Gramática en contexto: ejemplos reales de gramática inglesa

"Present simple — habits"

Describes regular actions or general truths

"She drinks coffee every morning. (habit)"

"Present continuous — now"

Describes actions happening at the moment of speaking

"I am reading an interesting article right now."

"Present perfect — experience"

Connects past experience to the present moment

"Have you ever visited Japan? — Yes, I have!"

"Present perfect continuous"

Shows how long an action has been in progress

"I have been studying English for three years."

"Simple vs. continuous"

Simple = general fact; continuous = temporary or in-progress action

"He works at Google. / He is working from home today."

"State verbs (no continuous)"

Verbs like know, believe, want are rarely used in continuous form

"I know the answer. (NOT: I am knowing the answer)"

"Present simple for future"

Use present simple for scheduled events

"The train leaves at 6pm tomorrow."

"Present perfect for news"

Use present perfect to introduce new information

"Scientists have discovered a new planet."

"Past simple — completed action"

A single completed action at a specific time in the past

"She graduated in 2019."

"Past continuous — background"

An ongoing action that was interrupted or provides background

"I was cooking dinner when she called."

"Past perfect — sequence"

Shows which of two past actions happened first

"By the time I arrived, the meeting had already started."

"Used to — past habits"

Describes habits or states that no longer exist

"I used to play football every weekend."

"Would for past habits"

Formal alternative to used to for repeated past actions

"When I was young, I would spend hours in the library."

"Past simple vs. perfect"

Past simple = specific time mentioned; perfect = no specific time

"I saw that film last week. / I have seen that film."

"Narrative tenses together"

Past simple + continuous + perfect used together in storytelling

"I had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived."

"Stative verbs in past"

State verbs stay in simple form even in the past

"She knew the answer all along. (NOT: was knowing)"

"will — prediction"

Spontaneous decision or prediction without evidence

"I think it will rain tomorrow."

"going to — intention"

Planned intention or prediction based on evidence

"I am going to apply for that job. (already decided)"

"Present continuous — arrangement"

Fixed personal arrangements, usually involving other people

"We are meeting the clients on Thursday."

"Present simple — schedule"

Timetabled events that follow a fixed schedule

"The conference starts on Monday."

"Future perfect"

Action completed before a future point in time

"By Friday, I will have finished the report."

"Future continuous"

An ongoing action at a specific future moment

"This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Tokyo."

"will vs. going to"

Will = instant decision; going to = prior plan

"I'll have the pasta. / I'm going to try the vegetarian menu tonight."

"Future in the past"

Was/were going to describes future plans from a past perspective

"I was going to call you but my phone died."

"Zero conditional — facts"

General truths and scientific facts: if + present, present

"If you heat water to 100°C, it boils."

"First conditional — real"

Possible future situation: if + present, will + infinitive

"If it rains, we will cancel the picnic."

"Second conditional — unreal"

Imaginary present/future: if + past, would + infinitive

"If I won the lottery, I would travel the world."

"Third conditional — past regret"

Impossible past situation: if + past perfect, would have + pp

"If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."

"Mixed conditional"

Mix third condition with second result (or vice versa)

"If I had taken that job, I would be living in New York now."

"Unless = if not"

Unless means except if or only if not

"Unless you hurry, we will miss the train."

"Wish + past — present regret"

Wish followed by past tense expresses present dissatisfaction

"I wish I spoke better French."

"Wish + past perfect — past regret"

Wish followed by past perfect expresses regret about the past

"I wish I had taken that opportunity when I had the chance."

"Passive — unknown agent"

Used when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant

"My bike was stolen last night. (we don't know who did it)"

"Passive — focus on result"

Shifts focus to what happened rather than who did it

"The new hospital was opened in 2023."

"Passive in academic writing"

Common in science and reports to sound objective

"The results were analyzed using statistical software."

"Passive with by-phrase"

Include the agent when it adds important information

"The theory was developed by Einstein."

"Get-passive (informal)"

Informal passive using get instead of be

"I got promoted last month! (informal)"

"Passive infinitive"

To be + past participle after modal or adjective

"This form needs to be signed by the manager."

"Reporting passives"

It is said/believed/thought — distancing from claims

"It is believed that the economy will recover."

"Double object passive"

Either object of a ditransitive verb can become the subject

"She was given a promotion. / A promotion was given to her."

"Can/could — ability"

Can = present ability; could = past ability or polite request

"I can swim. / Could you open the window, please?"

"Must vs. have to"

Must = internal obligation; have to = external obligation

"I must exercise more. / I have to wear a uniform at work."

"Should — advice"

Should expresses advice or expectation

"You should see a doctor if you feel unwell."

"May/might — possibility"

May = 50% possibility; might = less certain possibility

"It may rain today. / It might snow tomorrow."

"Will — certainty"

Will expresses strong prediction or certainty

"Water will freeze at 0°C."

"Would — conditional/polite"

Would is used in conditionals and polite requests

"Would you like some tea? / I would help if I could."

"Needn't vs. must not"

Needn't = no obligation; must not = prohibition

"You needn't pay — it's free! / You must not smoke here."

"Modal perfect (past deduction)"

Must/could/might + have + pp for past deduction

"She must have left already — her coat is gone."