ENGLISH 102 (English Grammar I)

Peter Lambe, Fall 2021

CHAPTER 1
Present Time

(Supplementary Notes)

The Simple Present

Forming the Simple Present

Using the Simple Present
Expressing Habits
Expressing Facts
Non-Action (Stative) Verbs
Irregular Verbs be and have
Forming Negatives and Questions (with do/does)
Frequency Expressions
Frequency Expressions in Initial and Final Position
Midsentence Adverbs
Midsentence Adverbs in Initial and Final Position
Spelling Rules for –s verbs

The Present Progressive

Forming the Present Progressive

Using the Present Progressive
Time Expressions Used with the Present Progressive
Forming Negatives and Questions

Stative Verbs that Can Change into Action Verbs

 SIMPLE PRESENT

I eat we eat
you eat you eat
he
she eats they eat
it

Using the Simple Present

1) The simple present can express habits (actions that are repeated).

now

X X X X X X X X X X

Ali eats in the cafeteria every day. (habit)

I buy a newspaper every morning. (habit)
We often drive to Dammam on the weekend. (habit)
Mohammed sometimes brings his laptop to class. (habit)
Yasser rarely goes to the dentist. (habit)

2) The simple present can express facts (general statements that are always true).

now

Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius. (fact)

The earth rotates on its axis. (fact)
Hot air rises. (fact)
Plants produce oxygen for the earth’s atmosphere. (fact)
The heart pumps blood through the body. (fact)

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3) The simple present is also used with non-action (stative) verbs that describe
states (not actions). These special verbs normally do not take –ing endings
because they do not express actions. They include the following verbs:

hear, see, sound, believe, think (that), understand, know, be, exist, own, have,
possess, belong, need, want, prefer, like, love, hate, forget, remember, mean,
seem, look like, agree, disagree, etc.

I hear a loud noise right now.

Fahad sees a lot of stars in the sky.
That name sounds difficult to pronounce.
We believe everything he says.
Ahmed thinks that Riyadh is an expensive city.
The students understand all of the lesson.
Peter knows all of the students in his class.
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Life exists on the earth.
Abumezyed owns an expensive jeep.
Nadia has a bad headache today.
Mr. Smith possesses a lot of money and an expensive home.
That car belongs to Omar.
Students need textbooks for their classes.
Menahi wants some sugar for his tea.
We prefer winter to summer.
Many people like cats.
Your parents love you very much.
Bandar hates cold weather.
Yasser forgets the location of the bank.
Nadia and Laila still remember their first English teacher.
The word huge means “very large”.
Omar’s aunt seems very tired this afternoon.
It looks like it is going to rain soon. The sky is very dark.
Ghazi agrees with us. He is nodding his head.
I disagree with that writer’s news article. It’s inaccurate.

*Note: Since non-action (stative) verbs cannot take –ing endings, they cannot be
used in any of the progressive (or perfect progressive) tenses. However, they can
be used in any of the simple or perfect tenses:

I hear a strange noise right now. (simple present)

Sami heard a cat outside his window last night. (simple past)
You will hear the story on the news tonight. (simple future)

I have heard that song before. (present perfect)

The children had heard the story earlier. (past perfect)
You will have heard from us by tomorrow. (future perfect)

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 Irregular Verbs be and have

The verbs be and have are irregular in the simple present:

be have

I am we are I have we have

you are you are you have you have
he he
she is they are she has they have
it it

Forming Negatives and Questions in Simple Present (with do/does)

When negatives and questions are formed in the simple present, the helping verb do (or
does) must be used with all main verbs except be.

Negatives:

I do not eat we do not eat

you do not eat you do not eat
he
she does not eat they do not eat
it

Yes/No Questions:

Do I eat? Do we eat?
Do you eat? Do you eat?
he
Does she eat? Do they eat?
it

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WH- Questions:

Where do I eat? Where do we eat?

Where do you eat? Where do you eat?
he
Where does she eat? Where do they eat?
it

Note: We do not use the helping verb do (or does) for negatives or questions with the
main verb be.

