GRAMMAR A1

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Form: Subject + simple verb + object

We use PRESENT SIMPLE to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.
We use the simple present tense:

1. For things that are generally true in the present time period or
permanent things

 Boca Juniors is the best team in Argentina at the moment.

 She is my girlfriend.
 We study English.
 We live in Puebla
 He Works at a bank.
 I live in an appartment.
 They speak English at work.

2. For habits or routines or schedules

 I brush my teeth three times a day.

 I read in bed every night.
 He walks to school every day.
 She goes to the gym after work.
 I study for two hours every evening.
 I get up early every day.
 Mina brushes her teeth twice a day.
 They travel to their country house every weekend
 He only drinks milk.
 We celebrate Christmas on the twenty-fifth of December.
 I wake up at 6:00 am every day.
 I go to sleep at 11.00 pm
 I eat breakfast at the table.
 I take the train to the office.
 Our class starts at 9:00 am
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 Flights to Buenos Aires leave every hour.

 The train to San Francisco leaves at noon

3. For facts

 Whales live in the ocean. (This is a fact, this is always true)

 A dog has four legs. (This is generally true)
 It rains a lot in winter. (Yes, this is generally true)
 Water boils at 100º Celsius. (This is a fact, just like the fact that water
freezes at 0º Celsius)
 Aconcagua is the highest mountain in Latin America.
 The flight from Chile to Australia is thirteen hours.
 The sun rises in the east.
 The President of The USA lives in The White House.
 A dog has four legs.
 The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
 Its rains a lot in September

4. For repeated or regular actions.

Some frequency words: Always, often, sometimes, rarely, never)

 We work always on Saturday.

 She sometimes takes the bus.
 I never take the train to go downtown.
 I rarely eat peas.
 They often go to the cinema.
 The train to Tabriz leaves every hour.
 Sara sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
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 How to Form the Simple Present: Verb Conjugation & Spelling

Don’t forget: in the third person, we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject Verb The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they speak / learn English at home

he / she / it speaks / learns English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of
that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the
third person.
 go – goes
 catch – catches
 wash – washes
 kiss – kisses
 fix – fixes
 buzz – buzzes
 pass - passes
 watch - watches
 finish - finishes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.
 marry – marries
 study – studies
 carry – carries
 worry – worries

3. For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

 play – plays
 enjoy – enjoys

4. Some irregular verbs change like:

 do - does
 go - goes
 have – has
 be - is
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I clean the window every morning I eat an apple before go to bed

You clean the window every morning
He cleans the window every morning
She cleans the window every morning
It cleans the window every morning
We clean the window every morning
You clean the window every morning
They clean the window every morning
You eat an apple before go to bed
He eats an apple before go to bed
She eats an apple before go to bed
It eats an apple before go to bed
We eat an apple before go to bed
You eat an apple before go to bed
They eat an apple before go to bed

 First-person singular: I write

 Second-person singular: You write

 Third-person singular: He/she/it writes (note the -s)

 First-person plural: We write

 Second-person plural: You write

 Third-person plural: They write

 First-person singular: I go

 Second-person singular: You go

 Third-person singular: He/she/it goes (note the -es)

 First-person plural: We go

 Second-person plural: You go

 Third-person plural: They go

 First-person singular: I am

 Second-person singular: You are

 Third-person singular: He/she/it is

 First-person plural: We are

 Second-person plural: You are

 Third-person plural: They are
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Examples:

 He wants an ice cream.

 She likes hot dogs.
 Ann (= She) hates chewing gums.
 The dog (= It) hates cats.
 It drinks milk.
 Bob (= He) speaks English.
 My mother likes singing.

 Common time expressions used with the present simple tense are:

 always, often, generally, normally, usually, sometimes, never …

 every day, every week, every year…
(note the time word is in single form, day, not days.)
 once a day, twice a week, three times a month…
 in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night
 on Mondays, on Fridays…
(when the day is in plural it refers to all Mondays, all Fridays)

 How to Make the Simple Present Negative

The formula for making a simple present verb negative is:

Pronoun + do/does + not + [simple verb].

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with

all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.)

Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb.
We use Don't when the subject is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.

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When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the
verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the
verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the
negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not Doesn't = Does not

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in

spoken English.

