Author: teacherjulieta

📝 Grammar Review: Basic Verb Tenses

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In this lesson, we will review the basic verb tenses you need to talk about the past, present, and future.

By the end of this lesson, you will:
✅ Recognize the most common tenses in English
✅ Use them to talk about your life and experiences
✅ Feel more confident when speaking and writing

1. Present Simple

We use it to talk about:

  • habits and routines
  • facts and general truths

Form:
👉 Subject + base verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it)

Examples:

  • I get up at 7 o’clock.
  • She works in a bank.
  • The sun rises in the east.

2. Present Continuous

We use it to talk about:

  • things happening now
  • temporary situations

Form:
👉 Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing

Examples:

  • I am studying English now.
  • They are watching TV.
  • She is living in Toronto at the moment.

3. Past Simple

We use it to talk about:

  • finished actions in the past

Form:
👉 Subject + past verb (regular verbs = + -ed, irregular verbs change form)

Examples:

  • I watched a movie yesterday.
  • She visited her grandma last weekend.
  • They went to the park.

4. Past Continuous

We use it to talk about:

  • actions that were happening at a specific time in the past

Form:
👉 Subject + was/were + verb + -ing

Examples:

  • I was reading a book at 9 pm.
  • They were playing football when it started to rain.
  • She was cooking dinner.

5. Future with will

We use it to talk about:

  • predictions
  • decisions at the moment of speaking

Form:
👉 Subject + will + base verb

Examples:

  • I will call you tomorrow.
  • Don’t worry, you will pass the test!
  • She will travel next summer.

6. Future with going to

We use it to talk about:

  • plans and intentions
  • something we can see is going to happen

Form:
👉 Subject + am/is/are going to + base verb

Examples:

  • I’m going to study tonight.
  • They are going to buy a new car.
  • Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain.

7. Present Perfect

We use it to talk about:

  • experiences in life (no exact time)
  • actions that started in the past and continue now (for/since)
  • recent actions with just, already, yet

Form:
👉 Subject + have/has + past participle

🔹 With for and since

  • I have lived here for 5 years.
  • She has worked in this company since 2018.

🔹 With just (a very recent action)

  • I have just finished my homework.

🔹 With already (something happened earlier than expected)

  • They have already eaten dinner.

🔹 With yet (in negative sentences and questions)

  • I haven’t finished my project yet.
  • Have you done your homework yet?

📊 Summary Table

TenseUseExample
Present Simplehabits, factsShe works in a bank.
Present Continuoushappening nowThey are watching TV.
Past Simplefinished actionsWe visited London.
Past Continuousaction in progress (past)I was reading at 8 pm.
Future (will)decisions, predictionsI will call you.
Future (going to)plans, intentionsI’m going to travel.
Present Perfectexperiences, unfinished time, recent actionsI have lived here since 2018.

Let’s practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Introduction to First Conditional

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🔑 What is the First Conditional?

We use the First Conditional when we want to:

  • Talk about the future
  • Say what will happen if something else happens
  • Show real and possible situations

✨ Example:

  • If I eat too much chocolate, I will feel sick.
  • If we hurry, we will catch the bus.

🧩 Grammar Structure

👉 The First Conditional has two parts:

IF clause (condition)Result clause
If + Present Simplewill + base verb

✅ Examples:

  • If it rains, I will stay at home.
  • If I study, I will pass the test.
  • If we are late, the teacher will be angry.

🚨 Important!
Don’t use will after if.
❌ If it will rain, I will stay home.
✅ If it rains, I will stay home.

💡 When do we use it?

We use the First Conditional for:

  1. Predictions: If it rains, the streets will be wet.
  2. Warnings: If you run too fast, you will fall.
  3. Promises/Plans: If you call me, I will help you.

🗣 More Examples

  • If I am hungry, I will eat a sandwich. 🥪
  • If my friend visits, we will go to the park. 🌳
  • If the teacher gives homework, I will do it. ✏️
  • If we don’t leave now, we will miss the train. 🚉

Practice Time

Practice 1

Practice 2

 Speaking Practice

Card game

Flip the cards

Look at the picture

Complete the sentences using first conditional

Open the box

Choose a box.

Read the sentence starter.

