Topic 2: Simple Present

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.
• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.
• A dog has four legs.
• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.
• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.
• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
• They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).

In general, 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

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries

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

• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says

Negative Sentences and Affirmative Sentences

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.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a negative sentence. 

Questions

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.
  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 French.
  Question: Does he speak French?

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 third person) disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.

Example

1.I sometimes ____ (go) to work by car. 

2.Ben (work) in a hospital.

3._____ you _____ (like) fish? 

4.She _____ (not/teach) English. 

5.Matthew never _____ (watch) television. 

6._____ she _____ (play) football? 

7.They always _____ (eat) dinner at 7 o'clock. 

8.We _____ (not/live) in a big house. 

9.Valerie _____ (study) English at university. 

10._____ he _____ (want) to eat? 

11.Samantha _____ (play) tennis twice a week

Answer

1.       Works

2.       Do- like

3.       Does not teach

4.       Watches

5.       Does- play

6.       Eat

7.       Do not live

8.       Studies

9.       Does- want

10.   Plays 

Game

Present Simple

They _____ a film.

He ___ with his toys.

Manuel___ the bathroom.

She ___ in a bed.

You___ your favorite song.

+

You____ vegetables.

She___ his homework.

Answers

1.     Watch

2.     Plays

3.     Cleans

4.     Sleeps

5.     Sing

6.     Eat

7.     Does