Tenses and Verbs

To Be: Positive and Negative

The verb to be is the most common verb in English. Its forms differ depending on who or what is the subject of the verb, take a look at the examples below. In (brackets), you'll find short forms (contractions) of these expressions which are also very common.

• I am (I'm) hungry.
• You are (You're) tall.
• He is (He's) really smart!
  Kelly is (She's) an engineer.
  It is (It's) a dog.


• We are (We're) happy.
• You are (You're) here.
• They are (They're) sisters.

The rule is that:

• with I, we use am;
• with a singular subject (he, she, it, or one person or a thing), we use is;
• and with a plural subject (we, you, they), we use are.

Negative sentences

To use to be in a negative sentence, we add not after the verb. We can also use these in their short forms, you'll find them in (brackets).

• I am not (I'm not, not I amn't) at home.
• You are not (You aren't) here.
• He/She/It is not (He/She/It isn't) ten years old.


• We are not (We aren't) hungry.
• You are not (You aren't) sad.
• They are not (They aren't) busy.

To Be: Questions and Short Answers

To make questions with to be, we put am/is/are before the subject, so we switch their place.

Short answers

Because these questions usually have a yes/no answer, we use short answers. The correct formal short answers include yes/no and then copy part of the question.

After yes, we do not use short forms:

• Are you hungry? – Yes, I am. (not Yes, I'm.)
• Is she a teacher? – Yes, she is.
• Are they from Spain? – Yes, they are.

After no, we usually use the short negative form:

• Are you cold? – No, I'm not.
• Is he at work? – No, he isn't.
• Is it far? – No, it isn't.
• Are they busy? – No, they aren't.

Wh- questions

Wh- questions are special questions that use question words (where, what, who, how, why) and because of that, they require more specific answers than just a simple yes/no. With these questions, we use this question pattern:

What/Who/When/Where/Why/How + am/is/are + subject?

• Where are you from?
• How old is your sister?
• What is this?
• Why are the children happy?
• Who is that man?

To answer these questions, we often repeat part of the question in the answer (or we just answer simply, depends if we need to be formal):

• Where are you from? – I am from the UK.
• How old is your sister? – She is twelve.

Quick reference

• Questions: am/is/are + subject
  Are you tired? Is he at home?
• Short answers:
  Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
  Yes, he/she/it is. / No, he/she/it isn't.
  Yes, we/you/they are. / No, we/you/they aren't.
• Wh-questions: question word + am/is/are + subject
  Where are you from? What is this?

Present Simple - Positive

We use the present simple for facts, habits, routines, general truths and situations that are permanent (don't change much). We often encounter this tense with time expressions like every day, every morning, every Monday, always, often, usually, sometimes and others.

• I play football every Saturday. (habit)
• She drinks coffee every morning. (routine)
• The Earth goes around the Sun. (fact)
• It rains a lot in autumn. (generally true)

The basic form

With I, you, we, they, we use the basic form of the verb. 

• I play football.
• We read novels.
• They live in Bath.
• Ann and Becky speak English.
• Tim and his friend talk about sport.

With he, she, it and singular nouns, we add -s/-es.

• Andy likes chocolate.
• My sister works in a hospital.
• It rains a lot in autumn.
• His friend teaches French.

Spelling of the he/she/it form

With the third person singular subject (he, she, it, one person/thing), we need to add -s or -es to the end of the verb. The correct option depends on the spelling of the verb:

• Most verbs: add -s
  eat → eats, like → likes
• After -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o: add -es
  watch → watches, finish → finishes, go → goes, do → does
• Consonant + y: change -y → -ies
  study → studies, fly → flies, cry → cries
• Vowel + y: just add -s
  enjoy → enjoys, play → plays

Quick reference

• Present simple → facts, habits, routines, general truths and permanent situations
• I/you/we/they → base form
  I work. They live here.
• he/she/it → verb + -s/-es
  She works. He watches TV.
• Spelling:
  most verbs → -s (play → plays)
  -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o → -es (watch → watches)
  consonant + y → -ies (study → studies)

Present Continuous - Questions and Short Answers

To make a question in the present continuous, we put am/is/are before the subject and then use the verb + -ing form.