Complete the sentence with your own ideas

Movies and TV Shows

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for beginner learners (A1/A2)

Here’s a list of basic words to help you talk about films and TV programs.

🎬 Types of Movies & TV Shows

WordMeaningExample
🐭 cartoonAn animated story, often for childrenTom and Jerry is a cartoon.
🎤 chat showA TV show where people talk with a hostThe Oprah Winfrey Show is a chat show.
😂 comedyA funny movie or showMr. Bean is a comedy.
🎭 dramaA serious story, often about real lifeTitanic is a drama.
❓ quiz showA contest with questionsJeopardy is a quiz show.
📺 sitcomA funny TV series about everyday lifeFriends is a sitcom.
💔 soap operaA long TV story with many episodesDays of Our Lives is a soap opera.
📰 the newsInformation about today’s eventsI usually watch the news at 6 pm.
☀️ weather forecastInformation about the weatherThe weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
🐒 wildlife programmeA show about animals and naturePlanet Earth is a wildlife programme.

🎬 Adjectives to Talk About Movies & TV Shows

😀 Positive😢 Negative😐 Neutral
exciting – full of action or adventure
The movie was exciting from the beginning.		silly – not serious or funny in a bad way
The cartoon was silly.		serious – important or not funny The news is serious.
clever – smart or creative
The comedy has clever jokes.		sad – makes you feel unhappy Titanic is a sad drama.long – takes a lot of time
The movie is long but interesting.
funny – makes you laugh
Mr. Bean is very funny.		scary – makes you feel afraid The monster in the film was scary.true – based on real events
The story is true.
popular – liked by many people Friends is a popular sitcom.boring – not interesting
The soap opera is boring.
interesting – keeps your attention
The wildlife programme is interesting.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

How to Write a Movie / TV Show Review

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For beginner learners (A1/A2)


A movie or TV show review is when you say what the movie or show is about, what you liked or didn’t like, and if you recommend it.

Steps to Write a Review about a Movie or a TV Show

1. Say the Name + Type

Start by writing the name of the movie or TV show. You can also say the type (genre). Use these words:

Movie type (genre):

  • cartoon (animated story, often for children)
  • chat show (people talk on TV, with a host)
  • comedy (funny show or movie)
  • drama (serious story)
  • quiz show (contest with questions)
  • sitcom (funny TV series about everyday life)
  • soap opera (long TV story with many episodes)
  • the news (information about today’s events)
  • weather forecast (information about the weather)
  • wildlife programme (about animals and nature)

👉 Example:
“I watched Frozen. It is a cartoon.”
“I usually watch Friends. It is a sitcom.”

2. Say What Happens (Short Summary)

Write 2–3 short sentences about the story.

Useful phrases:

  • “The story is about …”
  • “The main character is …”
  • “They …”

👉 Example:
“The story is about two sisters, Anna and Elsa. Elsa has magic powers. She makes everything snow.”

3. Give Your Opinion

Now say what you think. You can use simple sentences:

  • “I like … because …”
  • “I don’t like … because …”
  • “My favorite part is …”

You can talk about:

  • The characters (funny, interesting, boring)
  • The story (exciting, sad, slow, easy to understand)
  • The music (nice, beautiful, loud)
  • The pictures / special effects (good, colorful, amazing)

🎭 Adjectives to Use in Reviews

Positive adjectives: exciting, clever, funny, popular, interesting
Negative adjectives: silly, sad, scary, boring
Neutral adjectives: serious, long, true

👉 Example:
“I like the characters because they are funny. The music is beautiful. But I don’t like the snow monster because it is scary.”

4. Recommend or Not

Finish with your final idea. Say if you recommend it.

Useful phrases:

  • “I recommend this …”
  • “I don’t recommend this …”
  • “Overall, it is …”
  • “I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars.”

👉 Example:
“Overall, Frozen is a very good cartoon. I recommend it for families and children. ⭐⭐⭐⭐”

5. Example Review

Writing Practice

👉 Now it’s your turn! Choose a movie or TV show you know. Write:

  1. The name + type.
  2. What happens.
  3. Your opinion.
  4. If you recommend it.

Introduction to Indirect Questions

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When we ask questions in English, sometimes we want to sound more polite. Instead of asking directly, we can use an indirect question.

