Free grammar reference
English grammar rules with tables
All 12 tenses, the passive voice, reported speech, modal verbs and the essentials — one rule per page: a short explanation, a table, examples, common mistakes and a quiz to check yourself.
- 22 rules
- 12 tenses with tables
- Real-life examples
- Quizzes with explanations
- Levels A1–B2
English tenses table
All 12 tenses on one screen: the form and an example. Tap a tense to open its rule with an explanation, a table of positive, negative and question forms, and common mistakes.
V1 is the base form of the verb (work, go), V2 the past form (worked, went), V3 the past participle (worked, gone), V-ing the -ing form. Irregular forms are in the irregular verbs table.
The full tenses chart with negatives, questions and signal wordsPresent tenses
What always happens, is happening right now or has a result now.
Present Simple
A1 · V1 / V-s
Habits, facts and timetables: I work, she works, do / does in questions.
Read the rulePresent Continuous
A1–A2 · am / is / are + V-ing
What is happening now and fixed plans: I’m working, are you coming?
Read the rulePresent Perfect
A2–B1 · have / has + V3
Experience and results now: I have seen, she has just left.
Read the rulePresent Perfect Continuous
B1 · have / has been + V-ing
How long something has been going on: I’ve been waiting for an hour.
Read the rule
Past tenses
What happened, was in progress or had finished by a moment in the past.
Past Simple
A1–A2 · V2 / V-ed
Finished actions in the past: I worked, she went, did you see?
Read the rulePast Continuous
A2 · was / were + V-ing
A past action in progress and background: I was cooking when you called.
Read the rulePast Perfect
B1 · had + V3
The past before the past: the train had already left.
Read the rulePast Perfect Continuous
B1–B2 · had been + V-ing
How long it had been going on before a past moment: had been waiting.
Read the rule
Future tenses
Plans, predictions and actions that will be in progress or finished in the future.
Future Simple
A1–A2 · will + V1
Will + verb: instant decisions, promises, predictions — and when to use going to.
Read the ruleFuture Continuous
B1 · will be + V-ing
In progress in the future: this time tomorrow I’ll be flying.
Read the ruleFuture Perfect
B1–B2 · will have + V3
Finished before a future moment: by Friday I’ll have finished.
Read the ruleFuture Perfect Continuous
B2 · will have been + V-ing
How long by a future moment: for five years by June.
Read the rule
Grammar structures
The passive voice, reported speech, modal verbs, gerunds and infinitives, used to and wish.
Passive voice
A2–B2 · be + V3
Be + past participle: it was built, it is made, it has been sold.
Read the ruleReported speech
B1–B2 · said (that) + backshift
She said she was tired: tense changes, said vs told, questions.
Read the ruleModal verbs
A2–B2 · modal + V1
Can, must, should, may: ability, obligation, advice, probability.
Read the ruleGerund or infinitive
B1–B2 · V-ing · to + V1
Enjoy doing, want to do: which verbs take -ing and which take to.
Read the ruleUsed to
A2–B1 · used to + V1
Not any more: I used to smoke. Plus be used to and get used to.
Read the ruleWish and if only
B1–B2 · wish + Past Simple / Past Perfect
Regrets: I wish I knew, I wish I had known, I wish you would stop.
Read the rule
Grammar essentials
Prepositions in, on, at, comparatives and superlatives, there is / there are and questions.
Prepositions in, on, at
A1–A2 · in · on · at
In May, on Monday, at 5: which preposition for time and place.
Read the ruleComparatives and superlatives
A1–A2 · -er / more · the -est / the most
Bigger, the biggest, more interesting: rules and exceptions.
Read the ruleThere is / there are
A1 · there is + singular · there are + plural
There is a cat. There are two cats. Some, any and questions.
Read the ruleQuestions in English
A1–A2 · (Wh-) + auxiliary + subject + verb
Do you…? Where did…? Isn’t it? Five question types and word order.
Read the rule
How to use this reference
The rule in a minute
At the top of each page: the form, when to use it and signal words — handy to revise before a lesson or an exam.
Tables and examples
Positive, negative and question forms in a table, with natural everyday examples.
Common mistakes
The mistakes learners make most often, and how to say it correctly.
Check yourself
After the rule: a quiz with an explanation for every answer. Free, no sign-up.
FAQ
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.
How many tenses are there in English?
Grammatically, twelve: three times (present, past, future) × four aspects (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous). In everyday speech the most common are the Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Past Simple, will and be going to — start with those.
Where should I start with English grammar?
With the Present Simple, there is / there are, the prepositions in, on, at and questions (level A1). Then the Present Continuous, Past Simple, will and going to, comparatives and superlatives (A1–A2). The Present Perfect, the passive, reported speech, gerunds and infinitives are A2–B2.
What is the difference between Simple, Continuous and Perfect?
Simple is a fact, a habit or a sequence of actions. Continuous (be + V-ing) is an action in progress at a moment. Perfect (have + V3) is a result or experience up to a moment. Perfect Continuous (have been + V-ing) is an activity that had been going on up to a moment, and for how long.
Can I learn English grammar on my own?
The rules — yes: read the topic, go through the examples and take the quiz. It is harder to notice your own mistakes when you speak, and that is where a teacher helps. At a free trial lesson at Slay School we check your level and show you which topics to work on.
What level is this grammar reference for?
A1 to B2: the level is shown on each rule page. If you don’t know your level, take the free English level test — it shows your CEFR level and the topics where you make mistakes.
More free English resources
English tenses chart
All 12 tenses on one page: positive, negative and question forms, when to use them, signal words and quizzes.
See the chartEnglish levels A1–C2
What you can do at each CEFR level, how many words and hours it takes, IELTS and Cambridge equivalents and the level you need for work or study.
See the chartEnglish level test
Grammar, vocabulary and reading from A1 to C1: your CEFR level in 5–15 minutes, every mistake explained and tips on what to study next.
Find out your levelIrregular verbs
A table with transcription and audio, a Top 50 filter and a “Test yourself” trainer. Printable.
Open the table
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- Day 1 — freeLevel A2–B2
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