Grammar Boost

TO BE

1. The past simple of be is was/were.

The party was great. - Вечірка була чудовою.

The people were lovely. - Люди були чудові.

• Use was (+) and wasn't (-) with I/ he/she/it.

It was a fantastic night. - Це була фантастична ніч.

He wasn't nice. - Він не був милим.

• Use were (+) and weren't (-) with you/we/they.

I liked the actors. They were excellent. - Мені сподобалися актори. Вони були чудовими.

The restaurants near the hotel weren't very good. - Ресторани біля готелю були не дуже хороші.

• In questions, the verb comes before the subject.

Was the food good? - Чи була смачна їжа?

Were the staff nice? - Чи був персонал ввічливим?

• Use was/were to give short answers.

Was it good? Yes, it was./No, it wasn't. - Чи було добре? Так, було / Ні, не було.

Were they interesting? Yes, they were./No, they weren't. - Чи були вони цікавими? Так, було цікаво/Ні, не було.

• Put was/were after a Wh-question word.

Why was it terrible? - Чому це було жахливо?

How many people were there? - Скільки там було людей?

Example text:

Last year, my work schedule was very hectic. I was constantly busy with meetings, deadlines, and projects. My weekends were not as relaxing as they should have been because I often had to finish tasks. My friends were worried about my work-life balance, and they reminded me how important it was to take time for myself. I realized that my priorities were all work-related, so I decided to make a change. Now, my workdays are more organized, and my evenings are free for hobbies and relaxation. I wish things were like this from the beginning!

Past simple

Finished actions or states - Закінчені дії або стани

We know and we often mention when these actions happened with a past-time expression: yesterday, yesterday morning, last night, last week, two days ago, five years ago, etc.

• Jessica called me last night. - Джессіка подзвонила мені вчора ввечері.

• Rachel was a very good writer. - Рейчел була дуже хорошою письменницею.

Habits or repeated actions - Звички або повторювані дії

We often use adverbs or expressions of frequency (often, always, every day, etc.).

• When I was a child, I ate sweets every day. - Коли я був дитиною, я їв солодощі щодня.

• In school, I always played football during break time. - У школі я завжди грав у футбол на перерві.

Sentence Type Formulas - Формули різних типів речень

+ ? + II/ed

I worked yesterday.

- ? + didn't + V

The manager didn't give him promotion.

? Did + ? + V?

Has you team completed the project?

+ Yes, ? did

- No, ? didn't

W W? + did +? + V?

What did you do last summer?

Regular Verbs (ed form)

We often add -ed to verbs to make the past simple.

• We often watch a film on Saturday. ⇒ We watched a film last Saturday.

• I live in Barcelona. ⇒ I lived in Barcelona in the 90s.

Irregular Verbs (II form)

Irregular verbs don’t add -ed to make the past simple. Some very common irregular verbs are:

Edit

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs.pdf

Edit

Irregular Verbs

Irregular Verbs (1).pdf

Time markers

• Yesterday

• Last... (night, summer, Monday)

• ... ago (two years ago, a month ago)

• In 2004

• In the past

• The day before yesterday

• The other day

• When (interrupted action)...

• when I arrived

• Then

Example text:

My Last Vacation
Last summer, I traveled to Italy for my vacation. I visited several beautiful cities, like Rome and Venice, but I didn't visit Florence because I didn't have enough time. In Rome, I walked around the ancient ruins, but I didn't learn as much about history as I had hoped. I also tasted delicious Italian food, but I didn't drink as much coffee as I usually do. One day, I took a boat tour in Venice, which was amazing. I met some friendly people from different countries, but I didn't buy many souvenirs. When I returned home, I felt relaxed, and I wasn't stressed about work anymore. It was a great vacation overall!

Used to

Past habits

We use used to to talk about past habits or things that happened repeatedly in the past but don’t happen any more. ( минулі звички або речі, які неодноразово траплялися в минулому, але більше не трапляються)

• I used to play chess every day, but now I don’t play very often. - Раніше я грав у шахи щодня, але зараз граю не дуже часто.

• When the economy was better, we used to eat out every week. - Коли економіка була кращою, ми ходили в ресторан щотижня.

Past states

We use used to with non-action verbs (be, have, etc.) for past states: things that were true in the past but are not true any more. (речі, які були правдою в минулому, але більше не є)

• She used to be very shy when she was a child. - У дитинстві вона була дуже сором'язливою.

• I used to like her music, but now I hate it. - Мені подобалася її музика, але тепер я її ненавиджу.

Didn’t use to, did you use to?

We use did/didn’t + use to for negatives and questions.

• He didn’t use to travel a lot. - Він не дуже багато подорожував.

• ‘Did he use to live here?’ ‘Yes, he did.’ - «Він жив тут раніше?» “Так, жив”.

We can also use never for negatives

• We never used to argue.- Ми ніколи не сварилися

+

Subject (S) + used to + V1

I used to live in Paris. I moved to Madrid.

-

S + didn’t use to + V1

There didn’t use to be a shop here.

?

Did + S + use to + V1?

Did you use to have a garden?

Past simple vs used to

Past simple + always, usually, often, etc.

We can also use the past simple tense + frequency adverbs for past habits.

• I always met her at the bar down the street. (= I used to meet …) - Я завжди зустрічав її в барі вниз по вулиці.

• I usually had a big salad for dinner. (= I used to have …) - Я зазвичай їв великий салат на вечерю.

Past simple (NOT used to)

But we use the past simple (NOT used to) for actions that happened once or when we mention when they happened.

• Last week, I met with the client to discuss the project deadline. - Минулого тижня я зустрічався з клієнтом, щоб обговорити дедлайн проекту.