Yes/No questions

Yes/No questions are questions that can usually be answered with yes or no. The structure is:
→ Am/Is/Are + subject + verb + -ing?

Short answers

To answer Yes/No questions, we use a pronoun + am/is/are (or isn't/aren't). We do not repeat the verb with -ing.

• Is Mike watching TV?
  → Yes, he is.
  → No, he isn't.
• Are they telling the truth?
  → Yes, they are.
  → No, they aren't.
• Are you coming with us?
  → Yes, I am.
  → No, I 'm not.

Remember: We say I'm not (never I amn't or I aren't).

Wh- questions

Wh- questions use a question word (what, where, who, why, how) and need a more specific answer than just yes or no.

The structure is:
→ Question word + am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?

• Where are they swiming?
• What are the boys writing?
• Why are you lying here?

To answer these questions, we often repeat part of the question and add the missing information:

• Where are they swiming?
  → They are swiming in the lake.
• What is he doing?
  → He is cooking dinner.

Quick reference

• Yes/No questions: am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?
  Are you working? Is she sleeping?
• Short answers:
  Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
  Yes, he/she/it is. / No, he/she/it isn't.
  Yes, we/you/they are. / No, we/you/they aren't.
• Wh- questions: question word + am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?
  Where are you going? What is he doing?

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Both tenses talk about the present, but we use them for different situations:

Special cases

• Temporary vs. permanent situations:
  Use the continuous for temporary situations and the simple for usual situations.
  He usually walks to work, but this week he is going by bus.
• Changing situations:
  Use the continuous for things that are developing or changing.
  His English is improving slowly.
• Always + continuous:
  Use always/constantly with the continuous when complaining about a repeated action.
  He is constantly losing my books.
• State verbs:
  Some verbs normally stay in the present simple because they describe a state, not an action: like, love, want, know, believe, understand, prefer, need, belong, seem.
  I know the answer. (not I am knowing)
  This car belongs to my father.
• Different meanings:
  Some verbs can change meaning in the continuous.
  I think she is right. (= have an opinion)
  I am thinking about my holiday. (= considering)
  The flowers smell nice. (= have a smell)
  She is smelling the flowers. (= using her nose intentionally)

Quick reference

• Present simple → habits, routines, facts, general truths
  She works every day. Water freezes at 0°C.
• Present continuous → actions now, temporary situations, changing situations
  She is working now. His English is improving.
• Remember: State verbs usually stay in the present simple.
  I know. She likes it.

Past Simple – Regular Verbs

Regular verbs form the past simple by adding -ed to the basic form of the verb. The form is the same for all persons.

Basic rule

Add -ed:

• clean → cleaned
• open → opened
• help → helped

Spelling changes

• Verb ending in -e: add -d
  dance → danced, prepare → prepared
• Short verb ending in one vowel + one consonant: double the final consonant
  stop → stopped, rub → rubbed, admit → admitted
• Consonant + y: change -y → -ied
  marry → married, try → tried, reply → replied
• Vowel + y: add -ed
  enjoy → enjoyed, play → played
• Verb ending in -ie: add -d
  lie → lied, tie → tied, die → died

Careful: dye (= colour) → dyed, but die → died.

British spelling: final -l doubles

In British English, a final -l after one vowel usually doubles.

• cancel → cancelled
• travel → travelled

Pronunciation of -ed

The ending -ed has three possible sounds:

• /t/ → watched, helped
• /d/ → played, cleaned
• /ɪd/ after /t/ and /d/ → wanted, needed

Past Continuous

We use the past continuous for actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past or were in progress at that time. With past continuous, we often use specific time expressions (e. g. at 5 o'clock, at that moment, when...). Have a look at the examples:

• I was sleeping at 10 o'clock.
• She was reading a book at 8.
• They were danceing at 11.