👉 We often start with:

  • Could you tell me …?
  • Do you know …?

Direct vs. Indirect Questions 📝

  • Direct question:
    Where is the bank?
  • Indirect question:
    Could you tell me where the bank is?
    Do you know where the bank is?

Notice:

  • In the indirect question, the word order is like a normal sentence (subject + verb).
  • ❌ We don’t use do/does/did in the second part.

More Examples ✅

  • Direct: What time does the movie start?
  • Indirect:
    • Could you tell me what time the movie starts?
    • Do you know what time the movie starts?
  • Direct: Where is the supermarket?
  • Indirect:
    • Could you tell me where the supermarket is?
    • Do you know where the supermarket is?

Let’s practice

Practice 1

Put the words in the correct order.

Practice 2

Quiz

Practice 3

Match the halves

Speaking

Practice 1

Open a box

Ask an indirect question to your classmates

Could/ couldn’t

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Past modals of ability

We use could to talk about things we were able to do in the past.

It’s the past form of can when we talk about ability.

👉 Think of it as “can in the past.”

✅ Examples:

  • When I was 6, I could swim.
  • My grandmother could play the piano beautifully.
  • We could run very fast when we were teenagers.

We use couldn’t to say we were not able to do something in the past.

✅ Examples:

  • I couldn’t ride a bike when I was 5.
  • She couldn’t speak English last year.
  • We couldn’t use computers when we were children (because there were none at home!).

We also use could to ask about abilities in the past.

✅ Examples:

  • Could you swim when you were 7?
  • Could your father drive a car when he was young?
  • Could your grandmother speak another language?

🧾 Useful Tips

✨ Notice the difference:

  • I can swim = now, in the present.
  • I could swim when I was 6 = in the past.

✨ Pronunciation tip:

  • could is pronounced /kʊd/ (like good).
  • The l is silent!

✨ Everyday English:
We sometimes use could in polite offers or suggestions:

  • Could you help me, please?
  • We could go to the park this afternoon.
    👉 But in today’s lesson, we are focusing on past ability.

Can vs Could

PRESENT (can/can’t)

PAST (could/ couldn’t)

Let’s practice

Quiz time

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Complete the sentences with information about you.

Use could/ couldn’t

Just, Already and Yet

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We use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) with these words to show when or if something has happened.

⏱️ 1. Using just

We use just to describe something that happened a short time ago.

✅ Examples:

  • I’ve just seen a great comedy.
  • She’s just finished her homework.

✅ 2. Using already

We use already to describe an action that has happened (earlier than we expected).

✅ Examples:

  • They’ve already finished the new series.
  • He’s already eaten lunch.

❓ 3. Using yet

We use yet in negative sentences and questions to talk about something that hasn’t happened but we think it will.

✅ Examples:

  • Have you watched it yet?
  • I haven’t seen it yet.

🌟 Quick Tip

  • just → a short time ago
  • already → it happened earlier than expected
  • yet → not happened, but we expect it (only in negatives/questions)

Let’s practice

Quiz time

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking time

Practice 1

Practice 2

For or Since

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We use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) to talk about things that started in the past and continue now.

✅ Example:

  • How long have you known her?
  • We’ve lived together for about nine months.

⏳ 1. Using for

We use for + a period of time (the length).

👉 It answers: How long?

✅ Examples:

  • I’ve known Justin for about two years.
  • We haven’t done that for a long time.

📅 2. Using since

We use since + the starting point (when it began).

👉 It answers: Since when?

✅ Examples:

  • I’ve known her since we were at school.
  • We haven’t argued since we met.

🌟 Quick Tip

  • for = length of time → 3 months, 2 years, a long time
  • since = starting point → 2019, last week, Monday

Present Perfect Review

Let’s Practice

1️⃣Quiz time

Practice 1

Practice 2

2️⃣Speaking time

Practice 1

Practice 2

🗺️ Giving directions

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What Does “Give Directions” Mean?

To give directions means to explain to someone how to get from one place to another. You tell them where to turn, which road to follow, how far to go, and landmarks that help.

Example:

“Go straight on Main Street, then turn left at the traffic lights. The library will be on your right.”