 You don't speak Arabic.

 Saman doesn't speak Italian.
 We don't have time for a rest.
 It doesn't move.
 They don't want to go to the party.
 She doesn't like fish.
 I don´t have time to go shopping
 Pauline does not want to share the pie.
 She doesn’t think there is enough to go around.
 Her friends do not agree.
 I don’t want pie anyway.

To make the verb to be negative, the formula is [to be] + not.

 I am not a pie lover, but Pauline sure is.

 You aren’t ready for such delicious pie.

DON'T (do not) + VERB TO BE + NOT

They don't go to school. They are not (aren't) at home.

I don't like oranges. The boys are not (aren't) in the park.

We don't hate peppermint. I am not (I'm not) hungry.

You don't have a cold. He is not hungry

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Monkeys don't eat snakes. She is not a dog

Bob and I don't go shopping. She is not (isn't) at school.

Jim and Carol don't sing a song. It is not (isn't) hungry.

He doesn't want an ice cream. Susan is not (isn't) angry.

She doesn't like hot dogs. You aren´t a great dancer.

It doesn't drink milk.

The dog doesn't hate cats.

Ann doesn't hate chewing gums.

Bob doesn't speak German.

 Questions in the Simple Present Tense

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using

Do or Does.

Do/Does + Subject + Verb + The Rest of the sentence ?

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no

translation in Spanish though it is essential to show we are making a

question. It is normally put at the beginning of the question

Affirmative: You speak English.

Negative: You don´t speak English

Question: Do you speak English?

You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to

make it a question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks English.

Negative: He doesn´t speak English

Question: Does he speak English?

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When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the

affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the

verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in the third person) disappears

in the question.

 Do you have a new bike?

 Do they need a new bike?

 Does she want a new bike?

 Do you want to go there?

 Does she have to eat all the carrots?

 Do you need a dictionary?

 Does Mary need a dictionary?

 Do we have a meeting now?

 Does it rain a lot in winter?

 Do they want to go to the party?

 Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct

questions as follows:

 Do you like chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don't.

 Do I need a pencil? Yes, you do. No, you don't.

 Do you both like chocolate? Yes, we do. No, we don't.

 Do they like chocolate? Yes, they do. No, they don't.

 Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

 Does she like chocolate? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.

 Does it have four wheels? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.

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 “Wh” questions
Wh- questions are questions that require more information in their answers.
Typical wh-words are what, where, when, why, who, how, how many, how
much.

To create a wh-question, start with the wh-word, then add do or does, then
the subject (a person or thing that does the action), followed by the base
form of the verb and only then add the rest of the sentence.

WH questions ask for information. Here are the six questions and their
answers:

Question Answer Example

What Thing What is your name?

When Time When is the party?

Who Person Who is your brother?

Where Place Where is the bank?

Why Reason Why do you like pizza?

How Directions How do you spell your name?

 Do: WH + DO/DOES + SUBJECT + VERB

 Where do you work?

 When does she wake up?
 Who is your brother?
 When do you want to meet me?
 Why does Beth always complain so much?
 How much does the ticket cost?
 Why don't you ever go on vacation?
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 Be: WH + BE + SUBJECT

 Where are you from?

 Who is that man?
 When is your class?

Here are some example questions and answers:

 Where are you from?

 I am from India.

 What is your name?

 My name is Jacob.

 When do you wake up?

 I wake up at 7:30 am.

 Why are you angry?

 I am angry because I did not pass my exam.

 Certain Verbs exceptions only used with Present simple

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the
continuous form).

 state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

 We are on holiday.

 possession: belong, have

 Sam has a cat.

 senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

 He feels the cold.

 feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

 Jane loves pizza.

 brain work: believe, know, think, understand

 I believe you.

 Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

 “I am watching TV,“ he says.
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Uses and comparison between Simple Present and Present continuous

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is

happening right now?

Simple Present Present Continuous

In general (regularly, often, right now

never)
also for several actions happening
present actions happening one at the same time
after another

 Colin plays football every  Look! Colin is playing football

Tuesday. now.

 First Colin plays football, then he  Colin is playing football and

watches TV. Anne is watching.

Signal words

always at the moment

every at this moment
often today
normally now
usually right now
sometimes Listen!
seldom Look!
never
first
then