Present Simple Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

Present SimplePresent Simple

GrammarGrammar Guide Guide

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

Verb FormVerb Form – A – Affirmativesffirmatives In the affirmative the present simple has the In the affirmative the present simple has the

same form as the infinitive.same form as the infinitive.The verb only The verb only changeschanges after after hehe, , sheshe or or itit ( (3rd 3rd person singularperson singular), when we add ), when we add -s-s to the base to the base form form

I read I read we we readread you you readread you you readread he readhe readss they they readread

sshe readhe readssit readit readss

Spelling RulesSpelling Rules

Note the following spelling rules with Note the following spelling rules with -s-s endings: endings: base forms ending in base forms ending in --o / -s / -sh / -ch / -x / -zo / -s / -sh / -ch / -x / -z

add add –es –es : : we watch → she watcheswe watch → she watches

base forms ending in base forms ending in a consonant+Ya consonant+Y change change Y to IY to I and add and add –es–es : : they copy → he copiesthey copy → he copies

base forms ending in base forms ending in a vowel+Ya vowel+Y no changeno change : : I play → she playsI play → she plays

But:But: you have you have she has she has

Verb FormVerb Form – Affirmatives – Affirmatives I I gogo to school by bus. to school by bus.

You You startstart work at 8 o’clock. work at 8 o’clock.

Carina Carina likeslikes hospital dramas so she hospital dramas so she watcheswatches ‘ER’ every week.‘ER’ every week.

He He playsplays golf on Saturdays. golf on Saturdays.

It It snowssnows in winter. in winter.

We We drinkdrink coffee every morning. coffee every morning.

They They comecome from France. from France.

Verb Form – Negatives Verb Form – Negatives We form the negatives with the auxiliary We form the negatives with the auxiliary

dodo ++ notnot ++ infinitiveinfinitive

doesdoes

We usually use the contracted forms We usually use the contracted forms don’tdon’t andand doesn’tdoesn’t in speech and informal writing: in speech and informal writing:

Japanese cooking Japanese cooking doesn’t usedoesn’t use a lot of dairy food. a lot of dairy food.We We don’t playdon’t play volleyball. volleyball.

Verb Form – Negatives Verb Form – Negatives In standard English In standard English nobodynobody, , nothingnothing, , nevernever

are themselves enough to give a negative are themselves enough to give a negative meaning, and meaning, and notnot is unnecessary is unnecessary

They They nevernever drinkdrink tea with milk. tea with milk. NothingNothing else else mattersmatters..NobodyNobody in our group in our group playsplays golf. golf.

Verb Form –Verb Form – Y/N Y/N QuestionsQuestions

We form the y/n questions with the auxiliary We form the y/n questions with the auxiliary DoDo

++ subjectsubject ++ infinitiveinfinitiveDoesDoes

DoesDoes she she workwork on Sundays? on Sundays? DoDo interest rates usually interest rates usually gogo up in order to up in order to reduce inflation?reduce inflation?

The short answers are:The short answers are: Yes, she doesYes, she does..No, they don’tNo, they don’t..

Verb Form –Verb Form – Wh- Wh- QuestionsQuestions

We form the wh- questions withWe form the wh- questions withdodo

Question wordQuestion word + + ++ subjectsubject ++ infinitiveinfinitivedoesdoes

What What doesdoes he he dodo??How much How much doesdoes it it cost?cost?Where Where dodo they they come fromcome from??

Verb Form – Negatives & Verb Form – Negatives & QuestionsQuestions

I I don’t likedon’t like tea. tea.

DoDo you you traveltravel a lot? No, I don’t. a lot? No, I don’t.

Where Where dodo you you livelive??

She She doesn’t workdoesn’t work in a bank. in a bank.

DoesDoes she she livelive in Atlanta? Yes, she does. in Atlanta? Yes, she does.

What time What time doesdoes she she get upget up??

Verb Form - PracticeVerb Form - Practice

Jennifer finishes work at 10.30 a.m.Jennifer finishes work at 10.30 a.m.

y/n? y/n?

wh-?wh-?


Jennifer finishes work at 10.30 a.m.Jennifer finishes work at 10.30 a.m. Jennifer doesn’t finish work at 10.30 Jennifer doesn’t finish work at 10.30

a.m.a.m.y/n? y/n? Does Jennifer finish work at 10.30?Does Jennifer finish work at 10.30?

