Grammar - Present tense

Lesson 3: Present simple, present continuous,

present perfect
Lead-in
Present simple – Basic

● During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do

taekwondo on Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.
● I like him a lot.
● Snakes live on the ground, in trees and in water.
● We always go on holiday in the summer.

When do we use the present simple?

What would we use for explaining more about the time ?
Present simple - Basic
When to use:
● General truths
● Current habits
● Permanent situations and states
Words and phrases:
Frequency adverbs: sometimes, often, usually, generally, rarely, seldom, never
etc.
Time expressions: on Mondays, on Tuesdays, twice a week, in the summer,
from time to time, every now and then, most/much of the time, etc.
Present simple - Advanced
Present simple and future time
● The train leaves at 5 in the morning.
● The school term starts next week.
- > Something that is fixed in the future
● I’ll talk to John when I see him.
● You must finish your work before you go home.
● If it rains we’ll get wet.
● He won’t come unless you ask him.
-> Something in the future after time words like when, after, before and
after if and unless:
Present simple – Advanced

Example Present simple

So, a man goes to see his psychiatrist... Telling informal stories and jokes

Adam passes to Kareshi. It’s a goal! Live sports commentary

HAWKING WINS NOBEL PRIZE Newspaper headlines

The film ends with us not knowing whether they Reviews and summaries
have been successful or not.

You turn left at the end of the road and the Instructions and directions
school is up ahead.

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Proverbs and sayings

Present simple – Advanced
- Emphatic present simple:

Adam doesn’t know much about psychiatry but he does know quite a lot about
psychology.
=> To emphasize contrast

I do like playing word games.

=> To emphasize strong feeling
Present simple – Advanced
● They seem to be happy.
● It sounds interesting.
● I forget his name.
=> Stative, or non action verbs do not express action. They express a state or condition, and usually only
occur in the Present Simple. When they do occur in the Present Progressive, there is often a difference in
meaning.

Examples:

See:
Do you see any problems with that? (state – opinion)
We're seeing Tadanari tomorrow afternoon. (action – we're meeting him)
Be:
He's so interesting! (state – his permanent quality)
He's being very unhelpful. (action – he is temporarily behaving this way)
Taste:
This coffee tastes delicious. (state – our perception of the coffee)
Look! The chef is tasting the soup. (action – tasting the soup is an activity)
Present simple – Advanced
Stative verbs often relate to:

● thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognise, remember,
suspect, think, understand
● feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
● senses and perceptions: appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste
● possession and measurement: belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh.
Present simple - Structure
● They live in London.
● He watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.
=> I/we/you/they + Verb infinitive + Object
He/she/it + V-s/-es + Object
● Daisy and Jack don’t go out much at the weekend.
● He doesn’t like chess that much.
=> Subject + do/does + not + Verb infinitive + Object
● Do you see him on Wednesday?
● Does Jack like sports?
=> Do/does + Subject + Verb infinitive + Object?
Present simple - Structure
The verb “be” - Present simple
I am… I am not… Am I…?
He/she/it is …. He/she/it is not .... Is he/she/it…?
We/you/they are…. We/you/they are not… Are we/you/they…?

The verb “be” is a link verb. It is used:

I’m from Asia, and I’m a teacher. Many people think I’m a super-duper smart girl, but the truth is that
I’m just an ordinary person who simply tries to put my heart into whatever I’m doing. I’m usually at
home working online. Sometimes I am dragged out of home by friends because they think I’m too
pale and unfit.

=> With a noun phrase, an adjective, a prepositional phrase, the past participle, some nouns with the
verb be followed by a that clause, …

Quick test:
She go/ goes to school everyday.
Present simple - Ending sounds
The pronunciation of words ending in “s” depend on the final consonant (sound). There
are three ways to pronounce the “s”:

Present simple - Structure

Present simple - Practice

works/ goes/ likes/ works/ watches/ is/ goes/ gets/ reads / stays

Angela ……. a nurse. She …….. at Liverpool City Hospital. Every morning she
….… to work on the bus. She …….. from nine in the morning until five in the
evening. She usually ……. home at about six o'clock. Most evenings she …….. at
home and …….. television or ……… a book, but sometimes she ……. out with
her friends to the cinema or to a café. At the weekend she ……… to go for a walk
in the country or to go swimming in the pool near her home.

Answer:
is/ works/ goes/ works/ gets/ stays/ watches/ reads/ goes/ likes
Present simple - Practice
Complete Angela's answers to the questions. Write the correct words. Look at the
previous activity if you need help (you can fill two words in a blank).

1, What do you do?

