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Category: Verb Tenses

  • English Future Tense with Will: Easy Grammar for ESL Students

    English Future Tense with Will: Easy Grammar for ESL Students

    Do you ever want to talk about tomorrow, next week, or even next year in English? Learning how to talk about the future is very important! The good news is, there are two common ways to talk about the future in English: will and be going to. In this post, we’ll focus on will. To learn more about using the future tense with be going to, check out this guide. English learners use the future tense with Will every day to make predictions, share plans, and even promise to do something. In this post, you’ll learn how to use the future tense with Will step by step—with simple rules, examples, and common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll be ready to talk about your own future in English with confidence!

    When do we use the future tense with will?

    We use will to talk about:

    1. Simple facts about the future

    I will do my homework tonight.

    2. Predictions about the future.

    It will rain tomorrow.

    3. Promises or offers.

    I will help you with your homework.

    4. Future plans or decisions made at the moment of speaking.

    I’m hungry. I will make a sandwich.

    Affirmative statements in the Future Tense with Will

    Subject + will + base form of the main verb

    She will make dinner tonight.

    They will travel to Spain this summer.

    The students will take a test on Friday.

    The teacher will help you with your homework.

    Ana will celebrate her birthday on Saturday.

    We will go to the park on Sunday afternoon.

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Affirmative Statements

    ❌ He will goes to school tomorrow.
    ✅ He will go to school tomorrow.

    ❌ They will playing soccer next week.
    ✅ They will play soccer next week.

    ⚠️ Remember! After will, always use the base form of the verb (go, play, eat).

    Contractions in the Future Tense with Will

    In English, we often make sentences shorter by contracting (joining) the subject pronoun and will. This makes speaking more natural and faster.

    I will → I’ll call you tomorrow.

    You will → You’ll need to study if you want to pass grammar class.

    He will → He’ll text you later.

    She will → She’ll help us with the project.

    It will → It’ll be cold tomorrow.

    We will → We’ll drive to the concert.

    They will → They’ll come to the party.

    ⚠️ Remember! Contractions are common in speaking and informal writing, but in formal writing (like school essays or exams), it’s better to use the full form: I will, you will, etc.
    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subjects, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    Negative statements in the Future Tense with Will

    Subject + will not + base form of the verb

    I will not watch TV tonight.

    He will not go to the party.

    It will not snow tomorrow.

    She will not attend class on Friday.

    That charger will not work on your phone.

     We will not eat dinner at home tonight.

    Contractions in the Future Tense with Will – Negative Statements

    In a negative statement, do not contract the subject pronoun and will. Instead, you can contract will and not to form the contraction won’t.

    I won’t watch TV tonight. I have to study for a test.

    He won’t go to the party. He’s boring.

    It won’t snow tomorrow. It’s too hot.

    She won’t attend class on Friday. She has a doctor’s appointment.

    That charger won’t work on your phone. It’s for iPhones.

    We won’t eat dinner at home tonight. We’re eating out instead.

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Negative Statements

    ❌ I not will eat dinner.
    ✅ I will not (won’t) eat dinner.

    ❌ She willn’t come to the party.
    ✅ She will not come to the party. (or She won’t come to the party.)

    ⚠️ Remember! Use will not or the contraction won’t. Do not write willn’t.

    Yes/No Questions and Short Answers in the Future Tense with Will

    Will + subject + base form of the verb?

    Will she make dinner tonight? Yes, she will. / No, she won’t.

    Will they travel to Spain this summer? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t.

    Will the students take a test on Friday? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t.

    Will the teacher help you with your homework? Yes, he will. / No, he won’t.

    Will Ana celebrate her birthday on Saturday? Yes, she will. / No, she won’t.

    Will the Longhorns play on Saturday? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t. 😞

    ⚠️ Remember! Only negative short answers use contractions.
    🚫 Common Mistakes with Yes/No Questions

    ❌ You will come to class tomorrow?
    ✅ Will you come to class tomorrow?

    ❌ They will play soccer on Saturday?
    ✅ Will they play soccer on Saturday?

    ⚠️ Remember! In questions, will comes before the subject.

    Wh- Questions in the Future Tense with Will

    Wh- word + will + subject + base form of the verb

    What will she make for dinner tonight?

    When will they travel to Spain?

    When will the students take a test?

    What will the teacher help you with?

