Simple Present Verbs

They are the right verb form for normal conditions and facts.

Use simple present for the usual.

• The simple present indicates common, everyday activities and conditions:

Verbs to use: want, take, and eat.

1. Most people __ lunch around noon everyday.

(It is no surprise; it’s just a commonality.) 2. Students __ quizzes in the class. (Quizzes are normal parts of classes.) 3. The babysitter __ more money to watch

the kids. (She wants more money not just today, but

everyday.)

Use simple present for facts.

• We express facts in the simple present.

Verbs to use: prescribe, cost, and get:

1. Hurricanes ___ insurance companies millions of dollars each year.

2. Nurse practitioners ___ medications just like medical doctors.

3. Criminal justice majors ___ jobs in law enforcement.

Negate action verbs with don’t.

• To make negatives, action verbs combine with don’t or doesn’t:

1. Most students have jobs, but some __.

2. Ericka __ work at any job at all.

3. __ forget to finish your homework.

4. The professor __ finish the quiz yet.

5. __ you still have homework to do?

Negate be verbs with not.

• Negate am, are, and is with not:

1. I’m an instructor. I __ a technician.

2. There __ enough computers for everyone.

3. The college __ responsible for your books.

4. The parking lot __ big enough for all cars.

5. We __ learning Chinese in this course.

6. It __ necessary to memorize everything.

7. You __ required to write an essay yet.

Use do in yes-no questions.

• Begin yes-no questions with action verbs with do or does.

1. __ most college students borrow money to pay their school bills?

2. __ your friend Miguel take English Composition class?

3. __ you read faster than you write?

4. __ the weather look good today?

5. __ you feel better when you pass quizzes?

Frequency words front action verbs.

• Put frequency words before action verbs.

Words: always, often, rarely, never, and usually

1. Our class __ meets in its normal room.

2. We __ go out to the language lab.

3. The professor __ misses our class.

4. The sun __ shines in the summer.

5. Weak students __ miss classes.

Frequency words follow be verbs.

• Put frequency words after BE verbs.

Use always, often, rarely, never, and usually

1. Our class is __ in the normal room.

2. We are __ in the other language lab.

3. The professor is __ out of our class.

4. The sun is __ shining in the summer.

5. Weak students are __ out of classes.

6. This class is __ boring; it’s __ interesting.

7. The police are __ watching for speeders.

When do verbs add –s?

• Add the –s to verbs after he, she, and it:

1. Guadalupe __ a good student.

2. He seem_ to know most things.

3. He preview_ course information.

4. Rarely do_ he get less than a B.

5. Everyone know_ he will pass the class.

6. His boss __ him doing many projects.

7. How far he go_ depends on his desire.

Can you use non-action verbs?

• Non-action verbs such as is, become, and seem show existence and are not progressive.

Use: be, seem, appear, become.

1. Good learners __ to have many study skills.

2. They __ in their textbooks a lot of the time.

3. On tests, they __ even more focused.

4. They __ in class on time almost everyday.

5. They __ ready to study to __ successful.

6. They also __ always ready to participate.

Short answers to do questions

• Answer do questions with either yes or no with a pronoun and do or does.

1. __ you work in the evening?

Yes, I __. I go there after classes.

2. __ your father work in a factory?

Yes, he __. He works at Shaw.

3. __ all students have jobs?

No, they __. Some students __ have to work any job.

Can you answer questions with be?

• Short answers to be questions begin with yes or no and include the be verb:

1. Are you taking an ESL class? Yes, I __. I __ in Intermediate ESL. 2. Is Eva a college freshman?

No, she __. She __ in her second year. 3. Are there any Asian students in our class? Yes, there __. They __ over there. 4. Is your brother in this class? No, he __. He __ still in high school.

Can you use simple present? • Use is, do, know, see

1. __ you __ that guy?

2. The one that __ in the hallway?

3. Yes, he __ my best friend.

4. Oh, __ you __ him?

5. Sure, he __ my cousin.

6. What __ his name? Do cell phones and computers always help communication?

Can you use simple present? • Use don’t, visit,

live, stay, eat, go.

1. College students __ on or near campus.

2. They __ in campus cafeterias.

3. Tourists __ in hotels and motels.

4. They __ interesting places for fun.

5. Tourists __ __ to work.

What makes the hotel above look cheap?

Can you use simple present? • Use take, learn, study,

attend, become, work.

1. Many students __ college to __ nurses.

2. Nurses must __ for at least two years.

3. They __ about the body and medicines.

4. Nurses __ in clinics and hospitals.

5. They __ care of all kinds of patients.

Is the nurse above correct?

Can you use simple present? • Use have, look,

like, do, want.

1. Some people __ small towns.

2. They prefer to __ a calm and quiet life.

3. Others __ to live in populated cities.

4. They __ for action and adventure there.

5. What kind of community __ you prefer?

How do people feel stuck in traffic?

Can you use simple present? • Use have, need,

are, is, and keep.

1. There __ many factors in success.

2. First, you __ a goal.

3. Then motivation __ helpful.

4. Winners of course __ good attitudes.

5. Last, successful people __ trying. Do winners cheat?

Can you use academic words?

• Use: community, participation, factor, cultural, and response.

1. A small town usually is a friendly __.

2. Say hello, and you’ll get an answer in __.

3. One reason or __ is that everyone knows everyone else in town.

4. Its social side is more developed than its __.

5. Everyone comes together for __ to support the high school sports teams.