Description and examples about the most relevant Basic Structures in English

1. TENSES

2. BASIC ENGLISH STRUCTURES
• A) SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
• B) SIMPLE PAST TENSE
• C) MEDIATE FUTURE
• D) INMEDIATE FUTURE
• E) PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
• F) PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
• E) PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
• F) PAST PERFECT TENSE
• G) USE OF ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
• H) USE OF MODAL VERBS.

3. SIMPLE PRESENT:
1.to describe habits
2.fundamentaluniversal truths
3.to describe a movie
4.to state a part of a time-table or
Schedule
Examples:
1. I brush my teeth in the morning
2.The sun rises in the east
3. Jerry and Spike are friends and they fight against
Tom.
4.The train leaves at 8.00 pm

4. SIMPLE PAST:
Never Use:
1.Had/has(as a helping verb)
2.Ing
When to use:
1.To state a fact that occurred in the
past
2.For past habits
Examples:
1.He went there yesterday
2.I ate lots of chocolate as a kid
3. I played lots of cricket there
Key Points:
1.Mention time or mention context

5. MEDIATE FUTURE:
Never Use:
When to use:
1.To For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid
Decisions)
This is when you make a decision at that moment, in
a spontaneous way
2. When we think or believe something about the
future. (Prediction)
This can be based on personal judgement or opinion.
3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
4. For a habit that is a predictable behaviour
5. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do
something.
Examples:
1. I will go to the cinema tonight.
2. He will play tennis tomorrow.
3. She will be happy with her exam results.
4. They will take the bus to the South next
week.
Key Points:
1.

6. PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
Key Words:
1.Is/am/are + ing
When To Use:
1.When an action is going on at the moment
2.When an action, even though not on at the
moment, is in progress
3. When you’re sure about an event which
will happen in future
4. With obstinate/persistent habits
Examples:
1.I am reading this sentence now
2.He is reading a novel by Tolstoy these
days
3.It is snowing in Shimla these days
4.I’m visiting my aunt tomorrow
5. He is always complaining

7. PAST CONTINUOUS:
Key Points:
1. Was/were + ing
2. Use pt. Of time
or
3. Compare two events
4. Use ‘At’
When To Use:
1.When something was continuously
happening at a particular pt. in the past
Examples:
1.At 8 pm last night, he was watching a
movie
2.He was eating when I reached his place

8. PRESENT PERFECT:
Key Words:
1.Have/has (as a helping verb) + third form of
the verb
When To Use:
1.When an action has been completed in the
immediate past
2.To denote that an action has been completed
3. To denote an action started in the past but
going on till now
Examples:
1.I have completed my graduation
2.I have been to Mumbai
3.I have known him for a long time
Never Use:
1.Time Period (except in the third case)

9. PAST PERFECT:
Key Points:
1.Had + 3rd form verb
2. Mention pt. Of time
or
3.Compare two events
4. Use ‘before’/‘by the time’/‘by’
When To Use:
1.When the action was completed before a
point in the past
Examples:
1.I had done my homework before the
session
started
2.The train had left by the time I reached
the
station

10. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:
Key Points:
1.Have/has been + ing
2.Always mention time period
When To use:
1. When an action started in the past and
is still continuing
Examples:
1.It has been raining since morning
2. They have been playing for 4 hrs.
3.Sachin has been batting for three hours
now
4.The no. of protests against the
government
have been rising over the months

11. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS:
Key Points:
1.Had been + ing
2. Mention time period (use for)
3.Mention pt. of time
or
4. Compare two events
When To Use:
1.When an action started before a point
in the
past and continued till that point in the
past
Examples:
1. By 7 pm last evening, they had been
playing cricket for 4 hrs.
2.I had been watching TV for two hours
when the lights went off

12. SIMPLE FUTURE:
Key Points:
1. Will...(when you are sure)
or
2.(Am/is/are)going to (when
something is planned)
or
3. (Am/is/are)about to (when it is
about to happen in the immediate
future)
4. Might/May (when unsure)
Examples:
1.I will watch a movie next week
2.I am going to complete my work
before I leave
3. Run! the train is about to leave
4.I might become a politician

13. FUTURE CONTINUOUS:
Key Points:
1. Will/may/might be + ing
2.Mention pt. of time
or
3.Compare two events
When To Use:
1.When an action will be in progress at a
particular pt. in the future
Examples:
1.At 6 pm tomorrow, I will be watching
the
match
2.Don’t call me in the evening as I will
be/might be sleeping then

14. FUTURE PERFECT:
Key Points:
1. Will/may/might have + 3rd form of the
verb
2. Mention pt. of time
or
3.Compare two events
When to Use:
1.When an action will be completed by a
particular pt. in the future
Examples:
1.I will would have cooked dinner by 10
tonight
2.I will/would have read the book by the
time
the party starts
3.I will/would have graduated by the time
you return from London

15. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS:
Key Points:
1. Will/may/might have been + ing
2.Mention time duration (use for)
3.Specify pt. of time
or
4.Compare two events
When To Use:
1.When an action will have been going
on for a particular duration at a
particular point in the Future
Examples:
1. By 8. pm, I will have been eating this
pack
of ice cream for four hours
2.I will have been training for six
months by
the time you clear your assessments