    What will Ana celebrate on Saturday?

    Who will the Longhorns play on Saturday?

    Why won’t the dog stop barking?

    How will you travel to Bogota?

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Wh- Questions

    ❌ Where you will go on vacation?
    ✅ Where will you go on vacation?

    ❌ What she will eat for lunch?
    ✅ What will she eat for lunch?

    ⚠️ Remember! Start with the Wh- word (What, Where, When, Why, Who, How) → then will → then the subject.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Unscramble the words to form affirmative statements. Use contractions if possible.

    1. play / will / soccer / tomorrow / they
    2. finish / homework / tonight / will / my / I
    3. visit / will / next week / their / grandparents / they
    4. to / will / not / go / afternoon / they / the park / this
    5. their / not / do / homework / will / students / the
    6. to / tonight / the party / will / come / she / ?
    7. help / class / me / will / after / my homework / you / with / ?
    8. play / soccer / will / Saturday / he / on /?
    9. see / we / movie / tonight / will / a / ?
    10. eat / for lunch / what / will / she / ?
    11. go / on vacation / where / will / you / ?
    12. do / tomorrow / will / he / what / ?
    13. help / me / will / when / you / ?
    14. see / who / will / at the park / we / ?
    15. university / which / you / at / study / will / year / next / ?

    Exercise B

    Correct the mistakes in each sentence (There is only 1 mistake per sentence)

    1. He’ll goes to school tomorrow.
    2. They will playing soccer next week.
    3. She’ll eats breakfast at 9:00.
    4. She willn’t come to the party.
    5. They won’t plays soccer.
    6. You’ll come to class tomorrow?
    7. She’ll calls you tonight?
    8. Where you’ll go on vacation?
    9. What she’ll eat for lunch?
    10. When he’ll come to school?
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring & Feedback

    🔵 22 – 25 correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand the future with will. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 19 – 21 correct
    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of the future with will. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 15 – 18 correct
    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 14 correct
    No worries! 🌱 The future with will can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Every time you say “I will learn English” you are using the future tense with will to tell the truth about your journey. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. Your English is not standing still—it’s moving forward, step by step.

    💡Need personalized help using these grammar structures? Explore my ESL lessons and services for individual and group support.

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • The Present Continuous: A Complete Guide for ESL Students

    The Present Continuous: A Complete Guide for ESL Students

    What is the present continuous?

    The present continuous tense – sometimes called the present progressive –  is one of the first tenses English learners practice after the simple present. In this blog, we will discuss using the present continuous in affirmative statement, negative statements, Yes/No questions, and Wh- questions. We will also discuss the spelling rules for the present continuous. As always, you will have the opportunity to practice everything discussed in this blog.

    🔁 Quick Review: The present continuous tense uses a be verb (am, is, are) before the -ing form of the verb.
    If you need to review how be verbs work in the present tense, start here before continuing: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    Affirmative Statements in the Present Continuous

    When we want to describe something that is happening right now, we use affirmative statements in the present continuous. These sentences show actions in progress, like “I am reading” or “They are playing.” The pattern is simple once you learn it.

    How to Form the Present Continuous (Affirmative Statements)

    The structure of affirmative statements in the present continuous is simple:

    Subject + Be verb (am / is / are) + Verb + -ing

    1. I am drinking coffee.
    2. You are listening to music.
    3. He is watching television.
    4. She is cooking dinner.
    5. It is raining.
    6. Alejandra is playing tennis.
    7. We are studying grammar.
    8. Alejandra and I are swimming in the pool.
    9. They are driving to class.
    10. Alejandra and Diego are doing homework.

    Be Verbs in the Present Continuous

    • I –> am
    • He / She / It / Singular Nouns –> is
    • You / We / They / Plural Nouns –> are
    💡 Tip: If you need a refresher on subjects, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    When Do We Use the Present Continuous?

    1. Actions happening in the present moment – right now.

    • She is eating pizza.
    • They are watching a movie.

    2. Actions happening over a longer period of time.

    • They are studying English at UNAM.
    • Karina is traveling in Mexico this summer.
    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She cooking dinner.
    ✅ She is cooking dinner.

    ❌ They is playing soccer.
    ✅ They are playing soccer.

    ❌ He am running.
    ✅ He is running.

    The present continuous is a very useful tense for describing what’s happening right now. Remember the pattern: subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. With practice, it will become natural to use.

    Negative Statements in the Present Continuous

    Sometimes we need to say what is not happening. That’s where negative statements come in.

    How to Form the Present Continuous (Negative Statements)

    The structure of negative statements in the present continuous is simple:

    Subject + Be verb (am / is / are) + not + Verb + -ing

    1. I am not drinking coffee.
    2. You are not listening to music.
    3. He is not watching television.
    4. She is not cooking dinner.
    5. It is not raining.
    6. Alejandra is not playing tennis.
    7. We are not studying grammar.
    8. Alejandra and I are not swimming in the pool.
    9. They are not driving to class.
    10. Alejandra and Diego are not doing homework.
    📘 Remember: Contractions

    1. Subject Pronoun + Be Verb
    I am → I’m
    You are → You’re
    He is → He’s
    She is → She’s
    It is → It’s
    We are → We’re
    They are → They’re

    2. Be Verb + Not
    is not → isn’t
    are not → aren’t
    am not → (❌ no contraction; just say I’m not)

    3. Singular Nouns + Is
    Maria is → Maria’s
    The teacher is → The teacher’s
    My dog is → My dog’s

    👉 Be careful! Maria’s can also mean Maria’s book (possessive). Context will tell you the meaning.

    When Do We Use the Present Continuous (Negative Statements)?

    1. Actions not happening in the present moment – not right now.

    • She is not eating pizza.
    • They are not watching a movie.

    2. Actions that are not happening over a longer period of time.

    • They are not studying English at UNAM.
    • Karina is not traveling in Mexico this summer.
    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She not cooking dinner.
    ✅ She is not cooking dinner.

    ❌ They not playing soccer.
    ✅ They are not playing soccer.

    ❌ I amn’t running.
    ✅ I am not running.

    Negative statements in the present continuous are easy once you remember the formula: subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing. Practice using both full forms (is not / are not) and contractions (isn’t / aren’t) to sound more natural in everyday English.

    Questions in the Present Continuous

    You already know how to make affirmative and negative statements in the present continuous. Now let’s practice asking questions. We use questions in this tense to ask about actions happening right now or over a longer period of time.  

    Yes/No Questions in the Present Continuous

    The structure of Yes/No questions in the present continuous is simple:

    Be verb (am / is / are) + Subject + Verb + -ing

    1. Am I drinking coffee?
    2. Are you listening to music?
    3. Is he watching television?
    4. Is she cooking dinner?
    5. Is it raining?
    6. Is Alejandra playing tennis?
    7. Are we studying grammar?
    8. Are Alejandra and I swimming in the pool?
    9. Are they driving to class?
    10. Are Alejandra and Diego doing homework?
    📘 Remember: Short Answers in the Present Continuous

    When answering Yes/No questions, we use a short answer with the subject + be verb.
    Do not repeat the whole sentence.

    Examples:
    Q: Are you studying English?
    ✅ Yes, I am. / ❌ Yes, I am studying English.

    Q: Is she cooking dinner?
    ✅ No, she isn’t. / ❌ No, she isn’t cooking dinner.

    Q: Are they playing soccer?
    ✅ Yes, they are. / ❌ Yes, they are playing soccer.

    👉 Keep it simple: Subject + Be verb.

    Wh-Questions in the Present Continuous

    When we want more information, we use question words (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How)

    The structure of Wh- questions in the present continuous is simple:

    Wh-word + Be verb (am / is / are) + Subject + Verb + -ing

    1. What are you reading?
    2. Where is he going?
    3. Who is she talking to?
    4. Why are they laughing?
    5. How am I doing?

    Example Conversation

    A: What are you doing?
    B: I’m studying English.
    A: Are you studying at the library?
    B: No, I’m not. I’m studying at home.

    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ You are studying? (word order is wrong)
    ✅ Are you studying?

    ❌ Where you are going?
    ✅ Where are you going?

    ❌ She is talking who?
    ✅ Who is she talking to?

    Spelling Rules for the -ing Form

    1. Most Verbs (add -ing)

    1. work –> working
    2. eat –> eating
    3. sleep –> sleeping

    2. Verbs ending in -e (drop the -e. Add -ing)

    1. make –> making
    2. bake –> baking
    3. write –> writing

    3. One-syllable verbs with vowel + consonant

    → double the consonant + -ing

    1. run –> running
    2. sit –> sitting
    3. stop –> stopping
    ⚠️ Do not double w, x, y
    1. snow –> snowing
    2. fix –> fixing
    3. play –> playing

    4. Verbs ending in -ie → change -ie to -y + -ing

    1. die → dying
    2. lie → lying
    3. try –> trying
    🚫 Common Mistakes in Spelling the -ing Form

    ❌ makeing
    ✅ making

    ❌ runing
    ✅ running

    ❌ stoping
    ✅ stopping

    ❌ lieing
    ✅ lying

    Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

    English learners often confuse the simple present and the present continuous, but they are used in different situations.

    🔁 Quick Review: The present continuous is often contrasted with the simple present.
    If you need to review how affirmative statements work in the simple present, start here before continuing: Simple Present Affirmative Statements

    The Simple Present

    We use the simple present for:

    • Habits and routines → I wake up at 7:00 every day.
    • General facts and truths → Water boils at 100°C.
    • Schedules or timetables → The bus leaves at 8:00 a.m.

    Formula: Subject + Base Verb (add -s for he/she/it / singular nouns)

    • We go to class during the week.
    • She works in an office.
    • They play soccer on Sundays.
    • Regina eats breakfast at 7:00 in the morning.

    The Present Continuous

    1. Actions happening in the present moment – right now.

    • She is sleeping.
    • They are watching YouTube.

    2. Actions happening over a longer period of time.

    • They are studying English at UNAM.
    • Karina is losing weight.

    ✅ Key Differences

    • Use the simple present for things that are always true or a regular action.
    • Use the present continuous for things that are happening right now or are happening over a longer period of time.

    👉 Examples:

    Simple Present:

    1. I live in Mexico. (a fact)
    2. I eat pizza on Friday nights. (regular action/habit/routine)

    Present Continuous:

    1. I am studying for an exam. (happening right now)
    2. I’m living in Mexico this year. (over a longer period of time)
    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She is cooking dinner every Friday night.
    ✅ She cooks dinner every Friday night.

    ❌ They play soccer right now.
    ✅ They are playing soccer right now.

    ❌ He studies English right now.
    ✅ He is studying English right now.

    💡If you need a refresher on other grammar topics, check out our Blog for more lessons.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Use the cues to write affirmative or negative statements in the present continuous. Use contractions.

    1. They / play soccer.
    2. Ana / not live in Spain.
    3. You / sit at the bus stop.
    4. She / write an email to a friend.
    5. I / fix my bike.

    Exercise B

    Unscramble the words to form questions.

    1. is / she / at UNAM / English / studying / ?
    2. of music / what kind / he / is / listening to / ?
    3. visiting / when / you / are / Mexico / ?
    4. are / they / where / traveling / summer / this / ?
    5. Frida / is / a portrait / painting / ?

    Exercise C

    Complete each sentence with the correct simple present or present continuous form of the verb in parentheses. Do not use contractions.

    1. She _____ (practice) English when she isn’t in class.
    2. That’s my dog by the tree. It _____ (bark) at a squirrel.are takin
    3. Maria’s parents _____ (live) in Argentina.
    4. Diego _____ (wear) a hat. It is sunny outside.
    5. He _____ (listen to) the Joe Rogan podcast every day.
    6. My girlfriend _____ (look) for her purse. She is buying me lunch today.
    7. I _____ (need) to buy a new car. Taking the bus is horrible.
    8. I _____ (hear) loud music next door. My neighbors are annoying!!!
    9. The teacher _____ (grade) exams right now.
    10. They _____ (take) a test this morning.
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring & Feedback

    🔵 17 – 20 correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand the present continuous. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 14 – 16 correct
    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of the present continuous. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 7 – 13 correct
    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0–6 correct
    No worries! 🌱 The present continuous can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Conclusion

    The present continuous tense gives your English life, energy, and movement. It’s the tense of right now—the tense that helps you describe what’s happening around you now and over longer periods of time. By mastering affirmatives, negatives, questions, contractions, spelling rules, and knowing when to use it (and when not to!), you’ve built a strong foundation for clear and confident communication.

    Remember: learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Every time you say “I’m learning English” you are using the present continuous to tell the truth about your journey. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. Your English is not standing still—it’s moving forward, step by step.

    💡Need personalized help using these grammar structures? Explore my ESL lessons and services for individual and group support.

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • How to Use There Is / There Are in English

    How to Use There Is / There Are in English

    One of the first grammar structures English learners study is there is and there are. These phrases are very useful when talking about the existence or location of people, places, and things. In this post, we’ll look at how to make affirmative statements, negative statements, contractions, and yes/no questions with there is/there are. We’ll also explore common mistakes and give you plenty of examples so you can practice.

    🔁 Quick Review: There is and there are use the verb be (am, is, are). Choosing the correct form depends on the noun that follows. If you need a refresher, review be verbs here: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    1. Affirmative Statements with There is / There are

    We use there is with singular nouns (one person or thing) and there are with plural nouns (two or more people or things).

    • There is + singular noun
      • There is a bookstore near the university.
      • There is an ATM in the grocery store.
      • There is a park close to downtown.
    • There are + plural noun
      • There are fresh apples in the grocery store.
      • There are two theaters next to the mall.
      • There are a lot of trees in the park.

    👉 Tip!

    Think of there is/there are as a way to “point out” that something exists or is located somewhere.

    🔁 Quick Review: Using there is or there are depends on whether the noun is count or noncount. If this is confusing, review count and noncount nouns here: Count and Noncount Nouns in English

    2. Negative Statements with There is / There are

    To say that something does not exist or is not located somewhere, add not for singular nouns. Add not any for plural nouns.

    • There is not + singular noun
      • There is not a gym next to the university.
      • There isn’t a library in my neighborhood.
    • There are not + any + plural noun
      • There are not any zoos close to my house.
      • There aren’t any buses late at night.

    3. Contractions

    In spoken English, contractions make sentences shorter and more natural.

    • There is → There’s
      • There’s a park in front of the bank.
      • There’s a hair salon in the mall.

    ⚠️ Important!

    We usually do not contract ‘There is’ in a negative statement. The ‘Be’ verb ‘is’ and the negative ‘not’ are usually contracted instead.

    ⚠️ There’s not a park in my neighborhood.

    ✅ There isn’t a park in my neighborhood.

    We do not contract there are.

    ❌ You cannot say “There’re.” Always use the full form: There are…

    4. Yes/No Questions and Short Answers with There is / There are

    We often use there is/there are to ask questions about places and things.

    • Is there + singular noun?
      • Is there a hospital near the bus stop? → Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
      • Is there a fire station next to the convenience store? → No, there isn’t.
    • Are there + (any) + plural noun?
      • Are there theaters close to your house? → Yes, there are.
      • Are there any hotels downtown? → Yes, there are.
      • Are there any churches in your neighborhood? → No, there aren’t.

    👉 Note!

    The word any is optional but very common in plural questions.

    5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ There is two restaurants near here.
    ✅ There are two restaurants near here.

    ❌ There are a park in the city center.
    ✅ There is a park in the city center.

    ❌ There’re many people in the stadium.
    ✅ There are many people in the stadium.

    💡If you need a refresher on other grammar topics, check out our Blog for more lessons.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Fill in the blank with There is or There are. Use contractions when possible.

    1. ____ a bank near my house.
    2. ____ a mall next to the post office.
    3. ____ coffee shops in your neighborhood.
    4. ____ four bookstores in the mall.
    5. ____ six people at the bus stop.
    6. ____ an ATM in front of the bank.
    7. ____ books at the library.
    8. ____ a parking lot behind the grocery store.

    Exercise B

    Change the affirmative statements in Exercise A into negative statements. You will write 8 negative statements. Use contractions when possible.

    Exercise C

    Write a Yes/No question using the given information.

    1. a mall / near the bus stop
    2. convenience stores / near here
    3. coffee shops / downtown
    4. a bank / across from / the museum
    5. parks / close to / your house
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring & Feedback

    🔵 18 – 21 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉 You are ready to use ‘There is’ and ‘There are’ in  your daily life. Keep using them in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 15 – 17 Correct

    Good effort! ✅ You are on the right track. Review the ones you missed and keep practicing.

    🔴 0 – 14 Correct

    No Worries! 🌱 You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Conclusion

    Use the simple present every day when you talk about your life. Practice asking Yes/No questions. The more you practice, the easier it becomes! Subscribe for updated content from Beyond English!

    💡Need personalized help using these grammar structures? Explore my ESL lessons and services for individual and group support.

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice . . . Practice . . . Practice!!