THE SIMPLE PRESENT

Uses of The Simple

Present
1. The Simple Present can be used
to refer to actions which occur at
regular intervals.
 Rita teaches English
at Colégio Vértice
three times a week.
Ann sings in the
school choir.
Daniel always sleeps
during his Math class.
 He usually drinks
She usually works on tea after a meal.
her basket after dinner.

They go to a dance
every Sunday.

They take a
walk with
their son
every day.
 More do/
sentences: every
run/every day
day

He runs to
school every She does her
day. homework
not/do/homework every day.

He doesn’t do his homework every

day.
not/like

get
She
doesn’t A+
like
He gets an A+ on
school.
every quiz!

listen/always
He always
listens to the
teacher!!
 I always make a
snowman in the
winter.

I don’t.

I throw
make snowballs.
throw
 I always
brush my
teeth.

I don’t.
eat

I always
eat a lot
of candy.
Mmmm. brush
2. The Simple Present is also used
in stating general truths.
The earth goes
around the sun.
Birds fly.
 Water freezes at 32 degrees.

32º

Triangles have three sides.

3. Occasionally, the Simple Present
is used to express actions
occurring in the future.
• Our plane leaves at
eight o'clock
tomorrow night.
 4. In addition, the Simple Present
is used when referring to printed
material, and when describing
events portrayed in a book, film, or
other work of art.
 NASA starts
countdown to Mars
mission.

(from cnn.com)
 Formation of the simple
present
The simple present is formed from
the bare infinitive of the verb. As
shown in the following examples, the
bare infinitive of a verb consists of
the infinitive without the word to.
Infinitive Bare Infinitive

  to be   be

  to walk   walk

  to work   work
For example, the Simple Present of the verb to work
is conjugated as follows:
I work

you work

he works

she works

it works

we work

they work

The form of the verb used with the subjects he, she
and it is generally referred to as the third person
singular
 Spelling rules for the third person
singular
Some verbs change their spelling by JUST adding S
to their bare infinitive.
(work – show )
When a verb ends in Y preceded by a vowel just add
S. ( play – enjoy – buy)
When a verb ends in Y preceded by a consonant cut
the Y and add ies. (study – worry – carry)
When a verb ends in SS, SH, CH, X, Z and O just
add ES. (go – teach – wash – watch – fix – buzz)
 The auxiliaries
DO and DOES
The auxiliaries DO and Does are
used to make the Interrogative
and Negative forms.
 Negative form

I/You/We/They + do not (don’t) +

bare infinitive (verb without “to”)
We do not (don’t) swim.
He/She/It + does not (doesn’t) +
bare infinitive
She does not (doesn’t) swim
 Interrogative form

Do + I/You/We/They +bare infinitive

Do they swim?
Does + He/She/It + bare infinitive
Does he swim?
Note: The simple present of the verb To Have
is conjugated as follows:
I have

you have

he has

she has

it has

we have

they have
Paulo and Daniel like to go to soccer games.
Do Paulo and Daniel like to go to soccer games?
Paulo and Daniel do not (don’t) like to go to soccer
games.

Rita goes to the gym three times a week.

Does Rita go to the gym three times a week?
Rita does not (doesn’t) go to the gym three times a
week.

Eduardo studies engineering at Mackenzie.

Does Eduardo study engineering at Mackenzie?
Eduardo does not (doesn’t) study engineering at
Mackenzie.
 Don’t forget!
The auxiliary DO is used with the pronouns I,
YOU, WE and THEY

The auxiliary DOES is used with the pronouns HE,

SHE and IT

When you use the auxiliary DOES

(INTERROGATIVE AND NEGATIVE FORMS),
put the verb in its bare infinitive (without “to”).
That’s all for now folks!