Tenses

20 words

1. 1

   be about to + base verbgrammar

   used to say something is going to happen very soon

   “I am about to leave.”

2. 2

   will have been + V-inggrammar

   Future perfect continuous: an action that will be in progress up to a specific time in the future or will have been happening for a duration by that time.

   “By next July, I will have been teaching here for six years.”

3. 3

   be bound to + base verbgrammar

   expresses that something is almost certain to happen

   “With such dedication, she is bound to succeed.”

4. 4

   be likely to + base verbgrammar (prediction)

   Expresses a high probability that something will happen: be likely to + verb.

   “Countries with ageing populations are likely to face labour shortages.”

5. 5

   be supposed to + base verbgrammar

   used to say that something is expected, required, or planned

   “You are supposed to wear a uniform at that school.”

6. 6

   be due to + base verbgrammar

   scheduled or expected to happen at a particular time

   “The train is due to arrive at 6 pm.”

7. 7

   to be + past participlegrammar (passive infinitive)

   Passive infinitive: to + be + past participle, used after verbs/adjectives to show that something is done to the subject.

   “This theory is believed to be flawed by many researchers.”

8. 8

   to have + past participlegrammar

   Perfect infinitive: 'to have' + past participle; used to show that one action was completed before another or to express unreal past after certain verbs/adjectives.

   “I would like to have seen the exhibition before it closed.”

9. 9

   may have + past participlegrammar

   used to speculate that something possibly happened in the past

   “She may have missed the train.”

10. 10

    would + have + been + V-inggrammar

    Conditional perfect continuous: describes an action that would have been ongoing at a past point if a past condition had been different.

    “If she had accepted the contract, she would have been working abroad for five years by 2019.”

11. 11

    needn't have + past participlegrammar

    used to say someone did something but it was unnecessary

    “You needn't have bought so much food; we already had plenty.”

12. 12

    Had + subject + past participle, + clausegrammar

    Inversion of 'If + past perfect' used to talk about unreal past situations and their results.

    “Had I known about the strike, I would have taken a different route.”

13. 13

    had better + base verbgrammar

    'Had better + base verb' gives strong advice or a warning, implying negative consequences if the advice is not followed.

    “You had better lock the door when you leave.”

14. 14

    may be + past participlegrammar (modal passive)

    Modal passive: 'may/might/could be + past participle' expresses possibility that something is done to the subject.

    “The results may be affected by seasonal changes.”

15. 15

    Were + subject + to + base verbgrammar

    A formal inversion used for hypothetical present or future situations; equivalent to 'If + past simple' or 'If S were to V'.

    “Were she to accept the offer, the company would expand quickly.”

16. 16

    be to + base verbgrammar

    'Be to + base verb' expresses formal arrangements, official plans, instructions, or destiny (in certain contexts).

    “The delegation is to sign the agreement tomorrow.”

17. 17

    Not until + clause + did + subject + base verbgrammar (inversion after negative fronting)

    Emphatic inversion: after 'Not until + clause' we invert auxiliary + subject + verb to stress that something happened only after that time.

    “Not until the rain stopped did we continue our journey.”

18. 18

    Hardly had + subject + past participle + when + clausegrammar (inversion after negative adverbials)

    Inversion after negative adverbials: 'Hardly had + subject + past participle + when + clause' expresses that one action was immediately followed by another.

    “Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang.”

19. 19

    ought to + base verbgrammar

    'Ought to + base verb' is used to give advice or express duty and moral obligation; similar to 'should' but slightly more formal.

    “You ought to tell the truth; it's the right thing to do.”

20. 20

    It was + noun/adjective + that + clausegrammar (cleft sentence)

    Cleft sentences (It was + X + that + clause) are used to focus or emphasize a particular element of a sentence.

    “It was the teacher who suggested the extra classes.”