As you can see, we form the past continuous sentence following this pattent:
→ Subject + was/were + verb + -ing

Negative sentences

Structure:
→ Subject + wasn't/weren't + verb + -ing

• I wasn't sleeping at 10.
• You weren't waiting for him.
• They weren't danceing.

Questions

To make a question, put was/were before the subject:
→ Was/Were + subject + verb + -ing?

• Was he playing football at 2?
• Were they skiing at 5?
• What were you doing at 9?
• Why was she crying?

Short answers

In short answers, use:
→ Subject + was/were (or wasn't/weren't)
We do not repeat the verb with -ing.

• Were you studying at 7? – Yes, I was.
• Was he working at 9? – Yes, he was.
• Were they cooking at 7? – No, they weren't.

Quick reference

• Use: actions in progress at a specific time in the past
  She was reading at 8.
• Form: was/were + verb-ing
  They were playing.
• Negative: wasn't/weren't + verb-ing
  He wasn't working.
• Question: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
  Were you sleeping?

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

We often use these two tenses together to tell a story that happened in the past. In these stories:

• the past continuous describes the background, it shows an action already in progress, it sets the scene,
• while the past simple describes a completed action that happened during it or interrupted it.

Common patterns

• Past continuous + when + past simple → an activity in progress being interrupted by other one
  Pete was eating a hamburger when I met him.
• Past simple + while + past continuous
  Somebody stole my bike while I wasn't looking.
• While + two past continuous actions → two longer activities happening simultaneously
  While I was cooking, my children were playing.

Remember: state verbs

State verbs (know, want, believe, etc.) are normally not used in the continuous.

• Linda didn't know what to do. (not wasn't knowing)
• When he was a child, he wanted to become a doctor.

Present Perfect Simple 2 - Just, Already, Yet

The present perfect is often used with time expressions just, already and yet. These words show the relationship between a past action and now.

Just = a very short time ago

Just means that something happened only a moment ago, or just now. It connects a very recent past action with the present.

• He has just left.
  → He left a very short time ago; he is probably not here now.
• I have just eaten.
  → I ate recently, so I am not hungry now.

Already = before now

Already means that something happened before this moment, often earlier than expected.

• I have already done it.
  → It is finished; you do not need to ask me again.
• She has already met him.
  → The meeting happened before now.

Yet = until now / up to now

Yet is used when something is expected to happen but we do not know if it has happened. It usually appears in questions and negative sentences.

• Have you watched it yet?
  → Is it done up to now?
• I haven't seen it yet.
  → It has not happened until now, but I may see it later.

Position

• just / already → between have/has and the past participle
  She has already finished.
• yet → usually at the end
  Have you finished yet?

Quick reference

• just → very recently
  I've just arrived.
• already → before now, often earlier than expected
  I've already done it.
• yet → until now; something expected but unfinished
  I haven't done it yet.

Present Perfect Simple 3 - Life Experience

We use the present perfect simple to talk about life experiences – things that have happened (or have not happened) at some time before now.

We do not say exactly when it happened. The important thing is that it happened at some point in our life and became part of our life experience.

Look at the examples:

• I have visited Italy.
  = At some time in my life, I went to Italy.
• She has never tried sushi.
  = Trying sushi has not happened at any time in her life.
• Have you ever seen snow?
  = Has this happened at any time in your life?

Asking about experiences

• Ever = at any time in your life
  We usually use ever in questions when we ask if something has happened at least once in someone's life.
  → Have/Has + subject + ever + past participle?
• Have you ever driven a car?
• Has he ever played golf?


• How many times...? = counting experiences
  We use how many times to ask how often something has happened.
• How many times have you been to London?
• I have called him twice.
• I have seen this film before.
  
  
• Have/has been to = visited a place
  For experiences with places, we use have/has been to.
  • Have you ever been to Africa?
  • She has been to Italy twice.

Answering/talking about life experiences

Common irregular participles

• drive → driven, fly → flown, ride → ridden
• see → seen, wear → worn, buy → bought
• swim → swum, feel → felt

Quick reference

• Experience: have/has + past participle
  I have visited Spain.
• Question about experience: have/has + subject + (ever) + past participle?
  Have you ever tried sushi?
• Counting experiences: How many times + have/has + subject + past participle?
  How many times have you been to London?
• Negative experience: have/has + never + past participle
  She has never flown in an airplane.
• Visited a place: have/has been to + place
  Have you ever been to Hawaii?
• First/second/third time: It's the first/second/third time + subject + has/have + past participle
  This is the first time I have eaten Indian food.

Past Simple vs. Present Perfect Simple

Both tenses talk about the past, but they look at it differently:

• The past simple talks about a finished action at a finished time.
• The present perfect simple talks about something that happened in the past but is still connected to the present – for example because it has a result now, is part of our life experience, or continues until now.

Look at the examples:

• I bought this phone last year.
  = We know exactly when it happened. The action is finished.
• I have had this phone for a year.
  = I bought it a year ago and I still have it now.
• We went to Paris last summer.
  = The trip is a finished event in the past.
• We have been to Paris.
  = Visiting Paris is now part of our life experience. The exact time is not important.

Past Simple = a finished past

Use the past simple for actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The time is often mentioned or is already known.

• I met her last week.
• They went to Spain in 2023.
• We didn't see him yesterday.

Typical time expressions: yesterday, last year, two years ago, in 2022, when...

Present Perfect Simple = connected to now

Use the present perfect simple when the exact time is not important. The important thing is that the action is connected to the present.

• She has just arrived. (= she is here now)
• Have you ever visited Italy? (= at any time in your life)
• I have worked here since 2021. (= I still work here)

Typical time expressions: just, already, yet, ever, never, for, since, recently

Comparison

Present Perfect Simple or Continuous?

Both tenses connect the past with the present, but they answer different questions.

• Present perfect simple asks:
  → What has happened? What is the result? How many?
• Present perfect continuous asks:
  → What has been happening? How long? What has someone been doing?

Compare the examples:

• I have cleaned the kitchen.
  = The important thing is the result: the kitchen is clean now.
• I have been cleaning the kitchen.
  = The important thing is the activity: I have spent time cleaning, and I may still be cleaning.
• She has written three emails today.
  = The important thing is how many she has written.
• She has been writing emails all morning.
  = We focus on the activity and duration, not on how many emails she has finished.

Present Perfect Simple = result, experience or quantity

Use the present perfect simple when the important information is the result, a life experience, or how many times something has happened.

• I've already seen that film.
  = The important thing is the experience.
• I have read ten pages today.
  = We focus on the finished amount.
• Have you ever ridden a horse?
  = A question about life experience.
• How long have you known each other?
  = Know is a state verb, so we normally use the simple form (not been knowing).

Present Perfect Continuous = activity and duration

Use the present perfect continuous when the important information is the activity, how long it has been happening, or the process itself.

• Why are your clothes dirty? – I have been working in the garden.
  = The activity explains the result.
• How long have you been waiting?
  = We ask about the duration of the activity.
• Tim has been repairing the car all day.
  = We focus on the process, not whether the car is finished.
• Ann has been teaching since 2020.
  = We focus on the ongoing activity and we want to emphasize the process: she started teaching in 2020 and still teaches now.

Quick reference

Future Using Be Going To

We use be going to to talk about the future. It is used when we already have a future plan or intention, or when we can see evidence now that something will happen.

Look at the examples:

• I am going to study Spanish next year.
  = This is my plan. I have already decided.
• They are going to buy a new house.
  = They have the intention to do it in the future.
• Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.
  = I can see something (a prove) now that shows what will probably happen.

How to form it

The structure is: be + going to + verb (basic form)

For short answers, use the correct form of be:

• Are you going to study? – Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
• Is he going to call? – Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
• Are they going to help? – Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.

Be going to or present continuous?

Both forms can talk about future plans. We often use the present continuous when the plan is a fixed arrangement with a specific time, place, or person.

• I am going to visit Anna soon.
  = a future intention or plan
• I am visiting Anna at six tomorrow.
  = a fixed arrangement

• Plan or intention: something already decided
  I am going to learn Spanish.
• Prediction from evidence: we can see a reason now
  It is going to rain.
• Structure: be + going to + verb
  They are going to travel.

Future Using Will and Shall

We use will to talk about the future when we make a decision at the moment of speaking, predict what we think will happen, or make a promise, offer or request.

Look at the examples:

• I think you will enjoy this book.
  = a prediction or opinion about the future
• The phone is ringing. I'll answer it.
  = a decision made just now
• I won't forget your birthday. I will be at home soon.
  = a promise
• Will you help me with these bags?
  = a polite request

How to form it

The structure is: will + verb (basic form)

After will, we always use the basic form of the verb (without to and without -s).

• He will call. (not will calls / will to call)

Shall

Shall is mainly used with I and we in questions to make an offer, a suggestion, or to ask for advice. It is more common in British English than in American English.

• Your phone is ringing. Shall I answer it?
  = an offer
• Shall we go for a walk?
  = a suggestion
• What shall I wear?
  = asking for advice

Quick reference

• Prediction: I think it will rain.
• Decision made now: I'll open the door.
• Promise / offer / request: I'll help you. / Will you help me?
• Structure: will + verb (basic form)
• Shall: offers, suggestions and advice questions (Shall I...? Shall we...?)

Future Perfect Simple or Future Continuous?

Both forms talk about the future, but they focus on different things:

• Future perfect simple → the action will be finished by a future point.
• Future continuous → the action will be in progress at a future point.

Future perfect simple = finished by then

Use will have + past participle when something will be completed before a particular time in the future.

→ Think: “Will it be finished by then?”

• By 8 o'clock, I will have finished my homework.
  → The homework will be complete by 8.
• By the time we arrive, the film will have started.
  → The film will already have started before we arrive.
• By next year, she will have graduated.
  → Her studies will be finished by then.

Future continuous = happening at that time

Use will be + verb-ing when an action will be in progress at a particular time in the future.

→ Think: “What will be happening then?”

• At 8 o'clock, I will be studying.
  → At 8, the activity will be in progress.
• This time tomorrow, we will be swimming in the sea.
  → Tomorrow at this time, we will be in the middle of the activity.
• When you arrive, we will be waiting for you.
  → When you arrive, the waiting will be in progress.

Compare

• By 9 o'clock, she will have cooked dinner.
  → The dinner will be finished by 9.
• At 9 o'clock, she will be cooking dinner.
  → At 9, she will be in the middle of cooking.
• By Monday, he will have moved to his new flat.
  → The move will be finished by Monday.
• On Monday morning, he will be moving to his new flat.
  → The move will be in progress on Monday morning.

Common time expressions

The two forms often use different expressions to show the future reference point:

• by + time → something will be finished before that time:
  by Monday, by 2030, by five o'clock
• by the time + present simple → something will already be finished before another future event:
  By the time you arrive, I will have left.
• at + time → something will be in progress at that time:
  At five o'clock, I will be working.
• this time + future time → something will be in progress at that point:
  This time tomorrow, we will be travelling.

• Finished by a future point: will have + past participle
  They will have finished the project by Friday.
• In progress at a future point: will be + verb-ing
  They will be working at five o'clock.

Past Perfect Simple, or Past Simple?

Past simple for stories in order

When we talk about past events, the past simple is usually enough if events happen in the order they occurred:

A → B → C (both story and real-time order)
I woke up, had breakfast, and went to school.
→ Everything is told in the same order, so we use the past simple.

More examples:

• Jim set the table and opened a bottle of wine.
• Kim was tired after school, so she went to bed.
• We arrived and the kids went to bed.
  

Past perfect for stories told out of order

However, if we talk about a later past event and then look back at something that happened before it, we use the past perfect for the earlier action. Have a look at this example:

I hurried to the station, but when I arrived, the train had already left.

Story order:
A → C → B
Real-life order:
A → B → C

We start telling a story, we mention a later event (C), but then we go back to explain something that had happened before (B), using the past perfect.

