Grammar Foundations: A1–A2
A detailed beginner-to-elementary grammar reference with explanations, contrasts, examples, common errors and practice.
1. The verb be
Forms, questions and negatives
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | am not | Am I…? |
| you/we/they | are | aren't | Are…? |
| he/she/it | is | isn't | Is…? |
Answers
1) She is tired. 2) Is he at home? 3) I am not late.
2. Present simple
Habits, facts and routines
Use the present simple for repeated actions, permanent situations, schedules and facts. Third-person singular normally takes -s.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| affirmative | I work. / She works. |
| negative | I don't work. / She doesn't work. |
| question | Do you work? / Does she work? |
3. Present continuous
Now, around now and temporary situations
Form: be + verb-ing. Use it for actions happening now, temporary situations and developing changes.
Compare: I work in Nicosia (general) vs I'm working from home this week (temporary).
4. Articles
a/an, the and zero article
a/an introduces one non-specific singular countable noun. the identifies a specific or shared referent. Use no article for many plural/uncountable nouns when speaking generally: Books are expensive. Water is essential.
Answers
1) a; The 2) Information is
5. Nouns and countability
Plural nouns and uncountables
Regular plurals usually take -s/-es. Common irregulars include children, people, men, women, feet, teeth. Uncountable nouns such as information, advice, furniture, luggage do not normally take a plural -s.
6. Some, any, much, many, a lot of
Quantifiers
many + countable plural; much + uncountable; a lot of + both. some is common in affirmative statements and offers; any is common in questions and negatives.
7. Past simple
Finished past events
Regular verbs take -ed. Irregular verbs must be learned individually. Negatives/questions use did + base verb.
8. Past continuous
Background and interrupted actions
Form: was/were + -ing. Use it for activity in progress around a past moment: I was cooking when she called.
9. Present perfect introduction
Experience and present relevance
Form: have/has + past participle. Use it for life experience without a finished time and for recent results: Have you ever been to Paris? / I've lost my keys.
10. Future forms
going to, will and arrangements
going to: plan/intention or evidence-based prediction. Present continuous: arrangement. will: spontaneous decision/offer/simple prediction.
11. Comparatives and superlatives
Comparing
small → smaller → smallest; interesting → more interesting → most interesting; good → better → best; bad → worse → worst.
Use as…as for equality and too/enough for degree relative to a requirement.
12. can, could, must, have to, should
Ability, obligation and advice
can/could: ability/permission/request. must/have to: obligation. should: advice. mustn't means prohibition; don't have to means no necessity.
13. First conditional
Real future condition
If + present, will + base: If it rains, we'll stay home.
14. Gerund and infinitive basics
Verb patterns
Learn common patterns: want to go, decide to leave, enjoy reading, finish working.
15. Prepositions and question forms
Place, time and wh-questions
Time: at 6, on Monday, in July. Place: at home, in Cyprus, on the table. Questions: who, what, where, when, why, how, how much/many/often.
Practice checkpoint
Answers
1) works 2) are watching 3) saw 4) eaten 5) will stay
Source note
Original Corrigan School explanations, examples and exercises. Coverage is aligned to CEFR progression and cross-checked against authoritative learner-grammar references; wording and tasks are newly written.