Grammar

To communicate with people who need your help, it is necessary to have the knowledge of the related vocabulary and basic grammar. Among others, basic grammar comprises tenses, such as future, present and past tenses. We are going to speak about the future simple, present simple , present perfect simple and past simple tenses.

The Present Simple

The present simple tense is used to express usual and daily activities. The English language conjugates verbs only in the third person singular, excluding modal verbs and the verb to be. The modal verbs do not change and the verb to be is irregular. Other verbs add – s/– es when speaking about the third person singular (he, she, it). The verbs to do or to say change in pronunciation when adding –es: does [dɅz], says [sez] and the verb to have ommits –ve – has [hᴂz]. Regular verbs ending in a consonant+y (fly, try, cry, satisfy etc.), change into –ies.

Conjugation

To Be                                                       Other verbs (e.g. go, eat, watch)

I am                we are                               I/you/we/they go/eat/watch

you are           you are                              he/she/it goes/eats/watches

he/she/it is      they are

 

Verbs ending in a cons.+y

he/she/it cries

 

Forming questions

Forming a question using the verb to be or modals requires an inversion, i.e. you are → are you, he should → should he.

The basic “trinity” of the English question in the present simple tense when using other verbs, such as to eat, to watch, to write etc., includes the auxiliary verb to do + subject + infinitive. The example could be the following:

Do you work?

Does he watch TV every day?

We can use interrogative pronouns or adverbs, such as what, who, when, where, how etc., to specify the question, but the “trinity” does not change.

Where do you work?

When does he watch TV?

 

Forming negatives

Forming a negative sentence using the verb to be or modals requires the negative not, i.e. you are not (aren’t), he should not (shouldn’t).

When using other verbs, such as to eat, to watch, to write etc., in the present simple tense, we must include the auxiliary verb to do + not + subject + infinitive.

You do not (don’t) work.

He does not (doesn’t) watch TV every day.

We can also form a negative question, which has a different meaning when compared to Czech.

Don’t you work?/Do you not work?

Doesn’t he watch TV every day?/Does he not watch TV every day?

Such a negative question has the connotation of surprise.

The Past Simple

The past simple tense is used to express activities in the past which were usual, repeated or happened once. Modal verbs, except can (could), do not have a past form, but use descriptive forms (must → have to; may → to be allowed to; can → to be able to; should → to be supposed to/ought to). They can also be used with past infinitives and so have different meanings, such as probability and possibility. Regular verbs add – d/– ed when forming the past (watch ­→ watched; decide → decided). Irregular verbs have individual irregular past forms, such as do → did; be → was, were; eat → ate etc. Verbs ending in a consonant+y (fly, try, cry, satisfy etc.), change into –ied (tried, cried, satisfied).

Forming questions

The questions are formed equally to the present simple tense, i.e. using the inversion of to be and the subject (was he/were they). Regarding other verbs, we use the past form of to do as the auxiliary verb + subject + infinitive.

Did you work?

Did he watch TV every day?

Where did you work?

When did he watch TV?

Forming negatives

Forming negatives in the past is equal to the present simple tense but we use the past forms of the auxiliary verbs to be and to do.

You did not (didn’t) work.

He did not (didn’t) watch TV every day.

The Future Simple

The future simple tense is used to express offers or unplanned future activities, such as momentary decisions (You will take this medicine once). It is also usually used in conditional and time clauses. Modal verbs must be used in their descriptive forms (must → will have to; may → will be allowed to; can → will be able to; should → will be supposed to/ought to).

Forming questions

The questions are formed using the inversion of will and the subject + infinitive.

Will you work?

Will he watch TV?

Where will you work when you live in New York?

When will he leave?

 

Forming negatives

Forming negatives in the future requires the negative form will + not/won’t + infinitive.

You will not (won’t) work.

He will not (won’t) watch TV.

The Present Perfect Simple

The present perfect simple tense is used to express activities that started in the past and last to the present (I have known him for three years./I have known him since yesterday.), when we do not know when something happened but the situation is still actual (I have seen the film.) or with adverbs such as already, just, lately, ever, never or not yet (She has already done her homework.). Modal verbs must be used in descriptive forms (must → have to; may → to be allowed to; can → to be able to; should → to be supposed to/ought to), e.g. We have never had to do the dishes. Regular verbs usually add – d/– ed when forming the past participle (watch ­→ watched; decide → decided). Irregular verbs have individual irregular past participle forms, such as do → done; be → been; eat → eaten etc. Regular verbs ending in a consonant+y (fly, try, cry, satisfy etc.), change into –ied (tried, cried, satisfied).

 

Forming questions

The questions are formed using the inversion of to have and the subject + past participle.

Have you ever seen a comet?

I have already eaten.

She has worked her since last week.

 

Forming negatives

Forming negatives in present perfect simple requires the auxiliary verb have + not + past participle.

We have not (haven’t) bought a car yet.

You have not (haven’t) been at home all day.

He has not (hasn’t) watched TV lately.