Simple Present
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. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples:
· I play tennis.
· She does not play tennis.
· Does he play tennis?
· The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
· The train does not leave at 9 AM.
· When does the train usually leave?
· She always forgets her purse.
· He never forgets his wallet.
· Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
· Does the Sun circle the Earth?
· Structure
· Positive
· In the positive form add a ’s’ to the base
form of the 3rd person singular. If the
verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant,
change the -y to -ies.
· I, You, We, They -> eat lunch at noon.
· He, She, It -> works well in any situation.
· Negative
· Conjugate the helping verb 'do' not
(don't and doesn't) the base form of
the verb to make negatives.
· I, You, We, They -> don't enjoy opera.
· He, She, It -> doesn't belong to the club.
· Questions
· Conjugate the helping verb 'do'
(do or does) the base form of the verb
in question forms.
· Do -> I, you, we, they -> work in this town?
· Does -> he, she, it -> live in this city?
Exercises
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) -----------------------------her kids to football practice.
2. Usually, I (work) -----------------------as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) --------------------French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.
3. Shhhhh! be quiet! John (sleep) ---------------------.
4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) ------------------------.
5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always)------------------.
6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) -------------------because everybody (talk) ------------------------so loudly.
7. Justin (write, currently) ------------------------------ a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.
8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) ----------------------to a movie tonight with some friends.
9. The business cards (be, normally) -----------------------printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) -----------------------inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.
10. This delicious chocolate (be) -----------------------made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.
2. Usually, I (work) -----------------------as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) --------------------French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.
3. Shhhhh! be quiet! John (sleep) ---------------------.
4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) ------------------------.
5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always)------------------.
6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) -------------------because everybody (talk) ------------------------so loudly.
7. Justin (write, currently) ------------------------------ a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.
8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) ----------------------to a movie tonight with some friends.
9. The business cards (be, normally) -----------------------printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) -----------------------inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.
10. This delicious chocolate (be) -----------------------made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.