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. 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?

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 not important if the speaker is correct about the fact.
It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

 Cats like milk.

 Birds do not like milk.
 Do pigs like milk?
 California is in America.
 California is not in the United Kingdom.
 Windows are made of glass.
 Windows are not made of wood.
 New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

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.

Examples:
  The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
 The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
 When do we board the plane?
 The party starts at 8 o'clock.
 When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening
or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain
Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

 I am here now.
 She is not here now.
 He needs help right now.
 He does not need help now.
 He has his passport in his hand.
 Do you have your passport with you?

STRUCTURES:
AFFIRMATIVE:

SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENT

VERB CONJUGATION & SPELLING third person singular

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

1. - 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

2. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person
singular.

 go – goes
 catch – catches
 wash – washes
  kiss – kisses
 fix – fixes
 buzz – buzzes

3. 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

4.- VERB “ HAVE” CHANGES FOR “HAS”

 I HAVE A CAT SHE HAS A CAT

PERSONAL POSSESSIVE
PRONOUNS ADJECTIVE PRON.
I MY (MI)
YOU YOUR (TU)
HE HIS (SU DE EL)
SHE HER ( SU DE ELLA)
IT ITS (SU DE ESO)
WE OUR (NUESTRO)
YOU YOUR (SU DE USTEDES)
THEY THEIR ( SU DE ELLOS/ ELLAS)
NEGATIVE:

SUBJECT + DO /DOES + NOT + VERB S.F. + COMPLEMENT

DO----I /YOU / WE / THEY

DOES --- HE/ SHE/ IT

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. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative
sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the
reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not

I don't like meat = I do not like meat.

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

EXAMPLES:

 You don't speak Arabic.

 John doesn't speak Italian.
 We don't have time for a rest.
 It doesn't move.
 They don't want to go to the party.
  She doesn't like fish.

YES/NO QUESTIONS:

DO/DOES + SUBJECT + VERB S.F. + COMPLEMENT+?

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.

We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can,
must, mig ht, should etc.)

Affirmative: She is in her house. We are happy I am at school

Question: Is she in her house? Are we happy? Am I at school?

EXAMPLES:

 Do you need a dictionary?

 Does Mary need a dictionary?
 Do we have a meeting now?
 Does it rain a lot in winter?
 Do they want to go to the party?
 Does he like pizza?

WH- QUESTIONS:

WH + DO/ DOES + SUBJECT + VERB S.F. + COMPLEMENT + ?

WH-WORDS:

Question
Meaning Examples
words
who person Who's that? That's Nancy.
where place Where do you live? In Boston
Why do you sleep early? Because I've got to get
why reason
up early
when time When do you go to work? At 7:00
how manner How do you go? By car
what object, idea or action What do you do? I am an engineer
which choice Which one do you prefer? The red one.
whose possession Whose is this book? It's Alan's.
whom object of the verb Whom did you meet? I met the manager.
What kind of music do you like? I like quiet
what kind description
songs
what time time What time did you come home?
how many quantity (countable) How many students are there? There are twenty.
amount, price
how much How much time have we got? Ten minutes
(uncountable)
How long did you stay in that hotel? For two
how long duration, length
weeks.
how often frequency How often do you go to the gym? Twice a week.
how far distance How far is your school? It's one mile far.
how old age How old are you? I'm 16.
how come reason How come I didn't see you at the party?

WHERE DO YOU PLAY?

WHEN DOES HE DRINK WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND?