18 Easy Formulas to Build English Sentences

Before you begin, there are two things you should know about this guide:
1. Whenever we use [noun], you can replace it with a [pronoun]. For
example, you can say “Sam is tired,” or you can say “He is tired.” Both are
correct.
2. Whenever we use “is,” you will need to replace it with the correct
form of “to be.” Choose the right form based on this list for the present
tense:

 I am.

 He / she / it is.

 You / they / we are.

And this list for the past tense:

 I / he / she / it was.

 You / they / we were.

That’s all! Now you are ready to begin.
Making Statements About the Present
1. Describing something or someone.
Form: [Noun] is [adjective].
Notes: If the noun you are using is not a pronoun (the name of a place or
the name of a person), add the word “the” (or “this,” or “that”) before it.
Examples:

 The flower is red.

 You are wonderful.

 The Empire State Building is tall.

2. Stating the location of something or someone.
Form: [Noun] is [preposition] [location].
Notes: To state the location of something or someone, a preposition is
usually necessary. Choose the correct preposition to give the right
information. You can also say someone was “here” or “over there.” Since
these terms are relative (their meaning depends on your own location), you
do not need to add the final “location.”
Once again, nouns that are not names of people or places get “the” added
before them.
Examples:

 The cat is under the bed.

  Charlie is next to Anne.

 He is on the train.

 The dog is here.

 The men are over there.

3. Explaining what someone is doing.
Form: [Noun] is [verb -ing].
Notes: The “-ing” form of a verb means an action is taking place right now.
Use this form when talking about an action that has not ended yet.
Examples:

 He is reading.

 The cat is napping.

 Kate is singing.
4. Stating what someone does for a living or a hobby.
Form: [Noun] [verb -s].
Notes: Using this structure implies the subject of your sentence does the
action regularly (like a hobby, or a job), even if they are not necessarily
doing it right now.
Examples:

 He reads.

 The cat naps.

 Kate sings.
5. Expressing feelings.
Form: [Noun] [feeling verb -s] [noun]. / [Noun] [feeling verb -s] [to verb
/ verb -ing].
Notes: Feeling verbs include verbs like “love,” “like” or “hate.” You can love
or hate an object, or an action. When you describe someone’s feelings
about an action, you can use either the “to verb” or “verb -ing” forms. In
most cases, both are correct!
You can also use this form to describe needs and wants, but remember
that in that case, the “verb -ing” form cannot be used. For example, you
don’t “need sleeping.” You “need to sleep,” or just “need sleep.”
Examples:

 I love sunshine.
  The elephant likes painting.

 Tom hates his job.

 I need to eat.

 I want food.

 She wants to sleep.

 She needs sleep.

6. Making a suggestion.
Form: Let’s [verb]. / Please [verb].
Notes: To suggest an action that you will also take part in, use the first
structure. To politely ask someone to do something, use the second one.
Examples:

 Let’s eat.

 Please eat.

 Please move. (Please note: This might be grammatically correct,

but it is actually not very polite! The polite way to ask someone to
move is to say “excuse me.”)
Making Statements About the Past
7. Describing something or someone in the past.
Form: [Noun] was [adjective].
Notes: You describe someone in the past tense almost the same exact
way as in the present—just change the “is” to “was.” Using this
structure suggests that either the description is no longer accurate, or that
the description is for a specific moment.
Examples:

 The flower was red. (…It is not red anymore.)

 You were wonderful. (…You played the violin so well in the

concert.)

 The Empire State Building was tall. (…Until the giant apes tore it
down.)
8. Stating the location of something or someone in the past.
Form: [Noun] was [preposition] [location].
Notes: As with a description, describing a location in the past and the
present is very similar. The rules remain the same; only the verb tense
changes. Remember, again, that using this form means the location has
changed, or that the statement was only true for a specific time period in
the past.
Examples:

 The cat was under the bed. (…But then it ran away.)

 Charlie was next to Anne. (…Then he went behind her.)

 He was on the train. (…That is how he knew the train was going
to be late.)

 The dog was here. (…But then its owner took it away.)

 The men were over there. (…Until they finished their job and
went home.)
9. Explaining what someone did, or used to do in the past.
Form: [Noun] was [verb -ing]. / [Noun] [verb -ed].
Notes: There is a slight difference between the “verb -ed” form of an action,
and the “was verb -ing” form.