• Last week, I used to meet with the client to discuss the project deadline.

• We had a meeting to review the team's progress a month ago. - Місяць тому ми зустрічалися, щоб обговорити прогрес команди.

• We used to have a meeting to review the team's progress a month ago.

Example test:

I used to work as a marketing assistant in a small company. We used to have team meetings every morning, but we didn’t use to prepare for them properly, so they were often chaotic. I used to handle all the social media accounts, but I didn’t use to enjoy managing them. My boss used to assign us tasks at the last minute, which made it hard to plan. However, I didn’t use to stay late at work, and I used to have more free time in the evenings. Looking back, I miss how things used to be, even though I enjoy my current job.

The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past. (дія відбувалася в певний час у минулому)

What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying. - Що ти робив вчора о 20:00? Я вчився.

This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.

The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a moment. ( дія тривала протягом певного часу, а не лише одну мить)

We were cleaning the house all morning. - Ми прибирали в будинку весь ранок.

We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.

+

? + was/were + V + ing

He was calling you at 7 p.m.

They were travelling around the country last month.

-

? + was/were + not + V + ing

He wasn’t calling you at 7 p.m.

They weren’t travelling around the country last month.

?

Was/Were + ? + V + ing?

Was he calling you at 7 p.m.?

Were they travelling around the country last month?

She couldn't come to the party. She was working. - Вона не змогла прийти на вечірку. Вона працювала.
Three years ago, we were living in my home town. - Три роки тому ми жили в моєму рідному місті.
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening. - Я намагалася дати йому кілька порад, але він не слухав.
What were you doing this time last year? - Що ви робили в цей час минулого року?

We use past continuous to talk about wishes for the present:

I don't like this place. I wish I were living somewhere more interesting.
These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.

Example text:

Yesterday, I was working on a big project, but I wasn't expecting any interruptions. While we were discussing the upcoming deadlines, my phone was ringing, but I wasn't answering because I was focused on the meeting. The team was preparing for a presentation, but some members weren't paying attention to the final details. Everyone was running around trying to meet the deadlines, but we weren't panicking because we still had some time. By the end of the day, I was feeling tired, but I wasn't stressed because everything was under control.

Past Simple

+

? + verb Ved/V2

He watched Google I/O live broadcast

-

? + did not + V1

He didn’t watch Google I/O live broadcast

?

Did + ? + V1?

Did you watch Google I/O live broadcast?

Past Continuous

+

? + was/were + verb (V)+ing

I was watching Google I/O live broadcast.

-

? + was/were + not + V+ing

He wasn’t watching Google I/O live broadcast.

?

Was/Were + ? + V+ing?

Were you watching Google I/O live broadcast?

1. Mistake: Using the Past Continuous when the action is completed (коли дія завершена).

• Incorrect: I was finishing the report yesterday.

• Correct: I finished the report yesterday. - Я закінчив звіт учора.

• Explanation: Use Past Simple for something that is done and complete, like "yesterday."

2. Mistake: Using Past Simple for both the ongoing action and the interrupting action (довга дія була перервана короткою).

• Incorrect: I worked when the phone rang.

• Correct: I was working when the phone rang. - Я працював, коли подзвонив телефон.

• Explanation: The first action ("was working") was ongoing when the second action ("rang") interrupted it, so Past Continuous should describe the ongoing action.

3. Mistake: Using Past Continuous for actions that happened one after another (дії відбувались одна за одною).

• Incorrect: Yesterday, I was meeting with a client and then was going to lunch.

• Correct: Yesterday, I met with a client and then went to lunch. - Вчора я зустрічався з клієнтом, а потім пішов на обід.

• Explanation: When actions are completed in sequence (послідовні дії), Past Simple should be used.

4. Mistake: Mixing the tenses incorrectly when using "while" and "when." (Неправильний час з «while» і «when»)

• Incorrect: I was cooking dinner when she was arriving home.

• Correct: I was cooking dinner when she arrived home. - Я готував вечерю, коли вона прийшла додому.

• Explanation: Use Past Continuous for the ongoing action ("was cooking") and Past Simple for the action that interrupts it or happens once ("arrived").

5. Mistake: Using Past Simple for actions happening at the same time (дії, що відбуваються одночасно.).

• Incorrect: I worked on my project while he watched TV.

• Correct: I was working on my project while he was watching TV. - Я працював над своїм проектом, поки він дивився телевізор.

• Explanation: Both actions were happening simultaneously (одночасно), so Past Continuous should be used for both.

Example text:

Last month, our team was working on a big IT project. We were developing a new app, but we didn't finish it on time because there were some technical issues. While the developers were coding, the project manager was discussing the progress with the client. However, the client didn't agree with some of the features we had added. At one point, the server crashed while the team was testing the app, so we had to fix it quickly. In the end, we completed the project, but it wasn't as smooth as we had hoped!

We use the past perfect when we are talking about the past and then we want to talk about something that happened earlier in the past. (Ми використовуємо минулий перфект, коли говоримо про минуле, а потім хочемо розповісти про щось, що сталося раніше в минулому.)

• When I left work, I saw that somebody had stolen my car. - Коли я вийшов з роботи, я побачив, що хтось вкрав мою машину.

• Yesterday my mother told me that she had seen you in the park. - Вчора моя мама сказала мені, що бачила тебе в парку.

+

? + had + V3/ed

You had studied English before you moved to New York.

-

? + hadn’t + V3/ed

You hadn’t studied English before you moved to New York.

?

Had + ? + V3/ed?

Had you studied English before you moved to New York?

Time markers

• By the time

• By

• Before

• When

• Already

Be careful with this common mistake!

The contraction ‘d can be had or would. Remember that we use an infinitive form after would and a past participle after had.

• I‘d love to go to your party. (= would) - Я б із задоволенням пішов на твою вечірку. (= пішов би)

• I noticed that he‘d eaten my cake. (= had) - Я помітив, що він з'їв мій торт. (= з'їв)

Example text:

By the time the client arrived, we had completed most of the project, but we hadn't finished the final testing. The team had worked hard all week to meet the deadline, but there were some issues we hadn't anticipated. Before the project manager checked the report, the developers had already fixed most of the bugs. Unfortunately, we hadn't prepared the presentation for the client in advance, so we had to rush to put it together. Even though we had done a lot of work, there were still a few things we hadn't planned for, which caused the delay.

Past Continuous

Used to describe an ongoing action in the past (the action was in progress at a specific time).

Focuses on the process or duration of the action.

Often used with while, when, or as to describe simultaneous actions.

Past Perfect

Used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.

Focuses on the completion of the action or the fact that it occurred before another past event.

Often used with by the time or after to show which action happened first.

Examples:

• Past Continuous: I was reading a book when the phone rang - Я читав книгу, коли задзвонив телефон. (The action was in progress at a specific time.)

• Past Perfect: I had finished the report before the meeting started - Я завершив звіт, до початку зустрічі. (The report was completed before the meeting.)

Common Mistakes

1. Mixing up the sequence of events
   ❌ I had gone to the store when it started to rain.
   ✔️ I had gone to the store before it started to rain. - Я пішов до магазину до того, як почався дощ.
   (The rain started after going to the store.)

2. Overusing the Past Perfect
   ❌ When I had arrived, they had already left.
   ✔️ When I arrived, they had already left. - Коли я прийшов, вони вже пішли.
   (Only use Past Perfect for the earlier action, not both.)

3. Using Past Continuous instead of Past Perfect
   ❌ He was practicing yoga before he had eaten breakfast.
   ✔️ He had eaten breakfast before practicing yoga. - Він поснідав перед тим, як зайнятися йогою.

Example text

Olga, a Nova Poshta customer manager, had just finished processing a large shipment when she noticed a client waiting at the counter.

She had been helping customers all day, so she was tired but still smiled. While she was explaining the tracking details to the client, another customer interrupted with a question about a lost parcel.

By the time Olga answered, the first client had already left. She realized she had forgotten to give him an important receipt, but it was too late to catch him.

Past Simple

? + V ed/II

? + did not + V

Did + ? + base V?

They launched in 2022.

Used to

? + used to + verb

? + didn’t use to + V

Did + ? + use to V?

He used to work in gamedev.

Past Continuous

? + was/were + V ing

? + was/were not + V ing

Was/were + ? + V ing?

They were brainstorming when I called.

Past Perfect

? + had + V ed/III

? + had + not + V ed/III

Had + ? + V ed/III?

She had finished the task before the meeting started.

Time markers

Past Simple

• yesterday,

• last week,

• in 2010,

• ago,

• on Monday

Past Continuous

• while,

• as,

• at that moment,

• all day,

• when,

• during

Used to

• when I was younger

Past Perfect

• by the time,

• before,

• after,

• already,

• just,

• until

Example Text

Anna used to work as a delivery driver for a small company. She always drove the same route, and every Friday she used to stop by a little café for a break.

One day, while she was driving to the café, she noticed the road was blocked. She had never seen so much traffic before in that area.

By the time she arrived at the café, it had already closed for the day. Disappointed, Anna realized that things had changed since she started the new job, and her old routine was no longer the same.

Uses of Past tenses

• Talking about a movie

While the detectives were following the suspect, he was sneaking through a hidden tunnel. Поки детективи стежили за підозрюваним, він прокрадався потайним тунелем.

The plot twist revealed that the main character had been working for the enemy all along. Поворот сюжету показав, що головний герой весь цей час працював на ворога.

• Describing habits in the past with ‘Used to’

We used to play outside all day without worrying about the time. Ми гралися на вулиці цілими днями, не турбуючись про час.

She used to believe in horoscopes, but not anymore. Раніше вона вірила в гороскопи, але більше не вірить.

• Discussing childhood/vacation/toxic relationships/ memories

On our vacation, we were hiking through the mountains when we found a beautiful hidden lake. На канікулах ми ходили в похід по горах, коли натрапили на красиве приховане озеро.

Looking back, I realize how toxic the relationship was – he had always blamed me for everything. Озираючись назад, я розумію, наскільки токсичними були наші стосунки - він завжди в усьому звинувачував мене.

• Work experience

Before I joined this company, I had worked at a startup for three years. До того, як я прийшла в цю компанію, я три роки працювала в стартапі.

During my internship, I was handling client communications while learning the ropes of the business. Під час стажування я займався комунікаціями з клієнтами, вивчаючи ази бізнесу.

I used to manage a team of five people in my previous job. На попередній роботі я керував командою з п'яти осіб.

• Actions in progress with Past Continuous

Yesterday at 8 PM, I was preparing for the meeting when my internet suddenly stopped working. Вчора о 20:00 я готувався до зустрічі, коли раптово перестав працювати інтернет.

They were driving to the airport when the storm hit. Вони їхали в аеропорт, коли почався шторм.

• Explaining an interrupted action

She was practicing piano when her friend knocked on the door. Вона займалася грою на піаніно, коли її подруга постукала в двері.

We were watching the fireworks when it suddenly started to rain. Ми дивилися феєрверк, коли раптом пішов дощ.

• Describing a completed task before another event

I had finished the project before the manager asked for an update. Я закінчив проект до того, як менеджер попросив повідомити про результати.

They had already left by the time we arrived at the party. Коли ми прийшли на вечірку, вони вже пішли.

• Real-Life Conversation

A: What were you doing yesterday at noon? Що ви робили вчора опівдні?

B: I was meeting a friend for lunch. Я зустрічався з другом на обід.

A: Have you ever worked abroad? Ти коли-небудь працював за кордоном?

B: Yes, I used to work in Germany for two years. Так, я працював у Німеччині протягом двох років.

A: Did you manage to finish the presentation? Ти встиг закінчити презентацію?

B: Yes, I had completed it before the meeting started. Так, я закінчив її ще до початку зустрічі.

We use Past tenses to tell a story or to describe past events, including personal anecdotes.

Past simple

The past simple is used to describe the events in a story in the chronological order that they happened. You can use several past tense verbs in one sentence if the events happen one after the other.

When I got to my hotel room and opened the suitcase, I saw lots of small bags. Коли я прийшов у свій готельний номер і відкрив валізу, я побачив багато маленьких пакетиків.

I shouted out and turned on the lamp. Я закричав і увімкнув лампу.

I phoned reception and told them what had happened. Я зателефонував на рецепцію і розповів про те, що сталося.

Past perfect

The past perfect is used to write about something that happened earlier in the past, before an event that you just mentioned in your story. For example, if you are given the first line of the story, you can use past perfect to write about the events that happened before that. So, the past perfect is always used next to another sentence or phrase in the simple past tense.

I accidentally picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport. I had been on a long flight from the USA. Я випадково взяв не ту валізу в аеропорту. Я летів довгим рейсом із США.

I didn’t notice that I had picked up the wrong one. Я не помітив, що взяв не ту валізу.

The receptionist called the police, but when they arrived, the mysterious person had gone. Портьє викликав поліцію, але коли вони приїхали, таємнича людина вже зникла.

Past continuous

The past continuous is used to write about longer events or actions that were in progress at the moment when something happened.

In the middle of the night, I was woken up by a noise. Someone was creeping around in my room! Посеред ночі мене розбудив шум. Хтось крався в моїй кімнаті!

Try to use a good range of grammar

When we tell a story in the past, we often use linking words or phrases to join two or more sentences or clauses. This helps the narrative to flow in a more interesting and natural way. Some linking phrases and words show a sequence of events or actions.

Linking phrases:

• First of all …,

• Then …,

• Next …,

• Finally …,

• After that …,

• After several months/days/hours/weeks …,

• By the time …,

• All of a sudden

We also use linking words and phrases in dialogue to indicate interest in what is being said and to keep the conversation flowing.

Uses of Future Tenses - Використання майбутніх форм

Future Simple

• I am sure it will be an epic party! – Я впевнений, це буде епічна вечірка.

Future Continuous

• They will be meeting a client this time tomorrow. – Вони зустрічатимуться з клієнтом завтра в цей час.

Be going to

• We are going to visit the Kyiv office next month. – Ми збираємося відвідати київський офіс наступного місяця.

Present Continuous for Future Arrangements

• The HR is conducting the interview at 3 tomorrow. – Відділ кадрів проводить співбесіду завтра о 3.
  

Differences in Contexts

Future Simple - Обіцянки чи рішення, прийняті на місці

• Anna will present her project tomorrow. – Анна представить свій проєкт завтра (вона це пообіцяла).

Future Continuous - Процес, що відбувається у конкретний час у майбутньому

• Anna will be presenting her project tomorrow at 11. – Анна представлятиме свій проєкт завтра об 11 (процес у певний час).

Be going to - План або намір

• Anna is going to present her project tomorrow. – Анна планує представити свій проєкт завтра.

Present Continuous - Фіксовані домовленості

• Anna is presenting her project tomorrow. – Анна представляє свій проєкт завтра (усі вже знають та присутні).
  

Key Idea

Усі ці майбутні форми правильні, але використовуються у різних контекстах. – There is no incorrect future form, only a wrong context.

Example Text

Next month, we are going to visit the Kyiv office to present our latest project. We’ve planned everything, and everyone is excited about the trip. On the first day, the HR team is conducting interviews with new candidates at 3 PM. While they’re busy, my colleague and I will meet with the client to discuss the next steps. We promised to provide them with an update. At the same time tomorrow, we will be meeting with the marketing team to brainstorm ideas for the campaign. It’s going to be an intense session, but I think we will achieve great results. In the evening, we are having a team dinner at a popular restaurant. I’m sure it will be an unforgettable night!

Uses of Future Simple

Decisions made at the moment of speaking – Рішення, прийняті у момент мовлення

• I will call you later. – Я зателефоную тобі пізніше.

• Wait a second, I will get the door. – Почекай секунду, я відчиню двері.

Predictions based on our opinion – Прогнози, засновані на нашій думці

• I think it will rain tomorrow. – Я думаю, завтра буде дощ.

• I’m sure she will win the competition. – Я впевнений, що вона виграє змагання.

Offers and Refusals – Пропозиції та відмови

• I will make your favorite dish. – Я приготую твою улюблену страву.

• I won’t join you for dinner, sorry. – Я не приєднаюсь на вечерю, вибач.

Requests and Promises – Запити та обіцянки

• Will you help me with this project? – Ти допоможеш мені з цим проєктом?

• I promise I’ll help you if they reject it. – Я обіцяю допомогти, якщо вони відмовлять.
  

Future Simple Structure

Affirmative Sentences – Стверджувальні речення:

• I/You/We/They will go.

• He/She/It will go.