It is like moving backwards in a past story: after mentioning a past event, we go back to explain what happened before it.

We use past simple for the past moment we are describing and past perfect for the earlier action.

More examples:

• When I came home, Ted wasn't there. He had already left.
  → First Ted left, then I came home. 
• When I got to work, I found out that Jo had forgotten to lock the door.
• → First Jo forgot to lock the door, then I found out.
• By the time the taxi arrived, I realized that my son hadn't packed his suitcase.
  → First he didn't pack his suitcase, then I realized it.

Quick reference

• Past simple = events moving forward in the story
  I woke up, had breakfast, and went to school.
• Past perfect = a step backwards to an earlier event
  I arrived at the station, but the train had already left.
• Structure: had + past participle
  She had finished before I arrived.
• Key question: Which action happened first?
  → The earlier action usually goes in the past perfect.

Past Tenses – mix

All four past tenses talk about the past, but they describe different kinds of actions.

You can use these questions to guide your choice of the tense:

• Is it a finished action?
• Was it in progress at that moment?
• Did it happen before another past event?
• Did it continue for some time before another past event?

Past simple → finished actions and stories

Use the past simple for finished actions, past habits and events that move a story forward.

• She was walking to the shop when she met Peter.
• He washed the dishes, had a shower and went to bed.
• Where did you buy the camera?

Past continuous → an action in progress

Use the past continuous for an action that was happening at a particular moment in the past, often when another action interrupted it.

• We were sitting at the bus stop when the accident happened.
• Who was waiting for you when you arrived?

Past perfect simple → an earlier past action

Use the past perfect simple when you look back to something that happened before another past event.

• When I arrived at the station, the train had already left.
• I wanted to ask her out, but she had already had lunch with Jack.
• I came home and told my son that he had left his wallet on the table.

Past perfect continuous → an earlier activity over time

Use the past perfect continuous for an activity that had been continuing before another past moment. We usually focus on its duration or on the result it caused.

• Ben was angry because he had been waiting for fifty minutes.
• When I met him, he was exhausted. He had been working in the garden.

State verbs (know, have, want...) usually do not use the continuous

With state verbs, we normally use the past perfect simple, even with for or since.

• They had known each other since childhood. (not had been knowing)
• He was shocked because they had had the cottage for years before his father sold it.
• When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher.

• Past simple → finished actions, stories, sequences
• Past continuous → action in progress at a past moment
• Past perfect simple → something happened before another past event
• Past perfect continuous → an activity continued for some time before another past event

Used To, Be Used To, Get Used To

These three expressions look similar, but they describe three different situations. Look at the examples:

• I used to wake up at 6 every day when I was a student.
  → This was my habit in the past, but I do not do it now.
• I am used to waking up at 6 every day because of my job.
  → Waking up at 6 is normal for me now.
• I am getting used to waking up at 6 in my new job.
  → It is still a change, but it is becoming easier.

Used to + basic verb → past habit or situation

Use used to + verb for something that was true or regular in the past, but is not true now.

• Ed used to work in a bank. Now he works in a pet shop.
• When I was a child, I used to play football every weekend.
• They used to live in a flat, but now they live in a house.

• Did you use to have any pets?
• She didn't use to like tomatoes.

Be used to + noun / verb-ing → something is familiar or normal

Use be used to when something is normal or familiar for you.

After be used to, use a noun or verb-ing.

• I'm used to working in bad weather.
  → Bad weather is normal for me.
• Are you used to getting up at five?
  → Is waking up at five normal for you?
• He's a businessman. He isn't used to working manually.
  → Manual work is unfamiliar for him.

Get used to + noun / verb-ing → become familiar or normal

Use get used to for the process of becoming comfortable with something new.

• When we moved here, we had to get used to driving on the right.
• At first, I didn't like my new job, but I got used to working there.
• She will soon get used to living in a new country.

Compare

• I used to live in London.
  → I lived there before, but not now.
• I am used to living in London.
  → Living in London is normal for me.
• I am getting used to living in London.
  → I am adapting to life there.

