Grammar reference

What it means

We use the present perfect to build a bridge between the past and now. With since and for, it tells us that something started in the past and is still true today.

Think of a timeline: the action begins at a point in the past (← 2015) and the line continues all the way to now (→ today). It has not finished. /

The formula

Positive: subject + have

has + past participle + since

for + time

Negative: subject + haven’t

hasn’t + past participle + since

for + time

Question: How long + have

has + subject + past participle … ?

I, you, we, they → have (’ve) · he, she, it → has (’s) /

Examples

I have lived in Muscat since 2015.

My brother has played football for six years.

We haven’t seen our cousins since the summer holiday.

My father has worked at the hospital for a long time.

How long have you known your best friend?, I’ve known her for three years. /

Since or for?: step by step

Ask yourself: Can I point to the moment it started on a calendar or clock? → use since. Am I measuring how long? → use for.

since + a point in time: since 8 o’clock, since Monday, since March, since 2020, since last year, since I was a child

for + a length of time: for ten minutes, for two days, for a week, for six months, for ages, for a long time

Change the sentence: I started learning English in 2020. → I have learnt English since 2020. → I have learnt English for six years. /

Common mistakes

✗ I live here since 2019. ✓ I have lived here since 2019.

✗ She has been here since two hours. ✓ She has been here for two hours.

✗ How long do you have this bike? ✓ How long have you had this bike?

✗ He has went to Sohar. ✓ He has gone to Sohar. /

Try it yourself

1. I have studied at this school ______ four years.

2. They have lived in Ibri ______ 2018.

3. How long ______ she ______ (have) her phone?

Answers: 1 for · 2 since · 3 has … had /

What it means

We use the present continuous to talk about future plans that are already arranged. Something has been organised: we have agreed with another person, bought a ticket, booked a table or fixed a time and place.

Test: Could you write it in your diary or calendar? If yes, the present continuous is usually the best choice. /

The formula

Positive: subject + am

is

are + verb-ing + future time

Negative: subject + am not

isn’t

aren’t + verb-ing + future time

Question: (Wh-word) + Am

Is

Are + subject + verb-ing … ?

Spelling: make → making · swim → swimming · play → playing · lie → lying /

Examples

I’m meeting Ahmed at the mall at five o’clock.

My family is visiting Nizwa this weekend.

We aren’t playing football on Thursday afternoon.

Is your sister flying to Dubai next Monday?, Yes, she is.

What are you doing after school tomorrow? /

Now or the future?: step by step

The same verb form can talk about now or the future. Look for the time expression.

I’m reading a book. → happening now

I’m reading a book at the library tomorrow. → a future arrangement

Signal words: tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, next week, on Saturday, at six o’clock, after school /

Common mistakes

✗ I meeting my friends tonight. ✓ I’m meeting my friends tonight.

✗ Are you go to the party on Friday? ✓ Are you going to the party on Friday?

✗ She is swiming tomorrow. ✓ She is swimming tomorrow.

✗ We visit our uncle tomorrow, it’s all arranged. ✓ We’re visiting our uncle tomorrow. /

Try it yourself

1. My dad ______ (take) us to the beach on Friday.

2. ______ you ______ (come) to my party tonight?

3. I ______ (not

go) to the shop tomorrow.

Answers: 1 is taking · 2 Are … coming · 3 am not going

’m not going /

What it means

We use modals of deduction to make a guess when we are not completely sure. Like a detective, we look at the evidence, what we can see, hear or know, and decide how certain we are. /

How sure are you?

must → about 95% sure it IS true

may

might

could → about 50%, it is possible

can’t → about 95% sure it is NOT true

Formula: subject + modal + base verb (no to, no -s) /

Examples

Look at those big footprints in the sand! It must be a camel.

Ali isn’t answering his phone. He might be asleep.

That bag could be Salim’s, it’s the same colour as his.

She can’t be at home. I saw her at the beach a minute ago.

Everyone passed the test. Our teacher must be very happy. /

Think like a detective: step by step

1. Find the clue: The animal has feathers and a beak.

2. Decide how sure you are: very sure → must · not sure → might · sure it’s not → can’t

3. Make the sentence: It must be a bird. It can’t be a fish.

Remember: the opposite of must is can’t, not mustn’t. /

Common mistakes

✗ It might to be a bird. ✓ It might be a bird.

✗ He coulds be tired. ✓ He could be tired.

✗ It must is a fish. ✓ It must be a fish.

✗ It mustn’t be a cat. ✓ It can’t be a cat. /

Try it yourself

1. The lights are off. They ______ be at home. (sure: no)

2. He is wearing a uniform and a cap. He ______ be a pilot. (sure: yes)

3. I don’t know where my key is. It ______ be in my bag. (possible)

Answers: 1 can’t · 2 must · 3 may

might

could /

What it means

We use the first conditional to talk about a real or possible situation in the future and its result. If the first thing happens, the second thing will happen.

Every sentence has two halves: the condition (the if-clause) and the result (the main clause). /

The formula

If + present simple, will

won’t + base verb

will

won’t + base verb if + present simple (no comma)

Question: What will you do if …?

Only the result uses will. The if-clause never uses will. /

Examples

If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay at home.

If you study hard, you’ll pass the exam.

If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the bus.

You won’t feel tired if you go to bed early.

What will you do if your team wins the match? /

Build it: step by step

1. Write the condition in the present simple: If I see Maryam

2. Add a comma.

3. Write the result with will

won’t: I’ll give her your book.

4. Check: present simple after if? will in the result? comma after the if-clause? /

Common mistakes

✗ If it will rain, we’ll stay at home. ✓ If it rains, we’ll stay at home.

✗ If I see him, I tell him. ✓ If I see him, I’ll tell him.

✗ If you don’t hurry you’ll be late. ✓ If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late.

✗ If she study, she will pass. ✓ If she studies, she will pass. /

Try it yourself

1. If you ______ (eat) too many sweets, you ______ (feel) sick.

2. We ______ (not

go) to the beach if it ______ (be) windy.

3. What ______ you ______ (do) if you ______ (find) a wallet?

Answers: 1 eat … will feel · 2 won’t go … is · 3 will … do … find /

What it means

Both going to and will talk about the future, but in different situations. The key question is: When did you decide?

Decided before you speak → going to. Deciding now, offering, promising or predicting → will. /

The formula

going to: subject + am

is

are + going to + base verb

will: subject + will (’ll)

won’t + base verb

Questions: Are you going to …? · Will you …? /

Examples

I’m going to visit my grandparents in Sur next weekend. (I decided last week.)

My sister is going to study medicine at university. (her plan)

“The phone’s ringing.”, “I’ll answer it.” (a decision now)

“This bag is heavy.”, “I’ll help you.” (an offer)

I think Oman will win the match. (a prediction)

I won’t forget your birthday, I promise! (a promise) /

Choose: step by step

1. Was the plan made before this moment? Yes → going to

2. Am I deciding right now, offering or promising? Yes → will

3. Am I giving my opinion about the future (I think …)? → will /

Common mistakes

✗ I going to travel to Salalah. ✓ I’m going to travel to Salalah.

✗ I will to help you. ✓ I will help you.

✗ She wills come. ✓ She will come.

✗ I’ll visit my aunt tomorrow, we bought the tickets last month. ✓ I’m going to visit my aunt tomorrow. /

Try it yourself

1. “It’s cold in here.”, “I ______ close the window.”

2. We ______ paint our house next month. We bought the paint yesterday.

3. I think it ______ be sunny tomorrow.

Answers: 1 ’ll

will · 2 are going to · 3 will /

What it means

We use the present simple to talk about future events that follow an official timetable or schedule, trains, buses, flights, films, lessons, opening times. These times are fixed for everyone; we cannot easily change them. /

The formula

Positive: subject + verb (+ -s

-es with he, she, it) + time

Negative: subject + don’t

doesn’t + base verb + time

Question: (What time

When) + do

does + subject + base verb … ?

Useful verbs: leave, arrive, start, begin, finish, open, close, land, take off /

Examples

The bus to Salalah leaves at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

The film starts at 8:30 tonight.

Our English lesson begins at nine o’clock on Sunday.

The museum doesn’t open until 10 a.m. on Friday.

What time does the plane arrive in Muscat? · When do the holidays start? /

Four ways to talk about the future

Timetable → present simple: My flight leaves at nine.

Arrangement → present continuous: I’m flying to Cairo on Monday.

Plan → going to: I’m going to take lots of photos.

Decision now

prediction → will: I’ll send you a postcard. /

Common mistakes

✗ The train leave at ten. ✓ The train leaves at ten.

✗ What time the bus leaves? ✓ What time does the bus leave?

✗ When does the flight lands? ✓ When does the flight land?

✗ I visit my friend tonight. (a personal plan) ✓ I’m visiting my friend tonight. /

Try it yourself

1. The match ______ (start) at four o’clock tomorrow.

2. What time ______ the shop ______ (close) tonight?

3. The ferry to Khasab ______ (not

leave) until noon.

Answers: 1 starts · 2 does … close · 3 doesn’t leave /

What it means

We use need to say that something is necessary. In WOW! Learning Club 1 we use need + a noun to describe what things, animals and places must have to work or to live. /

The formula

Positive: subject + need

needs + noun

Negative: subject + don’t

doesn’t need + noun

Question: (What) + do

does + subject + need (+ noun)?

Short answers: Yes, it does.

No, it doesn’t. · he, she, it → needs /

Examples

Plants need water and sunlight.

A camel doesn’t need much water.

My phone needs a new battery.

We don’t need umbrellas today, it’s sunny.

Does a car need oil?, Yes, it does.

What do you need for the trip?, I need a hat and some sun cream. /

Extra tip

You can also use need to + verb to say an action is necessary:

I need to finish my homework. · She doesn’t need to wear a coat. /

Common mistakes

✗ A plant need water. ✓ A plant needs water.

✗ It doesn’t needs light. ✓ It doesn’t need light.

✗ Does a bicycle needs petrol? ✓ Does a bicycle need petrol?

✗ It not need light. ✓ It doesn’t need light. /

Try it yourself

1. A fish ______ water to live.

2. A solar lamp ______ (not) batteries.

3. ______ a computer ______ electricity?

Answers: 1 needs · 2 doesn’t need · 3 Does … need /