Negative Sentences – Заперечні речення:

• I/You/We/They will not (won’t) go.

• He/She/It will not (won’t) go.

Questions – Запитання:

• Will I/you/we/they go?

• Will he/she/it go?
  

Time Markers for Future Simple

Time markers – Часові маркери:

• tomorrow – завтра

• tonight – сьогодні ввечері

• the day after tomorrow – післязавтра

• next week/month/year – наступного тижня/місяця/року

• in a couple of days – за кілька днів

• in ... days/weeks/months/years – через ... днів/тижнів/місяців/років

• on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday – у понеділок/вівторок/середу

Example

Next week, I will start a new project at work. I think it will be challenging, but I’m sure I’ll manage it. On Monday, I will meet with my team to discuss our plan. We will divide the tasks and set deadlines for each stage. I promise I’ll do my best to finish everything on time.

If we face any issues, I’ll contact the client immediately. They won’t be happy if we delay the project, so we’ll need to stay on track. In case of any setbacks, we will organize a quick meeting to solve the problem. I hope everything will go smoothly, and we will deliver excellent results.

By the end of the month, we will present the final version to the client. I think they’ll appreciate our hard work and we’ll receive positive feedback. If that happens, I will celebrate with my team to thank them for their effort!

Uses of "Be going to"

Predictions based on evidence – Прогнози на основі доказів:

• The team has already prepared all the materials, so I am going to start the new project tomorrow. – Команда вже підготувала всі матеріали, тож я почну новий проєкт завтра.

• I am going to do my best. – Я зроблю все можливе.

Plans or Intentions – Плани або наміри:

• I am going to become a CEO when I’m 40. – Я збираюся стати CEO у 40 років.

• He is going to apply for a job as a QA. – Він збирається подати заявку на посаду QA.

• We are going to retire at 65. – Ми збираємося вийти на пенсію у 65 років.

• 
  

Structure of "Be going to"

Affirmative Sentences – Стверджувальні речення:

• I am going to become a CEO.

• He/She is going to apply for a job as a QA.

• We/They/You are going to retire at 65.

Negative Sentences – Заперечні речення:

• I am not going to become a CEO.

• He/She is not going to apply for a job as a QA.

• We/They/You are not going to retire at 65.

Questions – Запитання:

• Am I going to become a CEO?

• Is he/she going to apply for a job as a QA?

• Are we/they/you going to retire at 65?
  

Example Text

I am going to start a new job next week. It’s a great opportunity, and I’m excited about it. My manager has already sent me the project details, so I am going to review them tomorrow. I want to be fully prepared from day one.

My colleague is going to help me set up my workspace on the first day. She mentioned that it’s important to get familiar with the new tools. After that, we are going to meet the team for a quick introduction. Everyone seems friendly, and I think it’s going to be a smooth transition.

In the evening, I am going to have dinner with my family to celebrate the new job. My parents are proud of me and are going to prepare my favorite dish. I can’t wait!

Be going to – Використання:

1. Predictions based on evidence – Прогнози на основі доказів:

   • Look at those clouds! It is going to rain. – Подивись на ці хмари! Буде дощ.

2. Plans / Intentions – Плани або наміри:

   • I am going to visit my parents this weekend. – Я збираюся відвідати батьків цими вихідними.

Future Simple – Використання:

1. Predictions based on our opinion – Прогнози, засновані на думці:

   • I think it will rain tomorrow. – Я думаю, завтра буде дощ.

2. Spontaneous decisions – Спонтанні рішення:

   • Your bag looks heavy. I will help you with that. – Твоя сумка виглядає важкою. Я допоможу.

Structure Comparison

Be going to

• Affirmative:

  • It is going to rain tomorrow.

• Negative:

  • It is not going to rain tomorrow.

• Question:

  • Is it going to rain tomorrow?

Future Simple

• Affirmative:

  • I think it will rain tomorrow.

• Negative:

  • I think it will not rain tomorrow.

• Question:

  • Will it rain tomorrow?

Example of Both Tenses in Context

Next week, our team is going to start working on a big project. We are going to meet with the client on Monday to discuss the details. After that, I will send everyone the project outline. The client is going to provide us with feedback by the end of the week, and once we receive it, we will make the necessary changes.

I’m worried that the timeline is going to be tight since it’s an urgent project. If the team needs more time, I will ask the client for an extension. I am going to prepare a backup plan, just in case something goes wrong.

On a positive note, our manager promised that he will help us with any challenges. We are going to present the final version at the end of the month, and I will let you know how it goes.

Common Mistakes

1. Incorrect: I will going to the meeting tomorrow.
   Correct: I will go to the meeting tomorrow.

2. Incorrect: We are going fixing it tomorrow.
   Correct: We are going to fix it tomorrow.

Uses of Future Continuous

Actions in progress at a specific time in the future – Дії, що будуть відбуватися у конкретний час у майбутньому:

• At 10 AM, I will be presenting the new product to the team. – О 10 ранку я презентуватиму новий продукт команді.

• They will be traveling to Italy next summer. – Вони подорожуватимуть до Італії наступного літа.

Plans and arrangements – Плани та домовленості:

• Let me check the schedule. I will be having a call with my manager this time tomorrow. – Дай перевірю розклад. Я буду на дзвінку з менеджером завтра в цей час.

Structure of Future Continuous

Affirmative Sentences – Стверджувальні речення:

• I will be travelling to Paris next week.

Negative Sentences – Заперечні речення:

• I will not be travelling to Paris next week.

Questions – Запитання:

• Will you be travelling to Paris next week?

Time Markers for Future Continuous

• This time tomorrow – Завтра в цей час

• This time next week – Наступного тижня в цей час

• At 9 tomorrow – Завтра о 9

• At 10 next Tuesday – О 10 наступного вівторка

• In two weeks’ time – Через два тижні

• In five years’ time – Через п'ять років

• When / While – Коли / Поки

Example Text

At this time next week, we will be flying to Paris for the annual conference. We will be staying at a hotel near the venue, so it will be easy to get there every morning. On Monday, I will be giving a presentation on the latest market trends. While I’m presenting, my colleagues will be meeting with potential clients to discuss new partnerships.

In the evenings, we will be exploring the city and trying local cuisine. On Wednesday night, we will be attending the conference gala dinner. I’m excited because many industry leaders will be speaking at the event.

By the time we return, we will be preparing for our next big project. It’s going to be a busy month, but I know we will be accomplishing a lot.

1. Present Continuous for Future

• Usage: Fixed arrangements with specific details (time, place, people)

  • Example: I’m meeting Sarah at 6 PM. – Я зустрічаюся з Сарою о 6 вечора.

• Common Challenge:
  Confusing Present Continuous with be going to for future plans.

  • Incorrect: I’m going to meet Sarah at 6 PM.

  • Correct: I’m meeting Sarah at 6 PM.

2. Be going to

• Usage: Intentions or plans without exact details. Predictions based on evidence.

  • Example: I’m going to travel to Italy this summer. – Я збираюся поїхати до Італії цього літа.

• Common Challenge:
  Using Present Continuous for long-term plans instead of be going to.

  • Incorrect: I’m traveling to Italy this summer.

  • Correct: I’m going to travel to Italy this summer.

3. Future Continuous

• Usage: Actions in progress at a specific time in the future.

  • Example: This time tomorrow, I’ll be working on the project. – Завтра в цей час я працюватиму над проєктом.

• Common Challenge:
  Forgetting to use Future Continuous when talking about ongoing actions at a specific time in the future.

4. Comparison: Be going to vs. Future Continuous

Be going to

Planned/intended actions or predictions with evidence

Informal / Neutral tone

Focus on intention or plan

Future Continuous

Action in progress at a specific future time

More polite inquiries

Focus on the ongoing nature of the action

• Example (Be going to): We are going to visit our relatives soon. – Ми збираємося відвідати родичів скоро.

• Example (Future Continuous): At 3 PM tomorrow, I’ll be visiting our relatives. – О 3 годині завтра я відвідуватиму родичів.

Example Text

Next week is going to be very busy! On Monday, I am meeting Sarah at 6 PM to discuss our new project (Present Continuous for fixed arrangement). We have everything planned out, and I am going to prepare the final proposal by the end of the week (be going to for intention).

At 9 AM on Tuesday, I will be having a meeting with the marketing team (Future Continuous for action in progress at a specific time). While I am in that meeting, my colleague will be working on the budget report.

Later this month, we are going to travel to Italy to visit our partners (be going to for planned trip). At the same time next week, we will be flying to Rome (Future Continuous for ongoing action).

It’s a tight schedule, but I’m confident we’ll manage everything. On Friday, I am meeting the client again at 2 PM to present our results (Present Continuous for fixed arrangement). Hopefully, they will be satisfied with the outcome, and we are going to start implementing the project next month (be going to for plan).

Uses of Future Tenses

Talking about future plans and arrangements – Опис майбутніх планів і домовленостей

• I am meeting Sarah tomorrow. – Я зустрічаюся із Сарою завтра.

Describing predictions with or without evidence – Прогнози з доказами або без них

• I think it will rain tomorrow. – Я думаю, завтра буде дощ.

• Look at those clouds! It is going to rain. – Подивися на ці хмари! Буде дощ.

Discussing intentions or goals – Обговорення намірів або цілей

• I am going to visit my parents this weekend. – Я збираюся відвідати батьків цього вікенду.

Actions in progress at a specific future time – Дії, що триватимуть у конкретний час у майбутньому

• This time tomorrow, I will be working on the project. – Завтра в цей час я працюватиму над проєктом.
  

Application of Future Tenses

1. Will

• Usage:Instant decisions, promises, offers, and predictions based on opinion.

  • Example: Maybe I will go hiking if the weather is good. – Можливо, я піду в похід, якщо погода буде гарною.

2. Be going to

• Usage:Intentions or plans made before speaking, predictions based on evidence.

  • Example: I am going to visit my parents on Saturday. – Я збираюся відвідати батьків у суботу.

3. Present Continuous for Future

• Usage:Fixed arrangements or planned events in the near future.

  • Example: I am meeting John and Sarah for dinner tomorrow night. – Я зустрічаюся з Джоном і Сарою на вечерю завтра ввечері.

4. Future Continuous

• Usage:Actions in progress at a specific time in the future.

  • Example: This time tomorrow, I will be driving to my parents' place. – Завтра в цей час я буду їхати до батьків.
    

Example Text

Next weekend is going to be exciting! I am going to visit my parents on Saturday morning since I haven’t seen them for a few months (Be going to – intention). They live just outside the city, so I will be driving there early to avoid traffic (Future Continuous – action in progress at a specific time). My parents always welcome me warmly, and I think they will love the gifts I bought for them (Will – prediction).

In the afternoon, we are going to have a family dinner (Be going to – plan). My mom is making my favorite dish, and afterward, we might watch a movie together if everyone isn’t too tired (Will – spontaneous decision). If the weather is nice on Sunday morning, I will go hiking on one of the forest trails near their house (Will – spontaneous action).

Meanwhile, my friend Anna is meeting John and Sarah for dinner tomorrow night (Present Continuous – fixed arrangement). She invited me to join, but unfortunately, I will be driving to my parents' place at that time (Future Continuous – ongoing action).