Negatives:

I am not we are not

you are not you are not
he
she is not they are not
it

Yes/No Questions:

Am I ? Are we?
Are you? Are you?
he
Is she ? Are they?
it

WH- Questions:

Where am I? Where are we?

Where are you? Where are you?
he
Where is she ? Where are they?
it

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 Frequency Expressions

The following words are often used with the simple present to express frequency (how often?).

every day daily always seldom

every week weekly almost always rarely
every month monthly usually hardly ever
every year yearly/annually often almost never
every weekend frequently never
every hour hourly generally
every class sometimes
occasionally
once in a while
from time to time

Frequency Expressions in Initial and Final Position

Frequency expressions containing the word every normally occur at the beginning or end
of the sentence.

Every day I take the bus to work.

I take the bus to work every day.

Every month Ahmed receives a paycheque.

Ahmed receives a paycheque every month.

Longer frequency expressions such as once in a while or from time to time also occur at
the beginning or end of the sentence.

Once in a while it rains in Riyadh.

It rains in Riyadh once in a while.

From time to time our instructor gives us a short quiz.

Our instructor gives us a short quiz from time to time.

Frequency adverbs ending in –ly normally occur at the end of the sentence.

Ghazi takes vitamins daily.

Sultan flies to Indonesia yearly.
Abumezyed pays his rent monthly.

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 Midsentence Adverbs

The following frequency expressions are sometimes called midsentence adverbs

because their natural position is in the middle of the sentence:

Positive Negative

100% always 25% seldom

almost always rarely
usually 5% hardly ever
75% often almost never
frequently 0% never (= not ever)
generally
50% sometimes
occasionally

Rule 1: In statements, place the frequency adverb before all main verbs except be.

Ibrahim always wears a labcoat at work.

Faisal almost always sits beside Khalid.
We usually have our grammar classes in the morning.
Jamal often orders eggs for breakfast.
Nowaishi frequently goes to the desert with Menahi.
I generally drink coffee during the break.
Omar sometimes calls his brother in Cairo.
My bus occasionally comes late.
Mohammed seldom travels to Jeddah.
Nahed rarely drinks tea in the morning.
Abumezyed hardly ever changes the oil in his jeep.
Saad almost never misses grammar classes.
Vegetarians never eat red meat.

Rule 2: In statements, place the frequency adverb after the main verb be.

Ziyad is always at work on time.

I am almost always in my office in the afternoon.
The weather is usually very hot after lunch.
The students are often hungry by noon.
The traffic is frequently heavy around five o’clock in the afternoon.
Peter is generally at work by 7:30 am.
The grammar quizzes are seldom difficult.

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 I am sometimes cold from my air conditioner.
The flights to Bahrain are occasionally overbooked.
Rami is seldom angry.
The sky is rarely cloudy in Riyadh.
Nora is hardly ever in the library.
My neighbors are almost never home in the evenings.
Our grammar class is never longer than an hour.

Rule 3: In questions, place the frequency adverb directly after the subject.

S
Does Ibrahim always wear a labcoat at work?
Does Faisal almost always sit beside Khalid?
Is the weather usually hot in the early afternoon?
Does Jamal often order eggs for breakfast?
Do Nejer and Nowaishi frequently go to the desert with Menahi?
Is Peter generally at work by 7:30 am?
Does Omar sometimes call his brother in Cairo?
Does your bus occasionally come late?
Does Mohammed seldom travel to Jeddah?
Does Nahed rarely drink tea in the morning?
Does Abumezyed hardly ever change the oil in his jeep?
Are your neighbors almost never home in the evenings?
Do vegetarians never eat red meat?

Rule 4: In negative sentences, place all frequency adverbs before the negative verb
(except for always and ever).

*I usually don’t listen to the radio in the morning.

*Hussain often doesn’t bring a pen to class.
The taxis frequently don’t stop on that street.
Those nurses generally don’t work night shifts.
The Smart Board sometimes doesn’t work in our classroom.

*Note: The adverbs usually and often can also be placed after the negative auxiliary
(doesn’t/don’t), although this is not mentioned in Betty Azar’s rules. Both forms are correct.