• used to + basic verb
  → past habit/situation that is not true now
  I used to play football.
• be used to + noun / verb-ing
  → something is normal or familiar
  I am used to working here.
• get used to + noun / verb-ing
  → becoming familiar with something
  I am getting used to my new job.

Must / Mustn't / Needn't

These modal verbs talk about necessity, prohibition and things that are not necessary. After all of them, use the basic form of the verb.

• You needn't hurry. = It isn't necessary
• I already have everything. I needn't go shopping. = I don't have to go.

Keep in mind that mustn't and needn't have opposite meanings:

• You mustn't tell anybody.
  → Don't tell anyone. It is forbidden.
• You needn't tell anybody.
  → You don't have to tell anyone, but you can if you want.

• must + verb
  → necessity / strong recommendation
• mustn't + verb
  → don't do it (forbidden)
• needn't + verb
  → don't have to (not necessary)
• Remember: after all three forms, use the basic verb.

Have To / Must

Both must and have to express obligation, but they are not always used in the same way. Look at the examples:

• I must call my grandmother today.
  → I feel it is important.
• I have to wear a uniform at work.
  → It is a rule.
• We must hurry or we'll miss the train.
  → I think it is necessary.
• You have to show your passport at the airport.
  → The situation or the rules require it.

Must or have to?

 → Must usually expresses the speaker's opinion, feelings or strong recommendation.
→ Have to usually expresses an outside rule, law or situation.

• You must see this film.
  → I strongly recommend it.
• Students have to arrive before 8:00.
  → School rule.
• I must remember to phone Mum.
  → My own obligation.

Tricky negatives

Have to for past and future

• I had to work yesterday.
• We'll have to leave early.
• Did you have to pay?
• They didn't have to come.
  

• must + verb → the speaker thinks it is necessary
• have to + verb → obligation because of rules or circumstances
• had to / will have to → past and future obligation
• mustn't = forbidden
  don't have to = not necessary

Expressing Possibility

We use may and might to say that something is possible, but we are not certain. In most cases, we can use them interchangeably.

Maybe vs. may be

• Maybe he is at home.
  = He may be at home.
  → Maybe is one word and means "perhaps".
  → May be is the modal may + the verb be.

Possibility (present or future)

Use:
may/might + base verb

• Maybe you'll like it.
  = You may like it.
• Maybe Jack will go by bus.
  = Jack may go by bus.
• Maybe she will come too.
  = She might come too.

May and might have a similar meaning. Might often suggests a little less certainty.

Possibility of an action happening now

For a possibility that something is happening now, use:
may/might + be + verb-ing

• Maybe Kate is working.
  = Kate may be working.
• Maybe he's sleeping.
  = He might be sleeping.
• Maybe they're trying to help.
  = They may be trying to help.

May not / Might not

To say that something may/might not happen or may/might not be true, put not after may/might. Do not change the word order.

• Maybe they aren't happy.
  = They may not be happy.
• Maybe Ann won't do it.
  = Ann might not do it.
• Maybe it's not snowing.
  = It may not be snowing.

• may/might + base verb
  → a possible situation now or in the future
  He might come.
• may/might + be + verb-ing
  → a possible action happening now
  She may be working.
• may not / might not + verb
  → a possibility that might not happen or be true
  They might not know.

Giving Advice: Should / Ought to / Had Better

We use should, ought to and had better to give advice – to say what we think is a good idea or the best thing to do.

• You should drink more water. 
  → giving normal advice or a recommendation
  
• You ought to see a doctor. 
  → giving advice; more formal and less common structure than should
• You'd better hurry, or you'll miss the train.
  → giving strong advice or a warning because there may be a bad result if not followed

Normal advice → should + verb

Should is the most common way to give advice. Use:
→ should + basic verb (without to)

• You should get more sleep.
• She should be more careful.

Negative: shouldn't (= should not)

• You shouldn't eat so much fast food.

Questions: Put should before the subject.

• Should I call him?
• What should we do?

Formal advice → ought to + verb

Ought to has a similar meaning to should, but it is much less common and sounds more formal.