- I ……. a nurse ….. Liverpool City Hospital.
2, How long do you work everyday?
- I …... nine ….. the morning ……. five ……. the evening.
3, What time do you get home?
- I usually …... home …….. about six o'clock.
4, What do you do in the evenings?
- Most evenings I ……. home and …….. TV or ……. a book.
5, And at the weekends?
- I ……. to go ….... a walk …... the country or to go swimming ….... the pool ……... my
home.
Present simple - Practice
Translate following sentences to English:

1. Trái đất xoay xung quanh mặt trời.

2. Những kẻ nói dối là những kẻ không nói sự thật.
3. Tôi nghĩ là anh không thích cô ấy nhiều đến vậy.
4. Bạn nghĩ tôi thường làm gì vào ngày nghỉ?
5. Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim.

Answer:
1, The Earth orbits around the Sun.
2, Liars are people who do not tell the truth.
3, I think he doesn’t like her that much.
4, What do you think I usually do on my days off?
5, Hard work pays off.
Lead - in
Present continuous
● I'm just uploading some photos to Facebook and I'm sending a
message to Billie.
● At eight I’m meeting Lucas, just for a quick coffee.

When do we use present continuous?

What would we use for explaining more about the time ?
Present continuous - Basic
When to use:
● Actions happening now
● Actions happening around now
● Future plans or arrangements

Words and phrases:

now/ right now/ for now/ currently/ at the moment/ for the time being / at
present/ today/ this week/ etc.
Present continuous - Advanced
● At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast.
● When I get home the children are doing their homework.

->something which is happening before and after a specific time

● Michael is at university. He's studying history.

● I'm working in London for the next two weeks.

-> something which we think is temporary

● These days most people are using emails instead of writing letters.
● What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays?

-> something which is new and contrasts with a previous state

Present continuous - Advanced
● The children are growing up quickly.
● The climate is changing rapidly.

-> changing and developing situations

● It's always raining in London.

● You’re constantly changing your mind.

-> something which happens again and again ( It can be used with adverbs such as:
always, constantly, continually and forever)

● So a man goes to see his psychiatrist. He’s carrying a bag full of honey….

-> background information in jokes or other informal stories

Present continuous - Structure
She is just leaving work. She’ll be home in an hour.
Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.

-> Subject + am/is/are + V-ing

They aren't coming to the party. (or They're not coming to the party.)
She isn't going home until Monday. (or She's not going home until Monday.)

-> Subject + am/is/are + not + V-ing

Is she listening?
Are they coming to your party?

-> Am/is/are + Subject + V-ing?

 Present continuous - Practice
Complete the conversation:
1,
A: I saw Brian a few days ago
B: Oh, did you? What’s he doing these days? (what/ he/do)
A: He’s at university.
B: ………….? (what/ he/ study)
A: Psychology.
B:........................ it? (he/enjoy)
A: Yes, he says it’s a very good course.

2,
A: Hi, Nicola. How………………? ( your new job/ go)
B: Not bad. It wasn’t so good at first, but……… better now. ( it/get)
A: What about Daniel? Is he okay?
B: Yes, but ……….. his work right now. ( he/ not/ enjoy) He’s been in the same job for a long time
and …………… to get bored with it. ( he/ begin)
Stative verbs

1. Are you making bread? It smells/’s smelling amazing.

2. I imagine/ am imagining they’ll be here quite soon.
3. We have/’re having coffee with him later today.
4. I’m sorry. I don’t understand/ am not understanding.
5. Sam thinks it’s a good idea, and Ben agrees/ agreeing.
6. I feel/ am feeling this avocado to see if it’s ready to eat.
7. Do you know what I mean/ meaning?

Answer:
smells / imagine/ ‘re having coffee/ don’t understand / agrees/ am feeling / mean
Present continuous - Practice
Translate following sentences into English.

1, Dân số thế giới đang tăng trưởng rất nhanh.

2, Tình hình đã tồi tệ rồi và nó ngày càng trở nên tồi tệ hơn.
3, Thời tiết bắt đầu tốt hơn và gió không còn mạnh như trước.
4, Đứa bạn thân nhất của tôi luôn nghĩ ra những ý tưởng điên rồ nhất.

Answer:
1, The population of the world is increasing rapidly.
2, The situation is already bad and it is getting worse.
3, The weather is starting to improve. The wind isn’t as strong.
4, My best friend’s always coming up with the craziest ideas.
Present continuous - Speaking
● What are you doing this year to improve yourself?

● What projects are you working on this week?

● What are you studying these days?

● What do you think your best friend is doing right now?

● Think of your favorite celebrity. What do you think they are doing right now?

● Are you reading any interesting books these days? Which ones?

● What TV shows are you watching now?

● Who are you hanging out with a lot these days?

Present simple and present
continuous
Give the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.

1, My brother … (do) a degree at university so I … (see) him often, unfortunately.