Next week is going to be busy, too. On Tuesday, I am attending a digital marketing conference (Present Continuous – fixed event). Throughout the day, I will be taking notes to share with my team afterward (Future Continuous – action in progress). Once the conference ends, Anna will call me to see if we can catch up over coffee (Will – spontaneous action).

With so many things going on, the weekend will fly by. But I am going to make the most of it and try to relax before the busy week ahead (Be going to – intention).

Future Simple

? + will + V

? + will + not + V

Will + ? + V?

I think he will get promoted.

Be going to

? + be + going to + V

? + be + not + going to + V

Be + ? + going to + V

I am going to go on vacation next week.

Present Continuous

? + be + V ing

? + be + not + V ing

Be+ ? + V ing

I am meeting my friends tomorrow at 6.

Future Continuous

? + will + be + V ing

? + will + not + be + V ing

Will + ? + be + V ing

This time next week I will be making a pitch.

Time markers

Future Simple & Be going to

• tomorrow

• tonight

• the day after tomorrow

• next week/month/year

• in a couple of days

• in ... days/ weeks/ months/ years

• on Monday/ Tuesday

Present Continuous

• At 9 tomorrow

• At 10 next Tuesday

• In two weeks

• tomorrow

• tonight

• the day after tomorrow

• next week/month/year

• on Monday/ Tuesday

Future Continuous

• This time tomorrow

• This time next week

• At 9 tomorrow

• At 10 next Tuesday

• In two weeks

• In five years

• In two weeks’ time

• In five years’ time

• When

• While

Example Dialogue

Anna: Hey, Mike! What are your plans for the weekend?

Mike: Well, I am going to visit my parents on Saturday morning. They live outside the city, and I haven’t seen them in a while. (Be going to – intention)

Anna: That sounds great! Are you staying the whole weekend?

Mike: Yes, I think so. On Saturday evening, we are going to have a family dinner. My mom promised to cook my favorite dish. (Be going to – plan)

Anna: That’s nice! What about Sunday?

Mike: I haven’t decided yet, but if the weather is good, I will go hiking in the forest nearby. (Will – spontaneous decision) If it rains, I will stay at home and watch some movies with my parents. (Will – spontaneous alternative)

Anna: Sounds like a perfect weekend! By the way, tomorrow night, I am meeting John and Sarah for dinner at 7 PM. Do you want to join us? (Present Continuous – fixed arrangement)

Mike: Thanks for the invite, but I won’t be able to make it. At that time, I will be driving to my parents' place. (Future Continuous – ongoing action at a specific time)

Anna: No worries! Are you bringing any gifts for your parents?

Mike: Yes, I am going to buy some flowers for my mom and a bottle of wine for my dad on the way. (Be going to – intention) I think they will love it. (Will – prediction based on opinion)

Anna: That’s thoughtful! What about next week? Are you free on Tuesday?

Mike: Let me think... Oh no, I will be attending a conference all day. (Future Continuous – action in progress)

Anna: Wow, you’re busy! What’s the conference about?

Mike: It’s on digital marketing trends. I am going to take notes and share them with my team afterward. (Be going to – plan) It should be interesting.

Anna: That sounds productive! After the conference, I will call you to see if you’re free for a coffee. (Will – spontaneous decision)

Mike: Sure! Just text me first. I might still be catching up on some work. (Future Continuous – possible ongoing action)

Anna: Will do! Enjoy your weekend with your parents.

Mike: Thanks, Anna! Have fun at dinner with John and Sarah!

Text Example

• I’m starting piano lessons so that by next year’s birthday I’ll be good enough to perform in public.

• Oh, great. Another thing to go to.

• Also, I’m gonna learn how to speak Spanish.

• Excelent.

• I haven’t started yet, And finally… and I know it’s a little bit of a midlife-crisis cliche, but …I’m gonna learn how to ride a unicycle!

____________

• A year from know I’m gonna know what that means!

We often use the passive

• The doer is unknown Виконавець невідомий

• The doer is irrelevant Виконавець не має значення

• You want to be vague about who is responsible Ви хочете бути нечітким щодо того, хто несе відповідальність

• You are talking about a general truth Ви говорите про загальну істину

• You want to emphasize the person or thing acted on. Ви хочете підкреслити особу чи предмет, на який спрямована дія.

• You are writing in a scientific genre that traditionally relies on passive voice. Passive voice is often preferred in reports and research papers. Пасивному стану часто надають перевагу у звітах і наукових роботах.

Formula

? Verb Object

Milton hurricane destroyed many houses

Object be Verb (ed/III) ?

Many houses were destroyed (by Milton hurricane)

We can use by to say who or what is responsible for the action.

The painting was bought by a very rich American. Картину купив дуже багатий американець.

Penicillin was invented by Alexander Fleming. Пеніцилін винайшов Олександр Флемінг.

Not All Active Sentences Can Be Transformed into Passive Ones

Remember that not all verbs in English take an object. So, some sentences can be complete without an object. Therefore, you cannot convert every active sentence into a passive one.

Transitive And Intransitive Verbs

Verbs that need an object are called transitive, while verbs that do not need an object are intransitive.

The water flows.

I live in America.

Passive Voice with 'Get'

We can use to get as an alternative for 'to be' auxiliary verb in passive voice but only in informal speech and not in formal cases. The structure is the same as the structure with 'to be' verbs. The emphasis in this formation is mostly on the subject and it is mostly used with active verbs, not stative verbs. Check out the examples:

I got robbed when I was at the mall. Мене пограбували, коли я був у торговому центрі.