Use:
→ ought to + basic verb

• You ought to take a break.
• We ought to leave soon.

Negative: ought not to + verb

• You ought not to worry so much.

In everyday English, shouldn't is much more common than ought not to.

Strong advice or warning → had better + verb

Had better is stronger than should. It often means:
Do this, or something bad may happen.

It is usually about a specific situation now or in the future, not general advice.

• It's getting late. We had better go home.
• You'd better hurry, or you'll miss the bus.

Short form: 'd better = had better
I'd better leave. = I should leave now (because it is the best choice).

Negative: had better not + verb

• You'd better not be late again or you'll get in trouble!

• should + verb
  → normal advice
  You should rest.
• ought to + verb
  → formal advice, less common and more formal
  You ought to rest.
• had better + verb
  → strong advice or warning in a specific situation
  You'd better rest.

Passive Voice (Present, Past & Future)

We use the passive voice when the action is more important than who does it. The subject receives the action.

• Active: Someone stole my bike.
  Passive: My bike was stolen.
  → The important information is my bike, not who stole it.
• Active: People make this cheese in France.
  Passive: This cheese is made in France.
  → We often don't know, or don't need to say, who does the action.

The passive is always formed with:
→ be + past participle

Only the verb be changes with the tense. The past participle (V3) stays the same. Have a look at all of the structures of the passive voice in the present, past, and future:

Don't forget: Look at the noun before the verb. If it's singular, use is/was. If it's plural, use are/were.

• The letter was sent.
• The letters were sent.

Present Simple Passive

→ Subject + is/are + past participle.
Use it for facts, routines and regular actions.

• English is spoken in many countries.
• The parcels are delivered every Monday.
• Is the office cleaned every day?
• The office isn't cleaned on Sundays.

Past Simple Passive

→ Subject + was/were + past participle.
 Use it for completed actions in the past.

• The bridge was built in 1950.
• The windows were broken yesterday.
• Was the door locked last night?
• The window wasn't broken yesterday.

Future Passive

→ Subject + will be + past participle.
 Use it for actions that will happen.

• The results will be announced tomorrow.
• A new school will be built here.
• Will the tickets be sold online?
• The results won't be announced today.

Using by

Use by only if it is important to say who did the action. Most of the time, we leave it out because it isn't important or we don't know who did it.

• The cake was made by my sister.
• The reports are checked by the manager.

• Present: is / are + V3
• Past: was / were + V3
• Future: will be + V3

Passive Voice: Present Continuous vs. Present Perfect

The passive can be used in different tenses. Compare these two meanings:

• The kitchen is being cleaned.
  → The action is happening now. It is not finished yet.
• The kitchen has been cleaned.
  → The action is finished. The result is important now.

Remember:
→ am/is/are being + past participle (V3) = an action in progress
→ have/has been + past participle (V3) = a completed action with a result now

Action happening now → Present continuous passive

Use it when something is being done at the moment of speaking, but we do not know, or do not need to say, who does it.

Structure:
→ am/is/are + being + past participle (V3)

• Don't touch the walls. They are being painted.
• Where's my pizza? – It is being made.
• A new swimming pool is being built here.
• Is the match being played now?

Don't forget:
is being → singular subject
are being → plural subject

• The room is being cleaned.
• The rooms are being cleaned.

Finished action → Present perfect passive

Use it for a completed action when we focus on the present result or current situation.

Structure:
→ has / have + been + past participle (V3)

• You can use the toilet now. It has been repaired.
  → The repair is finished.
• The party has been cancelled because of the weather.
• Five of his books have been translated so far.
• We can't go to the wedding. We haven't been invited.
• Have these bills been paid yet?
• Have you ever been robbed?

• You can't use the toilet now. It is being repaired.
  → The repair is in progress.
• You can use the toilet now. It has been repaired.
  → The repair is finished.

• am/is/are being + V3
  → action happening now (not finished)
  The house is being painted.
• has/have been + V3
  → finished action, result important now
  The house has been painted.