2, Darren … usually …. (get) home until about eight o’clock.
3, I’m sorry to hear that your parents … (get) divorced.
4, You …. (go) to the end of the street and … (turn) right.
5, Why … ice … (float)?
6, It’s lovely now the evenings … (get) longer, isn’t it?
7, My dad … (eat) meat at all - he’s a vegetarian.
8, Actually we … (listen) to The Libertines at all - this is Pete Docherty’s second
band, Babyshambles.
9, A man … (walk) into a bar. Ouch! Not a good idea to walk into an iron bar.
10, ... you … (phone) me from your mobile? The line’s not very good.
11, … you often … (order) things online?
Present simple and present
continuous
Answer:

1, is doing ……..don’t see

2, doesn’t get
3, are getting
4, go ….turn
5, does….float
6, are getting
7, doesn’t eat
8, aren’t listening
9, walks
10, are…. phoning
11, do ……...order
 Present simple and present
continuous

Sarah is having a party. All of her friends are there. Sarah is wearing a new green skirt. Her
friends all look nice, too. They are listening to music, dancing, and talking. Some people are
sitting on the couch and watching TV. It’s a fun party! Rachel is dancing with Peter. They
have a lot in common. They both like jazz music and horror movies. In the backyard, people
are sitting beside the swimming pool. When Malika suddenly falls into the pool, everyone
laughs…. even Malika! Now her clothes are all wet. Everybody is having a great time.
Nobody wants to go home!
Present perfect
Present perfect
● My Chinese teacher has given me some homework. (= I have
the homework to do now.)
● I’ve forgotten. (= I can’t remember now.)
● She’s broken her leg. (= Her leg is still broken now.)
● Oliver’s just made a cake.

When do we use present perfect?

What would we use for explaining more about the time ?
Present perfect
Past actions with a result in the present
● Something happened in the past which is important now.
● Actions completed recently.

Words and phrases:

since/ for / It’s the first/second time / before/ already/ yet/ ever/ just/ still/ recently/ up to now - (up) until now
/ so far

● Just = a short time ago (Hello, have you just arrived? )

● Yet = until now. Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in
questions and negative sentences.
Has it stopped raining yet?
I’ve written the email, but I haven’t sent it yet.
● We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected.(What time is Mark leaving?
He’s already left.)
Present perfect
Unfinished time and states

● We haven't had a lot of positive feedback so far.

● They've been on holiday twice this year.

-> What we've done in an unfinished time period, such as today, this week, this year,
etc.(these periods are not finished at the time of speaking) and with expressions such as
so far, until now, before, etc (a period that continues until now).

● I've worked for six different companies.

● Jane's never won a gold medal.
● Have you ever been to Australia?

-> Life experiences, as our life is also an unfinished time period. We often use never in
negative sentences and ever in questions.
Present perfect
● She's wanted to be a police officer since she was a child.
● I haven't known him for very long time.
● How long have you had that phone?

-> talk about unfinished states, especially with for, since and how long.

Sum up:

We use the present perfect simple to talk about past actions or states
which are still connected to the present.
Present perfect
● I have lost my key. (I’ve lost my key.)
● She has gone out. (She’s gone out.)

-> Positive: I/we/you/they + have + Verb ( past participle)

He/she/it + has + Verb ( past participle)

● I haven’t seen this movie before.

● Daniel hasn’t come back home yet.

-> Negative: I/we/you/they + haven’t + Verb ( past participle)

He/she/it + hasn’t + Verb (past participle)

● Have you ever travelled to England?

● Has she arrived here yet?
-> Question: has/have + subject + Verb ( past participle) ?
Pronunciation of “ed” ending
Present perfect
arrive - break - fall - go - up - improve

Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it. -> Tom has lost his key.
1. Lisa can't walk and her leg is in plaster. -> Lisa ....................
2. Last week the bus fare was £1 .80. Now it is £2. -> The bus fare ..................
3. Maria's English wasn't very good. Now it is better. -> Her English ........................
4. This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. ->The letter ........................
5. The temperature was 20 degrees. Now it is only 12. ->The ....................................

Answer:
Lisa has broken her leg.
The bus fare has gone up.
Her English has improved.
The letter has arrived.
The temperature has fallen.
Present perfect
Please translate following sentences to English:

1, Cô ấy sống ở đây cả đời cô ấy.

2, Tôi vừa mới hoàn thành quá trình thực tập của tôi ở một công ty quốc tế.
3, Anh ấy đã làm việc ở đây kể từ khi tôi tốt nghiệp.
4, Trên toàn cầu, đại dịch Covid-19 bây giờ đã đạt hơn 2.8 triệu trường hợp, lan đến 185
quốc gia và gây ra hơn 200,000 cái chết.

Answer:

1, She’s lived here all her life.

2, I’ve just finished my internship at an international company.
3, He’s worked here since she graduated school.
4, Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has now reached more than 2.8 million cases,
spread to 185 countries, and caused more than 200,000 deaths.
Present perfect
Have you ever…..?

Create ten “ Have you ever…?” questions using the following verbs
and your own ideas. Ask your partner the questions.

lose - see - cook - meet - go - ride - make - try - hold - take

Sum up