 Using the “verb -ed” form describes something that has finished
happening.

 Using the “-ing” form of a verb describes something that was

happening during a specific period of time in the past.
Another form you can use is: [Noun] used [to verb]. This form is used for
any kind of action that someone used to do in the past, but has since
stopped doing.
All these forms can be used with feeling verbs, as well! Just add the “noun”
or “verb -ing” after the feeling verb for a complete sentence.
Examples:

 The cat napped. (…That’s why he is so happy now.)

 Kate sang. (…The concert was wonderful.)

 He was reading. (…That is why he did not hear the doorbell

ring.)

 The Statue of Liberty used to shine. (…But being in the salty

water all those years has made it green.)
  I used to love shrimp. (…But then I learned that I am allergic to
it.)

 Sally hated swimming. (…She had to do it every day in school.)

Making Statements About the Future
10. Stating what someone will do in the future.
Form: [Noun] is going to [verb]. / [Noun] will [verb].
Notes: The great thing about the future tense is that you don’t need to
remember any verb forms! To turn a sentence into the future tense, just
add the words “is going to” or “will” before the verb. Using this structure
without any additional details means you will be doing the action very soon.
Examples:

 I am going to dance.

 We are going to eat.

 The baby is going to sleep.

11. Stating when something will happen.
Form: [Noun] will [verb] [preposition] [time]. / [Noun] is going to
[verb] [time adverb].
Notes: Use this structure to talk about things that will happen in the future.
When you use a specific time, a preposition is needed.

 Use “at” when stating a clock time, and “on” when stating a day or
date.

 Use “in” when stating a year, month or another time frame (like “a
couple of years” or “two minutes”).

When you use a time adverb like today, tomorrow or yesterday,

you don’t need a preposition.
Examples:

 The train will leave at 5:00 AM.

 I will visit my parents in October.

 Anthony is going to dance tomorrow.

Making Negative Statements
12. Stating what someone is not, or not doing.
Form: [Noun] is not [adjective / verb-ing].
Notes: Changing a sentence into a negative one is as easy as adding the
word “not.”
Examples:

 The flower is not red. (…It is white.)

 You are not wonderful. (…That’s not very nice!)

 The Empire State Building is not tall. (…We never said the
sentence has to be true!)

 Kate is not singing. (…Why did she stop?)

13. Stating what someone did not do.
Form: [Noun] did not [verb]. / [Noun] was not [verb -ing].
Notes: Remember the rules from before. Using the first form above puts the
focus on the action (in this case, saying it did not happen at all). “Verb -ing”
puts the focus on the time the action took place (saying it was not
happening at a specific moment).
Examples:

 I did not sleep. (…I stayed awake all night.)

 I was not sleeping. (…While the teacher gave her lesson.)

 The customer did not pay. (…At all. How terrible!)

14. Stating what someone will not do in the future.
Form: [Noun] is not going to [verb]. / [Noun] will not [verb].
Notes: Changing the future tense into a negative sentence is just as easy.
Just add “not” before the verb.
Examples:

 I am not going to eat. (…I will not eat green eggs and ham!)

 Sam will not dance. (…He has ants in his pants.)

 The cat will not nap. (…He is going to eat first.)

Asking Questions
15. Asking where someone is.
Form: Where is [noun]?
Notes: You can also use this form to ask about places, things and any
other kind of noun you might be trying to find.
Examples:

 Where is the dog?

 Where is George?
  Where is the bathroom?
16. Asking what someone is doing.
Form: What is [noun] doing?
Notes: The noun in this case should be a living thing. (Generally, non-living
objects don’t do much!)
Examples:

 What is that dog doing?

 What is Sal doing?

 What is the baby doing?

17. Asking about when something will happen.
Form: When will [noun] [verb]?
Notes: This is a useful sentence structure to know when you want to find
out about events in the future.
Examples:

 When will the train leave?

 When will Fran visit?

 When will your mom call?

18. Asking who is doing something.
Form: Who is [verb -ing]? / Who is [verb -ing] [noun]?
Notes: This structure is a bit different. It can be used to refer to the present,
and to the near future tenses.

 Use it to find out who is doing a certain action—for example, if

you hear a trumpet and want to know who is playing it).

 Or, you can use it to find out who will be doing an action in the
near future—for example, if you are going on a trip and want to
know who will drive the car.
If the action is being done to something, don’t forget to add
that something in for a complete thought!
Examples:

 Who is playing the trumpet?

 Who is driving?

 Who is cooking? (…It smells great!)

Example Sentences
Mastering English Introductions
Here are some phrases for introducing yourself when you meet new
people, and questions to learn more about them.
Hi! I am [Name]. (And you?)
Here is an informal greeting you can use when you meet new friends. If the
person does not tell you their name, you can say your name first. Then ask,
“And you?” or “And what is your name?”
Hi! I am Stephen. And you?
Nice to meet you.
After you learn each other’s names, it is polite to say this phrase.
A: Hi, Stephen, I am Chad.
B: Nice to meet you, Chad.
A: Nice to meet you, too.
Where are you from?
Ask this question to find out which country someone is from. You answer
this question with “I am from _______.”
Can you answer this question in English? Say both the question and
answer aloud right now.
A: Nice to meet you, Sergio. So, where are you from?
B: I am from Spain.
What do you do?
Most adults ask each other this question when they meet. It means what do
you do for a living (what is your job).
I think this question is boring, so I ask other questions. But many people
will probably ask you this, so it is important to know what it means.
A: What do you do, Cathleen?
B: I work at the university as a financial specialist.
What do you like to do (in your free time)?
Instead of asking for someone’s job title, I prefer to ask what they enjoy
doing. The responses (answers) are usually much more interesting!
A: So, Cathleen, what do you like to do in your free time?
B: I love to read and to garden. I picked two buckets of tomatoes last
week!
What is your phone number?
If you want to keep in contact with someone you just met, ask this question
to find out their phone number. You can replace “phone number”
with “email address” if you want to know their email address.
You might also hear people use the more casual, “Can I get your phone
number?“
It would be great to meet up again sometime. What is your phone
number?
Do you have Facebook?
Many people keep in touch (contact) through Facebook. Use this question
to find out if someone has a Facebook account. You might also ask, “Are
you on Facebook?”
Let’s keep in touch! Do you have Facebook?
Everyday, Conversational English Phrases
These eight phrases can be used in many different situations.
Thanks so much.
This is a simple sentence you can use to thank someone.
To add detail, say:
Thanks so much + for + [noun] / [-ing verb].
For example:
Thanks so much for the birthday money.
Thanks so much for driving me home.
I really appreciate…
You can also use this phrase to thank someone. For example, you might
say:
I really appreciate your help.
Or you can combine this phrase with the last one:
Thanks so much for cooking dinner. I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate your cooking dinner.
Excuse me.
When you need to get through but there is someone blocking your way, say
“Excuse me.”
You can also say this phrase to politely get someone’s attention. For
example:
Excuse me, sir, you dropped your wallet.
Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
I am sorry.
Use this phrase to apologize, whether for something big or small. Use “for”
to give more detail. For example:
I am sorry for being so late.
I was not expecting anyone today. I am sorry for the mess.
You can use “really” to show you are very sorry for something:
I am really sorry I did not invite you to the party.
In fact, I am sorry has many different uses in English and they are not
always that obvious! Because of this, using native content when learning
English expressions is very important to ensure you are learning them
properly.
What do you think?
When you want to hear someone’s opinion on a topic, use this question.
I am not sure if we should paint the room yellow or blue. What do you
think?
How does that sound?
If you suggest an idea or plan, use this phrase to find out what others think.
We could have dinner at 6, and then go to a movie. How does that
sound?
Let’s hire a band to play music, and Brent can photograph the event. How
does that sound?
That sounds great.
If you like an idea, you can respond to “How does that sound?” with this
phrase. “Great” can be replaced with any synonym (similar word), such
as “awesome,” “perfect,” “excellent” or “fantastic.”
A: My mom is baking cookies this afternoon. We could go to my house and
eat some. How does that sound?
B: That sounds fantastic!
Oh, never mind.
Let’s say someone does not understand an idea you are trying to explain. If
you have explained it over and over and want to stop, just say “oh, never
mind.” You can now talk about something else!
You can also use “never mind” to mean “it does not matter” or “just forget
it.” In these situations, say it with a smile and positive tone, though. When
you say this phrase slowly with a falling, low tone, it can mean you are
bothered or upset.
A: Are you going to the grocery store today?
B: No, I am not. But why—do you need something?
A: Oh, never mind! It is okay, I will go tomorrow.
Talking About Learning English
As an English learner, you will likely want to tell others that English is not
your first language. You will also need to ask native speakers to repeat
phrases and words or to speak slower. The following phrases will be useful
for these situations.
I am learning English.
This simple phrase tells people that English is not your native language. If
you are a total beginner, you can add “just started” like this: “I just started
learning English.”
My name is Sophie and I am learning English.
I do not understand.
Use this phrase when you do not understand what someone means.
Sorry, I do not understand. The U.S. Electoral College seems very
confusing!
Could you repeat that please?
If you would like someone to say a word, question or phrase again, use this
question. Since “to repeat” means “to say again,” you can also ask, “Could
you say that again, please?”
We can say “please” either at the end of the question or right after “you,”
like this:
Could you please repeat that?
Could you repeat that, please?
Could you please talk slower?
Native speakers can talk very fast. Fast English is hard to understand! This
is an easy way to ask someone to speak more slowly.
Note: This phrase is not grammatically correct. However, it is used often in
every day (casual) speech. The grammatically correct question would be,
“ Could you please talk more slowly? “
That is because “slowly” is an adverb, so it describes verbs (like “talk”).
“Slower” is a comparative adjective, which means it should be used to
describe nouns (people, places or things), not verbs. (For example: My car
is slower than yours.)
A: You can give us a call any weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at five
five five, two five zero eight, extension three three—
B: I am sorry, could you please talk slower?
Thank you. That helps a lot.
After someone starts speaking more slowly for you, thank them with this
phrase.
You can use it in many other situations, too.
A: Ben, could you please make the font bigger? It is hard for me to read the
words.
B: Sure! I will change it from size 10 to 16. How is this?
A: Thank you. That helps a lot.
What does _____ mean?
When you hear or see a new word, use this phrase to ask what it means.
A: What does “font” mean?
B: It is the style of letters, numbers and punctuation marks when you type.
A common font in the USA is called Times New Roman.
How do you spell that?
English spelling can be tricky, so make sure to learn this question. You
could also ask someone, “Could you spell that for me?”
A: My name is Robbertah Handkerchief.
B: How do you spell that?
What do you mean?
When you understand the words one by one, but not what they mean
together, use this question. You can ask it whenever you are confused
about what someone is telling you.
A: The Smiths do have a really nice house, but the grass is always
greener on the other side.
B: What do you mean?
A: I mean that if we had the Smith’s house, we probably would not be
happier. We always think that other people have better lives than us, but
other people have problems, too.
Everyday English Phrases for Shopping
Everyone needs to go shopping, whether it is for food, clothing or
household items like furniture. These phrases will help you find what you
want to buy and how much it costs.
Can you help me?
If you need help while you are shopping, this is a simple way to ask.
Can you help me? I cannot find what I want.
Excuse me, can you help me?
I am looking for…
If you cannot find what you want in a store, you can ask a salesperson to
help you find it. Just add the name of what you want to buy after the phrase
“I am looking for…”
Excuse me, I am looking for a winter coat.
I am looking for snow boots.
Do you have this [object] in a different color?
If you see something you like, but you do not like the color, you can ask if
you can get it in a different color.
Another way to say this is “Does this come in a different color?”
You can also add the name of the object after “this.”
I do not like this shade of red. Do you have this in a different color?
Does this bowl come in a different color? This will not match my
kitchen.
I do not know my size.
Sizes for clothing and other things differ from country to country, so you
might have to look up the correct size for the country where you are
shopping.
If you cannot figure out your correct size, it is perfectly fine to ask for help
from the sales staff.
I do not know my size. Can you help me?
I want to buy a shirt, but I do not know my size.
I need this in a size ______.
This is a simple way to ask for a piece of clothing or a household item in
the size you need—if you already happen to know the right size.
I need this in a size 10, please.
This is too large. I need this in a size 5.
Where can I find [item]?
Since every supermarket is set up (arranged) a little differently, we all can
have trouble finding certain items.
You can ask someone at the store to help you find what you need with this
simple phrase: “Where can I find…?” Just add the name of what you want
after “find.”
The store clerk might answer you with a phrase like, “It is on aisle eight,” or,
“It is in the Produce section, near the lettuce.”
Customer: Where can I find black olives?
Sales clerk: They are on aisle ten, near the pickles.
Customer: Where can I find a bag of almonds?
Sales clerk: They are in the baking section, on aisle seven.
How much does this/that cost?
If you are holding something you want to buy, or it is right near you, you
can say “How much does this cost?” to find out (learn) the price.
You can also put the name of the object you want to buy after “this.”
How much does this shirt cost?
If you can see what you want to buy, but it is not right near you, you can
point to it and say, “How much does that cost?” or “How much is that
[item]?”
How much is that lamp over there?
I do not need a bag.
Let us say you just bought something small. You can easily carry it. You
might tell the sales clerk or cashier that you do not need a shopping bag.
You might also say this if you have a shopping bag with you and do not
need to get one from the store.
No, thank you. I do not need a bag. I can just carry it.
I do not need a bag. I brought my own with me.
Can someone help me carry this out?
If you buy something really large and hard to carry, like a table or a huge
order of groceries, you are going to need help.
Most stores that sell large and heavy items offer assistance (help) from a
member of staff. The staff member can help you carry your purchase (what
you have bought) out of the store. They might even help you place it in your
vehicle.
This is too heavy for me. Can someone help me carry this out?
Can someone help me carry this out? I have eighteen bags of groceries
here!
Can I have this delivered?
Sometimes, you need to buy something so large—and so heavy—that
there is no way you could bring it home from the store yourself.
That is when you will want to ask, “Can I have this delivered?”
This refrigerator is perfect! Can I have this delivered?
Can I have this delivered next Tuesday?
Simple English Sentences for Your Job
Introducing yourself
“I just started working here. I’m the new [name of your job].” Tell
people you’re new by using this sentence.
“I’m working in the [name] department. What do you do here?” Jobs
fall under different departments, which are sections of the jobs that
concentrate on one part of the job. For example, the IT (Information
Technology) Department works with setting up and fixing the company’s
computers. When you introduce yourself, tell the person which department
you work for, and ask them for theirs.
Making “small talk”
Small talk is light, polite conversation. It can be about the weather, food, or
anything that isn’t too serious. If you’re in the same room or in an elevator
as someone else, or just standing near each other and you aren’t working,
making small talk can open conversation. This saves you from
uncomfortable silences but also forms connections and eventually
friendships.
“I love your (shoes/necklace etc.). Where did you get
it/them?” Complimenting someone (saying something nice about a
person) makes them feel good, and asking a question afterwards starts a
conversation.
“I can’t believe how hot/cold it is today!” The weather is always a safe
topic and can be used for almost any kind of weather. If it’s a beautiful day,
say “I can’t believe how nice it is today.”
Submitting reports and ideas
“If you have a moment, I would love your thoughts on this.” This is a
polite way of asking your boss or coworker for input on something you
wrote or did.
“I have the report/information you asked for.” This is just a simple way
of saying you finished the job you had.
Meetings
“Do you mind if I record this?” A good way to make sure you don’t miss
anything important at a meeting is to record it so you can listen to it again
later. Make sure to ask for permission first by using this sentence.
“Excuse me, can you please speak up?” This is a polite way to ask
someone to speak louder if you can’t hear them.
“Do we still have that meeting after lunch?” Make sure you know when
all the meetings are so you don’t miss them.
Asking for help/clarifications
“I’m having trouble with [something]. Do you know who can help
me?” Before you ask someone for help, find out if they’re the right person
for the type of problem you’re having.
“Do you have a minute?” Before you ask for help, this is a common way
to politely make sure the person isn’t busy.
“Are there any rules I should know about?” Every job has its own rules
and ways of doing things. Find out what they are so that you can follow
them.
The easy sentences you learned above are just the beginning.
You have the first Legos in place.
Now go build a castle!