Giving directions helps in daily life — when someone is lost, when explaining how to reach a place, etc.

2. Useful Words & Phrases

Here are key vocabulary and useful expressions for giving directions:

PurposePhrase / WordExample
Moving forwardgo straight onGo straight on until the roundabout.
Turningturn left / turn rightTurn right at the traffic lights.
Counting turnstake the second / third left/rightTake the second right after the bank.
Landmarks / reference pointsat the corner, opposite, next toIt’s opposite the post office.
At junctions / intersectionsat the end of the road, junction, roundaboutAt the roundabout, take the first exit.
Describing locationon the left / on the right / in front of / behindThe café is on the left, just after the bridge.

3. Examples

Here are sample conversations and direction-giving using the phrases above.

Example 1:

Person A: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
Person B: Sure. Go straight on Elm Street for two blocks, then turn left at the bank. Continue straight past the park, then turn right at the traffic lights. The station is on your left, next to the hotel.

Example 2:

Person A: I’m lost — can you help?
Person B: Of course. From here, walk straight on until you reach a roundabout. At the roundabout, take the third exit. Then take the second left. The supermarket will be opposite the library.

Let’s Play

1️⃣ Quiz time

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

2️⃣Speaking time

  1. Choose a place to START and FINISH on the map.
  2. Write the instructions on a piece of paper.
  3. Tell your partner how to go get to the final destination (FINISH).

Think About Language! 🧠💬

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🎯 Goal: Think about how you learn English and avoid common translation mistakes.

Warm-up:

🧠💬 Think about these questions:

  1. Do you ever translate word for word in your head before speaking or writing English? 🗣️
  2. When you do that, does it sound natural or a little strange? 😅
  3. Have you ever said something in English and people looked confused?
  4. Can you remember a funny moment when you translated something literally (word for word)? 😂
  5. Do you use Google Translate? Does it always give you the right answer?
  6. In your language, how do you say “change my mind”? Is it similar to English?
  7. What is more important: perfect grammar or clear meaning? Why? 🤓
  8. Do you think it’s better to learn English word by word, or to learn whole phrases? 🧩

Watch Out for These Mistakes! ❌✅

Here are some sentences. Some are wrong because they are “false friends” (they sound like they should work in English, but they don’t!).

  1. I changed the idea and stayed home.
  2. We made a party last weekend.
  3. Can you explain me the rules?
  4. I always assist to class on Monday.
  5. She took a decision to change her job.
  6. Please put attention to the teacher.
  7. He didn’t say me the truth.
  8. She has 20 years old.
  9. Close the computer, please.
  10. I am agree with you.

👉 Your job:

  • Decide which ones sound correct.
  • Fix the wrong ones.
  • Talk with a classmate and explain why!

🧠 Why You Shouldn’t Translate Word for Word

✨ Every language is different.

  • Word order, grammar, and expressions are not the same.
  • A word-for-word translation can sound strange or funny! 😅

❌ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ I am agree → ✅ I agree
  • ❌ She has 20 years old → ✅ She is 20 years old
  • ❌ Close the computer → ✅ Turn off the computer

💬✨ Better Strategy

🔑 Think about meaning, not just words.

Ask yourself: “What am I trying to say?”

Then choose the words that express the same idea in English.

💬 Learn phrases

Think in chunks (small groups of words) so your English sounds natural.

💡 Example:
Instead of translating every single word from your language to English learn the full phrase:
✅ “make a decision.” = “choose something”


📚 Learn basic grammar

It helps you put words in the right order and express ideas clearly.


🔁 Practice

🎧 Listen and copy how other English speakers talk.

👏 Practice until it feels natural.

When you translate word for word, your English can sound strange or even funny. 😅
That’s because every language has its own rules, word order, and special expressions.
What sounds correct in your language might not exist in English!

When you translate word by word, people might not understand you, even if your words are “correct.”
Instead of thinking about each word, think about the whole idea you want to say.

Your Turn! 📝

  • Choose 3 sentences and write the correct version.
  • Share a funny mistake you made when translating word by word.
  • Write one phrase you learned that is very different from your language.

💬 Share in the comments below:

Do you think learning full phrases is easier than learning single words? Why?
How do you feel when you make a mistake? Does it help you learn?