The store got damaged by the costumers on Black Friday. Магазин був пошкоджений покупцями в Чорну п'ятницю.

'Get' is an action verb, therefore it is used with physical or mental action verbs such as 'break, eat, choose and marry.' So, the get-passive is used with action verbs.

Passive voice can be used with many tenses, such as simple tenses like present simple tense, past simple tense and future simple tense.

To change the tense of a passive sentence, all you need to do is change the form of the verb 'be'. The main verb in a passive sentence is always in the past participle form.

Active

I make it.

I made it.

I will make it.

Passive

It is made.

It was made.

It will be made.

Negation

It is not made.

It was not made.

It will not be made.

Question

Is it made?

Was it made?

Will it be made?

When to use it:

• When the doer is unknown or unimportant.
  "The glass was broken overnight."

• To focus on the action, not the person performing it.
  "The office is cleaned daily."

Avoid if: The doer is essential to understanding the action.

• Instead of: "The decision was made."

• Use: "The manager made the decision."

Example text

Yesterday, an important business presentation was prepared by the marketing team for a key client. However, the final slides weren’t uploaded on time due to technical issues. The team asked, "Was the problem fixed?" but the IT department explained that it wasn’t solved before the meeting.

Now, the presentation is scheduled for later this afternoon. It isn’t canceled because the client still wants to see the project. Emails are sent to all participants, informing them about the new time. "Is the meeting room booked?" one of the managers asks.

The team hopes the presentation will be delivered smoothly. If the issue continues, a backup plan will be arranged to share the slides online. "The presentation won’t be postponed again," the head of marketing says confidently.

"Will the presentation be completed today?" a colleague asks. "Yes, it will be handled on time," the manager replies. "We just need to stay focused and get it done."

To change the tense of a passive sentence in the continuous tense, you need to change the verb 'be' in the continuous tense. The main verb in a passive sentence is always in the past participle form.

is/are → is/are being

was/were → was/were being

Active

I am making it.

I was making it.

I will be making it.

Passive

It is being made.

It was being made.

It will be being made.

Negation

It is not being made.

It was not being made.

It will not be being made.

Question

Is it being made?

Was it being made?

Will it be being made?

Describing Processes in Progress - Опис поточних процесів

The documents are being reviewed by the manager. Документи знаходяться на розгляді у менеджера.

The system will be being monitored during the migration. Під час міграції/переміщення буде здійснюватися моніторинг системи.

In Professional and Technical Settings У професійних та технічних налаштуваннях

The code is being tested to ensure there are no bugs. Код тестується, щоб переконатися у відсутності помилок.

The equipment was being installed when the team encountered a problem. Коли команда зіткнулася з проблемою, відбувалося встановлення обладнання.

Customer Service and Logistics Updates Обслуговування клієнтів та оновлення логістики

Your order is being processed and will be shipped soon. Ваше замовлення обробляється і буде відправлено найближчим часом.

The package was being delivered when the address issue was found. Посилка доставлялася, коли було виявлено проблему з адресою.

Use the Perfect Passive to focus on the result of an action that has been completed before a specific point in time.

Forms:

Present Perfect Passive: have/has + been + past participle (V3)

• "The documents have been signed by the director." Документи були підписані директором

Past Perfect Passive: had + been + past participle (V3)

• "The task had been finished before the meeting started." Завдання було виконано до початку зустрічі

Future Perfect Passive: will have + been + past participle (V3)

• "The project will have been completed by next week." Проект буде завершено до наступного тижня

When to use it:

• To emphasize that something has already been done.
  "The report has been finalized."

• To show that an action was completed before something else.
  "The invitations had been sent out before the event was canceled."

Avoid if: Active voice would provide more clarity. Активний стан надасть більшої ясності.

• Instead of: "The contract will have been signed by then."

• Use: "The CEO will have signed the contract by then."

Active

I have made it.

I had made it.

I will have made it.

Passive

It has been made.

It had been made.

It will have been made.

Negation

It has not been made.

It had not been made.

It will not have been made.

Question

Has it been made?

Had it been made?

Will it have been made?

Passive Infinitive

The passive infinitive is formed with to be + past participle (V3). It expresses an expectation, obligation, or result.

Form:

to be + past participle (V3)

• "The documents need to be signed." Документи мають бути підписані

• "The problem was expected to be solved by now." Очікувалося, що проблема вже була вирішена

When to use it:

• After verbs like need, expect, want, hope, plan:
  "The presentation needs to be finished by 5 PM." Презентацію потрібно закінчити до 17:00

• After modal verbs (in passive structures):
  "The work has to be completed before the end of the month." Робота має бути виконана до кінця місяця

Avoid if:
If using the active voice makes the sentence clearer or more concise.

• Instead of: "The report needs to be reviewed."

• Use: "You need to review the report."

2. Passive Gerund

The passive gerund is formed with being + past participle (V3). It is often used when the focus is on the experience of an action or when mentioning something as a possibility or fact.

Form:

being + past participle (V3)

• "She dislikes being interrupted during meetings." Вона не любить, коли її перебивають під час зустрічей

• "He enjoys being recognized for his work." Йому подобається, коли його роботу визнають

When to use it:

• After verbs like enjoy, hate, dislike, avoid, appreciate:
  "He avoided being blamed for the mistake." Він уникав того, щоб його звинувачували в помилці

• When focusing on the subject receiving the action:
  "She appreciated being invited to the event." Вона була рада, що її запросили на захід

Avoid if:
The active structure is simpler and conveys the meaning more directly.

• Instead of: "He enjoys being praised for his work."

• Use: "He enjoys when people praise his work."