Introduction
Grammar is essential to communicate clearly in English. It allows speakers to describe actions,
give information, report what others say and situate events in time. In Terminale A1, mastering
grammar means understanding three major elements: the passive form, reported speech, and
English tenses.
In this presentation, I will first explain the passive form, then develop reported speech and all the
modifications it requires, and finally study in detail the main present, past and future tenses, with
their structures, uses and examples.
I. THE PASSIVE FORM
1. Definition
The passive form is used when the focus is on the action or the result, rather than on the
person who performs the action. In a passive sentence, the object of the active sentence
becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
2. Structure of the Passive Form
Subject + be (conjugated) + past participle (+ by + agent)
3. Uses of the Passive Form
The passive form is used:
• when the agent is unknown
• when the agent is obvious
• when the agent is unimportant
• when we want to sound more formal or objective
4. Passive Form in Different Tenses
• Present Simple Passive
am / is / are + past participle
→ English is spoken worldwide.
• Past Simple Passive
was / were + past participle
→ The exam was corrected yesterday.
• Present Perfect Passive
has / have been + past participle
→ The lesson has been understood.
• Future Simple Passive
will be + past participle
→ The results will be announced tomorrow.
5. Passive With or Without the Agent
• With agent (important):
The book was written by Chinua Achebe.
• Without agent (not important):
The rules are respected.
II. REPORTED SPEECH
1. Definition
Reported speech (or indirect speech) is used to report what someone said without using their
exact words.
2. Changes in Verb Tenses (Backshift)
When the reporting verb is in the past, tenses usually move one step back.
Example:
“I will finish tomorrow,” she said.
→ She said that she would finish the following day.
3. Changes in Pronouns
Pronouns change according to the speaker and the context.
Direct Speech Reported Speech
I he / she / they
me him / her / them
my his / her / their
mine his / hers / theirs
we we / they
us them
our our / their
ours theirs
you I / he / she / they / you
your my / his / her / their / your
yours mine / his / hers / theirs / yours
“I love my city,” he said.
→ He said that he loved his
4. Changes in Time and Place Expressions
Direct Reported
today that day
yesterday the day before
tomorrow the following day
now then
here there
last week the week before
Example:
“I will finish tomorrow,” she said.
→ She said that she would finish the following day.
5. Reported Questions
Word order becomes affirmative and auxiliaries disappear.
“Where do you live?” he asked.
→ He asked where I lived.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
→ She asked if I was ready.
6. Reported Commands and Requests
tell / ask + object + to + verb
“Sit down,” the teacher said.
→ The teacher told us to sit down.
7. IMPORTANT: Cases Where Tenses DO NOT Change
Tenses do not change:
• when the statement is a general truth
• when the reporting verb is in the present
• when the situation is still true
Examples:
• “The Earth revolves around the Sun,” the teacher said.
→ The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
• “I live in Abidjan,” he said.
→ He said that he lives in Abidjan.
III. ENGLISH TENSES
A. PRESENT TENSES
1. Present Simple
Structure:
Subject + base verb (+ s)
Uses:
habits, general truths, permanent situations
Examples:
I study English every day.
Water boils at 100°C.
2. Present Continuous
Structure:
am / is / are + verb-ing
Uses:
action happening now, temporary situations
Examples:
I am studying grammar.
She is working this week.
3. Present Perfect
Structure:
have / has + past participle
Uses:
past action with a link to the present, experience, unfinished time
Examples:
I have finished my homework.
She has never travelled abroad.
4. Present Perfect Continuous
Structure:
have / has been + verb-ing
Uses:
duration of an action started in the past and still continuing
Examples:
I have been studying for three hours.
They have been waiting since morning.
B. PAST TENSES
1. Past Simple
Structure:
verb-ed / irregular verb
Uses:
completed action in the past
Examples:
I met him yesterday.
She passed the exam.
2. Past Continuous
Structure:
was / were + verb-ing
Uses:
action in progress in the past
Examples:
I was studying when she arrived.
3. Past Perfect
Structure:
had + past participle
Uses:
action completed before another past action
Examples:
She had left before I arrived.
4. Past Perfect Continuous
Structure:
had been + verb-ing
Uses:
duration before a past moment
Examples:
They had been working all night.
C. FUTURE TENSES
1. Future Simple
Structure:
will + base verb
Uses:
decisions, promises, predictions
Examples:
I will help you.
2. Future Continuous
Structure:
will be + verb-ing
Uses:
action in progress in the future
Examples:
I will be studying at 8 p.m.
3. Future Perfect
Structure:
will have + past participle
Uses:
action completed before a future moment
Examples:
I will have finished by tomorrow.
4. Future Perfect Continuous
Structure:
will have been + verb-ing
Uses:
duration up to a future moment
Examples:
By next year, I will have been studying English for ten years.
Conclusion
To conclude, mastering English grammar requires understanding the passive form, reported
speech and all English tenses. These grammatical tools allow speakers to express ideas clearly,
report information accurately and situate actions in time.