Section 3:The Simple Present

By: Areej Dawoud

Examples

1. I play tennis every day.

2. The sun rises from the east.

3. The train leaves at 6 PM.

4. They like apples.

The simple present is a verb. It has only two forms: the simple form without an –s (sleep). the simple form + s (sleeps) with third person

singular subjects.

Forming the simple presentSubjectVerbSubjectVerb

IHe

YouWork SheWorks

WeIt

They

Usages of the simple present

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.

E.g. She walks to school.

Usages of the simple present

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is used to make generalizations about people or things.

E.g. Cats like milk.

Usages of the simple present

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

E.g. The party starts at 8 o’clock.

Adverbs of frequency

Examples

1. I always brush my teeth before I go to bed. 2. Ann usually has toast for breakfast. 3. Mr. Smith often goes to the park with his dog. 4. We sometimes see Susan down at the shops. 5. They rarely smoke cigars. 6. He never works on the weekend.

Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency Adverbs of frequency tell us how many times something

happens. Always= every day Usually= happens most days Often = many times Sometimes= at particular occasions but not all the time Rarely = it is not common Never = not at any time or not on any occasion

Adverbs of frequency come between the subject and the main verb.

SubjectAdv. Of frequency

Simple present

Ialwaysdomy homework

Adverbs of frequency with to be Examples Tom is usually very friendly. Ramon and Frank are often hungry. Ted is rarely late.

We put adverbs of frequency after the verb to be (is / are).

subjectSimple present to be

Adverb of frequency

Peter isalwaysnice

3.4 spelling of final -s & -es

VerbSpelling ExamplesPronunciationThe verb ends in the sounds /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/

+s

He likes coffee..

It sleeps./s/

ends in the sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/, /v/ or in a vowel

+s

He swims.

She reads./z/

ends in /ch/, /sh/, /s/, /x/, /z/.+es

She watches TV.

It finishes at 10 p.m.

/iz/

ends con. + yDrop y, add -iesHe worries a lot./z/

ends in a vowel+ y

+sShe stays at home.

/z/

3.5 Irregular verbs

I have a job.He

She

It

has a problem.

I do the work.He

She

It

does the work.

I go to work.He

She

It

goes outside.

3.6 have (got) & has (got)

We use have (got) & has (got): For things we possess or own. I have got a car. To describe people, places, animals, and things.

She has (got) black hair. For our families and people we know. I have (got) a

son. With some expressions like the following: have got

(a cold, the flu, temperature, headache, toothache, a problem)

3.6 have (got) & has (got)

Singular

I, youhave (got)

He, she, ithas (got)a book

Plural

You, we, theyhave (got)books.

3.8 The simple present: yes / no We use do or does to make questions in the

simple present. We always use the base form after do and does.

do/doessubjectBase v.Affirm.Neg.

DoI, we, you, they

Work?Yes,

I do.

You do.

No, they don’t

We don’t

DoesHe, she, itWork?Yes, he does

No, it doesn’t

The simple present:wh- questions

Where does he live? What do they do?

We put question words (what, where, when, why, who,…) before do or does.

Frequency adverbs comes after the subject in the question.

When do you usually get up?

4.1 The present continuous We form the present continuous with the

present of verb to be (am, is, are) and the base verb + ing.

subjectTo beBase v. + ing

Iam

He, she, itisworking

They, we, you

are

4.2 The spelling of verbs ending in -ing

Verb endingRule example

Consonant + eDrop the e, add -ing

dance, comedancing

coming

1 vowel + consonant

Verbs end in w, x, y

Double the con., add –ing

Do not double the con.

sit

show

fix

say

fitting

showing

fixing

saying

2 vowels + 1 con.

Do not double, add -ing

eat

sleep

eating

sleeping

All other verbsAdd -ingtalk

read

talking

reading

4.3 The present continuous negative

To form the negative of the present continuous, we use not after the verb to be and the verb with –ing.

He is not working. You are not sleeping.

4.4 The present continuous: yes/ no questions

To besubjectBase v. + ing

AmI

Ishe, she, itWorking?

Areyou, we, they

4.5 The present continuous: wh- questions

Where, What, Why, When, How, Who I am drinking tea. What am I drinking?

4.6 Verbs not used in the present continuous

Non action verbs (describe a state or condition):

Believe hate have hear know like remember think

see smell taste think

understand want Julia has a car. Julia is having a cup of tea.

Conclusion

1. The simple present has two forms.

2. Adverbs of frequency usually come with the simple present between the subject and the verb.

3. Adverbs of frequency come after verb to be.

To practice more

www.englischhilfen.de/en/exercises/adverbs_of_frequency.htm

www.english-zone.com/verbs/freq-adv01.html

http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbs_frequency.htm

Thank you