Grammar map

Choose form from intended meaning. Use this map to diagnose, not to avoid practice.

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Clause engine

statement  subject + finite verb + complements
negative   subject + auxiliary + not + main verb
question   wh-word + auxiliary + subject + main verb
command    base verb + complements

Finite verb carries tense or modality. When no auxiliary exists, English inserts do for most negatives and questions: She works · She does not work · Does she work?

Time and aspect

Simple

View event as fact, habit, state, or complete whole: I work remotely. I finished yesterday.

Continuous

View activity as unfolding, temporary, or changing: I am working from home this week.

Perfect

Look backward from a reference point: I have finished. I had finished before the call.

Perfect continuous

Look backward at duration or repeated activity: I have been testing all morning.

Future meanings

will
instant decision, prediction, willingness
be going to
prior intention or prediction from present evidence
present continuous
personal arrangement already organised
present simple
fixed schedule or timetable

Noun phrase decisions

  1. Is the noun count or non-count in this meaning?
  2. Is reference generic, new, shared, or already identified?
  3. Does the determiner fit number: a, the, zero, some, much, many, few, little?
  4. Does verb agreement follow the head noun?

Stance and conditions

Modality: must strong necessity · should advice/expectation · may/might/could possibility · can ability/general possibility · would imagined result, habit, or polite distance.

general truth     if + present, present
real future       if + present, will/base future form
imagined present  if + past, would + base
imagined past     if + past perfect, would have + past participle

Clause relationships

because cause · although concession · if condition · so that purpose · who/which/that relative information. Choose connector from relationship, never decoration.

Sources: Cambridge Grammar Today on clause types, tenses and time, and verbs; British Council B1-B2 grammar.