have many assets.
Is used with countable (can be count) nouns • I had a lot of success.
• I don’t have any time.
and uncountable (can’t be count) nouns. • She has few enemies.
• I do not have fame.
• We will have too much freedom.
QUANTITY • She didn’t have any problems.
• They have too many ideas.
In positive sentences we use universal • We didn’t have enough glory.
SIMPLE NEGATIVE
adjectives (a lot of, some, enough) to talk
+ QUESTIONS (positive)
about quantity. And: Just add particle “no” after the verb ”have”
• Do you have a job?
• few, many - for countable. (have no, has no, had no, will have no). In this
• Does he have much strength?
• little, much - for uncountable case we don’t use article.
• Did we have many duties?
• I have no dog.
In negative sentences and questions we use • Will they have any questions?
• They will have no families.
universal adjectives (any, enough). And: • Does she have a rest?
• She had no time.
• many - for countable.
- QUESTIONS (negative)
• much - for uncountable CONJUNCTIONS
• Don’t you have enough time?
She has both many friends and much money.
“Have got” is used in British English and not • Doesn’t he have much wine?
I will have either few friends or lot of money.
described in this book. • Didn’t we have many books?
We had neither time nor glory.
• Didn’t you have breakfast?
2. TO DO. And all other verbs (excluding modals).
REGULAR vs IRREGULAR VERBS + STATEMENTS (positive) + QUESTIONS (positive)
Regular – create past form with ending “ed” • I always believe you. • Did he drink anything?
• love - loved • She never loved me. • Do you believe me?
Irregular – with 2-nd form (V2) • He respects his parents. • Will you find a job for me?
• go – went • They will come tomorrow. • Will he find me a job next week?
• We spent all money yesterday. • Does she know someone in the city?
• He built me another house. • Does he usually borrow money from
HOW TO USE TEMPLATE you?
- STATEMENTS (negative)
Put any verb into the grammar table – it will
• He didn’t usually pay me. - QUESTIONS (negative)
show you the correct way to use verbs in
• She doesn’t give some money to him. • Don’t you always teach her English?
sentences.
• We didn’t invite them. • Doesn’t she betray him?
Use auxiliary verb “to do” to create • I won’t send you a letter. • Didn’t they catch anything?
questions. • I don’t meet anyone here. • Didn’t he tell us a wonderful story?
4. General Tag Questions SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
< = > < = >
lazy
I am aren’t I
He was kind wasn’t he
She is pretty isn’t she
It will be won’t It
ugly
We we
You were are very strong weren’t aren’t you
They too generous they
rather
somewhat frank
I am not a bit modest am I
quite
He wasn’t mean was he
She isn’t is she
It won’t be cheerful will It
We weak we
You weren’t aren’t were are you
greedy
They they
?
< = > < = >
(a) few (a) little
I I
We (too) many (too) much haven’t we
have you
You
will a (n)+ relative +s joy they
They had hadn’t won’t
have husband shame he
He
son courage hasn’t she
She has
It enough illusion pity it
some ticket power
I any duty strength I
we
We don’t suit water have
you
You have
didn’t won’t fault wine they
They had will
have have
he
He
doesn’t has she
She
have it
It
?
< = > < = >
I
I
we
We don’t
You . . .+ed . . . regular irregular V2 you
they
They will
or respect teach taught didn’t won’t
. . .
He praise sell sold doesn’t he
She V2 . . . +s answer tell told she
It it
dance feed fed
marry eat ate I
I
we
We don’t play wear wore do
you
You . . .
study sing sang
They didn’t won’t they
did will
. . . . . . divorce go went
he
He
doesn’t does she
She
. . . it
It
5. Indirect General Questions SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
silly
very
< = > greedy
too
lazy
I am rather
jealous (of)
somewhat
moody
He a bit impudent
She was quite selfish
It is
Everybody will be
Nobody in love at school
in a hurry at work
We in despair at home
You were are in debt at Jon’s
They in Paris on duty
in China on leave
in prison on pension
I
ask
We (a) few (a) little
< = >
You
wonder (too) many (too) much
They
I
He We have a (n)+ house +s luck
You
She asks fault progress
If They
It enough problem success
EvNeorbybooddy y wonders whether He had hwaivlle some idea freedom
thought sugar
She any
It has job love
Could you tell me
Everybody choice work
Do you know
Nobody
I’d like to know
I am wondering
a (n)+ break walk drink quarrel
(with)
talk party argue dream
breakfast lunch dinner tea coffee
regular + ed
wait (for) smoke
refuse divorce
< = > treat respect
marry call (up)(on)
I cure smile (at)
We . . . envy look (at)
You
always . . .+ed die laugh (at)
They
never
will
often or irregular V2
He . . .
usually
She teach taught
seldom V2
It . . . +s learn learnt
Everybody lose lost
Nobody
drink drank
find found
swim swam
think thought
Grammar Templates’ Keys SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
4. GENERAL TAG QUESTIONS. A special construction in English - it is a statement followed by a mini-question.
TO BE (+) TO HAVE (+) TO DO (+)
• I am wrong, aren’t I? • I have enough duties, haven’t I? • I study well, don’t I?