*I usually don’t listen to the radio in the morning. (Azar rule)

= I don’t usually listen to the radio in the morning. (alternative form – also correct)

*Hussain often doesn’t bring a pen to class. (Azar rule)

= Hussain doesn’t often bring a pen to class. (alternative form – also correct)

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Rule 5: In negative sentences, place always and ever after the negative verb.

Sami doesn’t always wear his seatbelt.

I don’t always park my car in the parking lot.
The weather isn’t always cold and rainy in London.
Newspapers aren’t always available in that shop.

Fuad doesn’t ever eat ice cream. (= never eats)

Those hotels don’t ever offer discount rates. (= never offer)
That flight isn’t ever on time. (= is never)
Those students aren’t ever late for class. (= are never)

Rule 6: Never use a negative adverb with a negative verb. The negative verb must be
changed to a positive verb. The negative adverbs include seldom, rarely, hardly ever,
almost never and never.

Bader doesn’t eat fish.

Bader seldom eats fish.

My neighbors are not home in the evenings.

My neighbors are seldom home in the evenings.

I don’t travel to Dubai.

I rarely travel to Dubai.

Mona doesn’t watch the news on TV.

Mona hardly ever watches the news on TV.

You don’t visit us.

You almost never visit us.

Osama isn’t rude to his friends.

Osama is never rude to his friends. (= Osama isn’t ever rude to his friends.)

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 Midsentence Adverbs in Initial and Final Position

Note: Some of the positive midsentence adverbs (i.e. usually, often, frequently,
generally, sometimes and occasionally) can be used at the beginning or end of the
sentence in addition to their normal midsentence position. When they occur at the
beginning or end of the sentence, they usually have special emphasis.

We usually have our grammar class in the morning. (normal position – no emphasis)
Usually we have our grammar class in the morning. (special emphasis on usually)
We have our grammar class in the morning usually. (special emphasis on usually)

Jamal often orders eggs for breakfast. (normal position – no emphasis)

Often Jamal orders eggs for breakfast. (special emphasis on often)
Jamal orders eggs for breakfast often. (special emphasis on often)

Omar sometimes calls his brother in Cairo. (normal position – no emphasis)

Sometimes Omar calls his brother in Cairo. (special emphasis on sometimes)
Omar calls his brother in Cairo sometimes. (special emphasis on sometimes)

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 Spelling Rules for –s verbs

Rule 1

If the verb ends in –e, just add –s.

hope - hopes write - writes

ignore - ignores remove - removes

Rule 2

If the verb ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x or -zz, then add –es.

catch - catches fix - fixes

brush - brushes buzz - buzzes
pass - passes

Rule 3 (Irregular Forms)

If the verb is do or go, then add –es. Change have to has.

do - does go - goes have - has

Rule 4

If the verb ends in a consonant + -y, then change –y to –i and add –es.

study - studies carry - carries

fly - flies try - tries

Rule 5

If the verb ends in a vowel + -y, then just add –s.

pay - pays buy - buys

enjoy - enjoys obey - obeys

Rule 6

For all other verbs, just add –s.

walk - walks speak - speaks

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 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
(Present Continuous)

I am eating we are eating

you are eating you are eating
he
she is eating they are eating
it

Using the Present Progressive

The present progressive tense describes an action that is continuing right now (at the
moment of speaking). It is not important what time this action started or when it is going
to finish (or if it is going to finish).

now

? ?

Shhh! The movie is starting now.

I am eating a sandwich right now.
At this moment, Nadia is sitting on the bus.
Abdullah is talking on the phone at the moment.

Sometimes the present progressive is used with more general present time expressions
such as today, this morning, this afternoon, this evening, this week, this month, this year,
nowadays, these days, etc. Here the action may (or may not) be in progress at the exact
moment of speaking. It may start and stop over a longer period of time.

The wind is blowing in the desert today.

It is raining outside this morning.
Mohammed is working in the laboratory today.
The students are studying verb tenses this week.
We are building a new house this year.
Many people are buying cell phones these days.
Waleed is traveling in Europe this month.