Yes, she does.Yes, she does. No, she doesn’t.No, she doesn’t.

wh-?wh-? What does she finish at 10.30?What does she finish at 10.30?What time does she finish work?What time does she finish work?


BillBill has four pets at home. has four pets at home.

y/n? y/n?

wh-?wh-?


Bill has four pets at home.Bill has four pets at home. Bill doesn’t have four pets at home.Bill doesn’t have four pets at home.y/n? y/n? Does he have four pets at home?Does he have four pets at home?

Yes, he does.Yes, he does. No, he doesn’t.No, he doesn’t.

wh-?wh-? What does he have at home?What does he have at home?How many pets does he have at How many pets does he have at

home?home?


John and Jim like playing basketball John and Jim like playing basketball afterafter school.school.

y/n? y/n?

wh-?wh-?


John and Jim like playing basketball John and Jim like playing basketball afterafter school.school.

They don’t like playing basketball after They don’t like playing basketball after school. school.

y/n? y/n? Do they like playing basketball after Do they like playing basketball after school?school?

Yes, they do.Yes, they do. No, they don’t.No, they don’t.

wh-?wh-? What do they like playing after school?What do they like playing after school?When do they like playing basketball?When do they like playing basketball?

Use: General truths and factsUse: General truths and facts

We often use the present simple to state We often use the present simple to state truths and totruths and to describe things which we feel describe things which we feel are facts or permanent situations:are facts or permanent situations:

tthings which are hings which are generally truegenerally true::

British people drink a lot of tea, while British people drink a lot of tea, while Americans drink more coffee.Americans drink more coffee.

People in Brazil love dancing.People in Brazil love dancing.


ffacts:acts:

Broken bones in adults don’t heal asBroken bones in adults don’t heal as fast as they do in children.fast as they do in children.

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

It rarely snows in Africa.It rarely snows in Africa.

Vegetarians don’t eat meat.Vegetarians don’t eat meat.


ppermanent situations:ermanent situations:

A colony of Antarctic penguins lives in A colony of Antarctic penguins lives in Marwell Marwell

Zoo.Zoo.

They speak fluent English.They speak fluent English.

Alice works for an insurance company.Alice works for an insurance company.

Use: Repeated eventsUse: Repeated events // actionsactions We use the present simple to describe things that We use the present simple to describe things that

happen on a regular basishappen on a regular basis, , such as such as habits and habits and customscustoms::

I get up at 7 o’clock every day.I get up at 7 o’clock every day.

HeHe often does his homework in the often does his homework in the afternoon.afternoon.

The Blairs take their summer holiday in a The Blairs take their summer holiday in a quiet part of Tuscany.quiet part of Tuscany.

I always cry when I watch a sad film.I always cry when I watch a sad film.

Time ExpressionsTime Expressions

We often use the present simple with:We often use the present simple with: adverbs of frequencyadverbs of frequency

100% 0%100% 0%alwaysalways / / usuallyusually / / oftenoften / / sometimessometimes / / hardly everhardly ever / / nevernever

Share prices usually change on a daily Share prices usually change on a daily basis – but often by very little.basis – but often by very little.

He hardly ever watches football on TV.He hardly ever watches football on TV.


Note the word order of the adverbs of frequency:Note the word order of the adverbs of frequency: beforebefore the main verb:the main verb:

We We nevernever drink wine at lunchtime. drink wine at lunchtime.He He hardly everhardly ever smokes and he doesn’t smokes and he doesn’t

usuallyusually eat meat. eat meat.

afterafter the verb the verb bebe::

She is She is alwaysalways late. late.They are They are oftenoften ill. ill.


We also use the present simple with We also use the present simple with expressions of frequencyexpressions of frequency::

every dayevery day / / weekweek / / monthmonth / / yearyear once a dayonce a day / / weekweek / / monthmonth / / yearyear twice a daytwice a day / / weekweek / / monthmonth / / yearyear three times a daythree times a day / / weekweek / / monthmonth / / yearyear

Our two chefs provide an excellent choice of Our two chefs provide an excellent choice of hot meals every day.hot meals every day.