• She is very pretty, isn’t she? • He has many friends, hasn’t he? • She always answers you, doesn’t she?
• They are a bit ugly, aren’t they? • We have a little pity, haven’t we? • He divorced her, didn’t he?
• He was at work, wasn’t he? • They had much wine, hadn’t they? • They sang poorly, didn’t they?
• They were lazy, weren’t they? • She will have some water, won’t she? • We will eat some fish, won’t we?
• We will be happy, won’t we?
TO HAVE (-) TO DO (-)
TO BE (-) • You don’t have any relatives, have you? • I don’t praise them, do I?
• I am not greedy, am I? • She doesn’t have much joy, has she? • He doesn’t dance a lot, does she?
• She isn’t strong, is she? • You didn’t have many faults, had you? • We didn’t wear jeans, did we?
• We aren’t very modest, are we? • He won’t have much courage, will he? • You won’t go, will you?
• He wasn’t greedy, was he?
Attention!
• They weren’t cheerful, were they?
The adverbs never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and scarcely have a negative sense. We
• He won’t be rather kind, will he?
treat statements with these words like negative statements, so the question tag is normally
Answering tag questions positive:
• He never saw you, did he?
Answer a tag question according to
• She seldom comes in time, does she?
the truth of the situation. Your answer
reflects the real facts, not the question. Specific cases:
• Sugar is sweet, isn’t it? - Yes (it is). The basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive.
• Sugar isn’t sweet, is it? - Yes it is!
Sometimes it is possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure to express
• Sugar is bitter, isn’t it? - No it isn’t!
interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions:
• Sugar isn’t bitter, is it? - No (it isn’t).
• She is really wonderful, is she?
5. INDIRECT GENERAL QUESTIONS. A part of reported speech – when we tell someone what another person asks or
wonders.
TO BE TO HAVE TO DO
• I wonder if he is at home now. • Everybody asks if you have many ideas. • They ask if you smoke much.
• They ask if you are in London. • We wonder if he has enough freedom. • We wonder if she envies us.
• We ask whether they were busy • She asks whether you had a job last • He asks whether she will marry him.
yesterday. year. • She wonders if he drank much
• She asks if we will be very greedy. • They wonder whether we will have yesterday.
• Everybody wonders whether you are much work next month. • They wander if he often smiles at me.
away. • I wonder whether he had a house. • I wonder if you learnt English at school.
• He asks if she was at work last night. • Do you know whether she has a • Could you tell me if she found a new
• Could you tell me if she is single. husband. job.
TO BE (-) TO HAVE (-) TO DO (-)
• He doesn’t ask if you are busy. • We don’t wonder whether they have • She doesn’t wonder if you love her.
• She asks whether they are not rich. little progress. • They ask whether you don’t love her.
• Could you tell me whether they are not • I’d like to know if she has no job. • I am not wondering whether she lost
in a hurry. • She asks whether he doesn’t have any her mind.
shame.
Attention! Reported (Indirect) Questions in the Past
There is no question mark at the end of the We need to change tense:
indirect question. • She said: “Is he free?” - She asked if he was free.
• They said: “Does he like tea?” - They wondered if he liked tea.
• He said:” Will you be happy?” - He asked if you would be happy.
“if” and “whether” have the same meaning.
• He said: ”Does she love him?” – He wondered if she loved him.
"Whether" is a little more formal and more
usual in writing.
6. Special Questions – Part 1 SSiimmppllee TTeennsseess
Past Pres. Future (not) patient lazy in love
calm kind in a hurry
Why Am lonely pretty in despair
I
Aren’t hungry strong in debt
Where
cheerful generous in Paris
Was
he very right frank in China
When ---------
Wasn’t Is Will she too ready modest in prison
--------- It
What be rather cross sly at school
Isn’t everybody
Won’t wise afraid (of) at work
nobody a bit
How bald jealous (of) at home
quite thirsty weak at Jon’s
Were Are we
Whom moody greedy on duty
--------- --------- you
wrong mean on leave
Weren’t Aren’t they
young impudent on pension
enough
some
few many any little much
Past Pres. Future
a (n)+ car house +s money luck
I
do asset fault time progress
we
--------- kid problem power success
you
don’t answer question desire freedom
they
did will doubt idea glory wine
have
-------- -------- friend enemy future bread
he
didn’t won’t
does she thing thought joy sugar
--------- it debt job hatred love
doesn’t everybody right choice hope work
nobody
a (n)+ break walk drink quarrel
(with)
talk party argue dream
breakfast lunch dinner tea coffee
Past Pres. Future regular irregular V2
live help do did
I
do study play go went
--------- we always work invite come came
you
don’t
they never love promise meet met
did will
hate borrow see saw
-------- --------- often + …
he earn travel eat ate
didn’t does won’t
she seldom ask wait (for) drink drank
---------
it warn refuse speak spoke
doesn’t usually
everybody dance treat sing sang
nobody
kiss marry sleep slept
was is will be
Who had has will have no
?
…+ed
…+s will …
/ v2