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 Time Expressions Used with the Present Progressive

The present progressive can be used with time words that refer to the exact moment of
speaking:

now
right now
at this moment
at the moment

The present progressive can also be used with time words that refer to a more general
present (i.e. not limited to the moment of speaking):

today
this morning
this afternoon
this evening
this week
this month
this year
nowadays
these days

Sometimes other words in the sentence tell you that the action is happening right now (at
the moment of speaking). For example:

Shhh! Don’t make so much noise! People are taking an exam.

Look! It is starting to rain outside.
Listen! The baby is crying in the other room.

Sounds such as Shhh! or commands such as Look! or Listen! tell you that the action is
happening right now at the moment of speaking.

Note: The present time words above can also occur with other tenses. For example:

Stative (non-action) verbs can be used in the simple present with any of the present time
words.

I hear a loud noise right now. (The verb hear cannot use –ing.)
They understand all of the lesson now. (The verb understand cannot use –ing.)
The cafeteria is very busy at this moment. (The verb be cannot use –ing.)

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General present time words (such as today, this morning, this afternoon, this evening, this
week, this month, this year) can also be used with past or future verbs.

(e.g.) this morning

I bought a new pair of shoes this morning. (past)

I am buying a new pair of shoes this morning. (present)
I will buy a new pair of shoes this morning. (future)

Forming Negatives and Questions

Negatives:

I am not eating we are not eating

you are not eating you are not eating
he
she is not eating they are not eating
it

Yes/No Questions:

Am I eating? Are we eating?

Are you eating? Are you eating?
he
Is she eating? Are they eating?
it

WH- Questions:

What am I eating? What are we eating?

What are you eating? What are you eating?
he
What is she eating? What are they eating?
it

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 Stative Verbs that Can Change into Action Verbs

Non-action verbs (stative verbs) describe situations, conditions, or states that are constant
and not changing. Since they do not describe actions, they do not take –ing endings (and
cannot be used in progressive tenses).

Examples:

Ibrahim owns a very expensive car. (state)

The students understand all of the new vocabulary. (state)
This book belongs to Mohammed. (state)
I hear the air conditioner right now. (state)

Sometimes these stative verbs, however, can change meaning and be used as action verbs
with –ing. In these cases, they acquire new meanings and can usually be replaced with
other action verbs with the same meaning.

think
I think (that) New York City is more interesting than Los Angeles. (state)

*Right now I am thinking about my next vacation. (action)

have
Khalid has five children. (He is a father.) (state)

*Mona is having a baby. (She is delivering a baby.) (action)

*Abumezyed is having a bad day. (action)
*He is having problems with the air conditioner in his jeep. (action)
*We are having a good time today. (We are enjoying ourselves.) (action)
*I am having dinner right now. (I am eating dinner.) (action)

taste
This coffee tastes strong. (It has a strong taste.) (state)

*I am tasting the soup right now. (I am eating/trying it.) (action)

smell
These flowers smell nice. (They have a nice smell.) (state)

*Nadia is smelling the perfume in the shop right now. (action)

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feel
This room feels cold today. (The temperature is low in here.) (state)

*I am feeling the leaves on this plant. (I am touching them.) (action)

see
Right now I see many students and chairs in this classroom. (state)

*I am seeing Dr. Khan today about my sore throat and cough. (action)
*The patient is seeing things. (He is hallucinating.) (action)

look
Nowaishi looks very tired today. (He seems/appears tired.) (state)

*Right now I am looking at a cartoon in the newspaper. (action)

*Kayed is looking for Abumezyed. (He is trying to find him.) (action)

appear
This patient appears to be malnourished. (He looks underweight.) (state)

*Nabila is appearing in a new film. (She is starring in a new film.) (action)

*Clouds are appearing in the sky. (They are becoming visible.) (action)

weigh
Menahi weighs 65 kilos. (He is 65 kilos in weight.) (state)

*The grocer is weighing apples on a scale. (He is finding their weight.) (action)

*I am weighing my options. (I am considering all of my choices.) (action)

be
Chemistry is an interesting subject. (state)

*The nurse is being rude to her patient. (She is acting rudely.) (action)

*Several students are being careless in the laboratory today. (action)

(They are acting in a careless manner.)

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 _________________________
Peter Lambe (Fall 2021)

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