Note the word order of the expressions of frequency:Note the word order of the expressions of frequency: tthe endhe end of the sentence of the sentence

She cleans her teeth She cleans her teeth three times a daythree times a day..We go to the opera We go to the opera twice a monthtwice a month . .They watchThey watch a film on DVD a film on DVD every weekevery week..

tthe beginninghe beginning of the sentence of the sentence

Every dayEvery day he goes for a short walk in the park. he goes for a short walk in the park.Once a monthOnce a month we invite our friends and cook a we invite our friends and cook a

really nice meal together.really nice meal together.

So / Neither (NorSo / Neither (Nor))

A: A: I I speak Spanish.speak Spanish.

B: B: (() ) So do I. / So does she.So do I. / So does she.

(() ) I don’t. / He doesn’t.I don’t. / He doesn’t.

A: A: I don’t play the piano.I don’t play the piano.

B: B: (() ) Nor do I. / Nor does she.Nor do I. / Nor does she.

(() ) I do. / He does.I do. / He does.

So / Neither (Nor)So / Neither (Nor)

A: A: Do you smoke?Do you smoke?

B: (B: () ) Yes, I do.Yes, I do. B: (B: () ) No, I don’t.No, I don’t.

A: (A: () ) So do I. So do I. A: (A: () ) Nor do I. Nor do I. A: (A: () ) I don’t. I don’t. A: ( A: () ) I I

do. do.

So / Neither (Nor)So / Neither (Nor) - - PracticePractice often go to a casinooften go to a casino play golf at the weekendplay golf at the weekend check e-mails every daycheck e-mails every day always pay by credit cardalways pay by credit card drive to schooldrive to school go to a fitness centre on go to a fitness centre on

FridaysFridays drink coffee in the drink coffee in the

morningmorning read a newspaper every read a newspaper every

morningmorning always turn the mobile off always turn the mobile off

during classesduring classes

go jogging in the eveninggo jogging in the evening play football once a weekplay football once a week get up at 7 o’clockget up at 7 o’clock speak a foreign languagespeak a foreign language take a nap after dinnertake a nap after dinner study English every daystudy English every day meet friends at the meet friends at the

weekendweekend walk the dog three times walk the dog three times

a daya day water the plants once a water the plants once a

weekweek

ActivityActivity

Prepare eight different questions then ask the Prepare eight different questions then ask the questions to eight different people make notes:questions to eight different people make notes:

Do you often go to a casino? Do you often go to a casino?

Janek: Janek:

Do you drink coffee in the morning? Do you drink coffee in the morning?

Kasia: Kasia:

ActivityActivity

Look at the notes and write sentences Look at the notes and write sentences including information about yourself:including information about yourself:

Janek often goes to a casino and so do IJanek often goes to a casino and so do I..

Kasia doesn’t drink coffee in the morning Kasia doesn’t drink coffee in the morning but I do.but I do.

Use Use the present simple tense the present simple tense

correctly! correctly!

ActivityActivity

a a castlecastle

whiskywhisky

Look at the picturesLook at the pictures and words and words and make and make sentences.sentences.

ActivityActivity

He drinks whisky.He drinks whisky. He doesn't smoke.He doesn't smoke. He plays tennis.He plays tennis. He watches MTV.He watches MTV. He lives in a castle.He lives in a castle. He has ten children.He has ten children.

ActivityActivity

Do you smoke?Do you smoke? Do you play tennis?Do you play tennis? Do you speak French?Do you speak French? Do you play football?Do you play football? Do you like fast food?Do you like fast food? Do you like Chinese food?Do you like Chinese food?

BibliographyBibliography

1.1. Bourke K.: Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it.Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it. Oxford: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford University Press, 2006.

2.2. Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.:: An A-Z of English Grammar & An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage.Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Harlow: Longman, 2004.

3.3. Murphy R.: Murphy R.: English Grammar in UseEnglish Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.University Press, 2006.

4.4. Swan M.: Swan M.: Practical English UsagePractical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Press, 2005.

5.5. Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English GrammarA practical English Grammar. Oxford: . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.Oxford University Press, 1986.

6.6. Vince M.: Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition)Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition) . Oxford: . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010. Macmillan Education 2010.

7.7. British Council: Learn English: British Council: Learn English: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/preshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/present-tense/present-simpleent-tense/present-simple, 23.10.2013., 23.10.2013.

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Present Simple Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin