English Grammar Explanations — B1, B2 & C1
Clear, practical grammar guides for intermediate and advanced learners
Improve your English grammar with clear explanations designed for intermediate and advanced learners. The English Hub covers essential grammar topics from B1 to C1, including English tenses, conditionals, modal verbs, passive voice, prepositions, reported speech and more. Each explanation focuses on how and when grammar is actually used, with practical examples and common mistakes. Spanish support is also provided where it can help learners understand difficult grammar concepts more easily — this makes The English Hub particularly useful for Spanish-speaking English learners. After learning a grammar topic, you can continue with worksheets or interactive exercises to practise what you have learned.
English Tenses
Master all 12 English tenses - from simple to perfect continuous forms
English Tenses — Visual Timeline Guide
Each tense below includes a visual timeline showing exactly when the action happens — in the past, present, or future. The diagrams help you understand the time reference of each tense at a glance.
Cada tiempo verbal a continuación incluye una línea de tiempo visual que muestra exactamente cuándo ocurre la acción — en el pasado, el presente o el futuro. Los diagramas te ayudan a entender la referencia temporal de cada tiempo de un vistazo.
Choosing the Right Tense in Context
In real English, you rarely use just one tense. A typical story or conversation mixes Past Simple, Present Perfect, Past Continuous, and more. The key is to ask yourself: What is the timeline? When did each event happen? Is it finished, ongoing, or relevant now?
En inglés real, rara vez usas un solo tiempo verbal. Una historia típica mezcla Past Simple, Present Perfect, Past Continuous y más. La clave es preguntarte: ¿Cuál es la línea de tiempo? ¿Cuándo ocurrió cada evento? ¿Está terminado, en progreso, o es relevante ahora?
Past Simple vs Present Perfect
Use Past Simple for finished past actions with a specific time (yesterday, last year, in 2022). Use Present Perfect for experiences without a specific time (ever, never), recent events (just), or past actions with a result now.
En español: Past Simple = acción terminada en un momento específico. Present Perfect = experiencia sin tiempo específico, o acción pasada con resultado presente. Nota: el español usa Pretérito Indefinido/Perfecto de manera diferente — el inglés es más estricto.
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
Use Past Continuous for an action in progress at a past moment. Use Past Simple for the shorter action that interrupted it or happened during it.
En español: Past Continuous = algo estaba ocurriendo (estaba estudiando). Past Simple = lo que lo interrumpió (sonó el teléfono).
Past Simple vs Past Perfect
Use Past Perfect for the event that happened FIRST (before another past event). Use Past Simple for the event that happened after. The timeline — not a keyword — tells you which is which.
En español: Past Perfect = algo ya había ocurrido antes de otro evento pasado. El orden de los eventos en la historia te lo indica.
Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous
Use Past Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration of an activity before another past event (for six hours, all morning). Use Past Perfect for a completed result before that event.
En español: Past Perfect Continuous enfatiza cuánto tiempo había estado ocurriendo algo. Past Perfect enfatiza el resultado ya completado.
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
Use Present Perfect Continuous for an activity still in progress or recently stopped, emphasizing duration (all morning, for hours). Use Present Perfect for completed actions where the quantity or result matters (three emails, two books).
En español: Present Perfect Continuous = actividad que ha estado ocurriendo (énfasis en duración). Present Perfect = cuántas cosas has hecho o resultado completado.
Future Forms
Use will for predictions and spontaneous decisions. Use be going to for plans and evidence-based predictions. Use Present Continuous for fixed arrangements. Use Present Simple for timetables and schedules.
En español: will = decisión del momento o predicción. going to = plan o predicción con evidencia. Present Continuous = arreglo acordado. Present Simple = horario fijo.