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Present Simple Exercises
Present Simple Exercises
Present Simple Exercises
PRESENT SIMPLE
Introduction
......................................................................................................................................
The present simple in English is used to talk about:
repeated actions or habits in the present;
......................................................................................................................................
I go to school every day.
(Eu vou escola todos os dias.)
Maria always goes to the cinema on Saturdays.
(Maria sempre vai ao cinema aos sbados.)
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facts that are generally true;
......................................................................................................................................
Elephants live in Africa and India.
(Elefantes vivem na frica e na ndia.)
Vegetarians don't eat meat.
(Vegetarianos no comem carne.)
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permanent situations.
......................................................................................................................................
Maria lives in So Paulo.
(Maria mora em So Paulo.)
The children wear blue uniforms.
(As crianas usam uniformes azuis.)
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Affirmative Form
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To form the affirmative, after he, she and it, we usually add -s to the verb. Verbs that end in ch,
sh, s, x or z take -es. E.g. watches, washes, kisses, fixes, buzzes. For verbs that end in a
consonant +y, the y changes to i and -es is added. E.g. carry -> carries, fly ->flies.
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Negative Form
......................................................................................................................................
To form the negative, we need the auxiliary verb do + not and the main verb in the infinitive
without to. We use does (do + -es) + not with he, she and it. E.g. I do not work; she does
not work. It is more usual to use the contracted forms.
Look at the examples below.
......................................................................................................................................
I don't speak Italian.
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He doesn't watch TV in the evenings.
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Questions
......................................................................................................................................
To form questions we use do or does before the subject.
Look at the examples below
......................................................................................................................................
Do you speak English?
Does he live in a big house?
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Short answers
......................................................................................................................................
We use the auxiliary verb do or does in short answers
Yes, I/you/we/they do.
Yes, he/she/it does.
No, I/you/we/they don't.
No, he/she/it doesn't.
......................................................................................................................................
'Do you speak Italian?' 'Yes, I do.' (Not: Yes, I speak. )
'Does he live in Rio de Janeiro?' 'Yes, he does.' (Not: Yes, he lives. )
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Watch Out!
......................................................................................................................................
Don't forget to add the -s or -es to the verb after he, she and it in affirmative sentences:
......................................................................................................................................
He go to church every Sunday.
He goes to church every Sunday.
She walk to school every day.
She walks to school every day.
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Remember that in negative sentences and questions we never add -s or -es to the main verb:
......................................................................................................................................
She doesn't smokes.
She doesn't smoke.
Does it takes long?
Does it take long?
AFFIRMATIVE
I work
I wash
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
you work
you wash
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
he works
he washes
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
she works
she
washes
4
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
it works
It washes
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
we work
we wash
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
you work
you wash
...............
...............
...
................
................
.
they work
they wash
NEGATIVE
FULL FORM
CONTRACTED FORM
I do not
work
I don't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
you do
not work
You don't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
he does
not work
He
doesn't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
she does
not work
She
doesn't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
it does
not work
It doesn't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
we do not
work
We don't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
you do
not work
You don't
work
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
they do
not work
They
don't
work
QUESTION FORM
AFFIRMATIVE
QUESTION
I work
Do I
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
you work
Do you
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
he works
Does he
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
she works
Does she
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
it works
Does it
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
we work
Do we
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
you work
Do you
work...?
...............
...............
...
...............
...............
...
they work
Do they
work...?
EXERCISES:
A- Finish the sentences like in the example.
Example: Jane ___________ . (to read a book)
Answer:
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Forming the simple present tense
There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and
the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":
Subject
Verb Form
Example
simple form
I sing
You
simple form
You sing
He
simple form + S
He sings
She
simple form + S
She sings
It
simple form + S
It sings
We
simple form
We sing
They
simple form
They sing
In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to
have a verb with -S.
-S or -ES?
With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to
add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:
Verb ending in...
Example
Add -ES
He passes
Add -ES
She dozes
sh
Add -ES
She wishes
ch
Add -ES
He watches
consonant + y
It flies
[anything else]
Add -S
He sings
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1A. Explanation
The simple present tense takes one of two forms depending on the
subject.
Subject
base form
I, you
They, We
Plural nouns
eat
go
work
He, She, It
Singular nouns
Non count-nouns
-s
form
eats
goes
works
1B. Examples
Subjects followed by verb in base
form:
I like rice.
He rakes leaves.
It takes time.
We throw dice.
1C. Exercises
1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time.
2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on time.
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3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography.
4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa every day.
5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.
2A. Explanation
Use the simple present tense to indicate:
1. Routine actions
2. Facts
2B. Examples
Routine actions
Facts
2C. Exercises
1. To practice the present tense, reread the above paragraph, then
try to repeat the main ideas in your own words. Be sure to use the -s
form of the verb when the subject of a sentence is singular. Have a
partner listen to your speech and check for correct usage of verbs.
2. Tell whether the present tense is appropriate in the following
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sentences.
1. Yesterday I go to Washington D.C.
2. Every day, Mr. Johnson cleans his
Correct
living room.
Correct
3. They usually take the bus to the
office.
Correct
Correct
Correct
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
(Correct)
(Incorrect
)
(Correct)
(Incorrect
)
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Forming the Simple Present Tense
I ________ in
a bank.
(work)
work
works
workes
She
________ in
Florida. (live)
live
lives
livees
It ________
almost every
day in
Manchester.
(rain)
rain
rains
raines
We ________
to Spain every
summer. (fly)
fly
flys
flies
My mother
________
eggs for
breakfast
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every
morning. (fry)
fry
frys
fries
The bank
________ at
four o'clock.
(close)
close
closies
closes
John
________
very hard in
class, but I
don't think
he'll pass the
course. (try)
try
trys
tries
Jo is so smart
that she
________
every exam
without even
trying. (pass)
pass
passies
passes
My life is so
boring -- I
just
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________ TV
every night.
(watch)
watch
watchies
watches
10 My best friend
________ to
me every
week. (write)
write
writies
writes
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Parte inferior do formulrio
Parte superior do formulrio
Mary and I (work) in the same office, but we're completely different.
She (like) coffee, but I (like) tea. She (wash) her car every weekend,
but I never (clean) mine. She (smile) all the time at work, but I (feel)
miserable. I (complain) about the boss all the time, but Mary (think)
the boss is a nice person. When I (finish) work, I like to drink beer
with my friends, but Mary (study) at night school. The boss (think)
Mary is perfect, but she (drive) me nuts!
Negatives in the Simple Present Tense
Change each sentence into a negative
1. I like eggs.
2. Mary has an expensive car.
3. The Olympic champion comes from Victoria.
4. Some insects carry serious diseases.
5. This wine costs a lot of money.
1. He plays in goal.
2. We get wool from sheep.
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