UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL ECUADOR

English Institute
NAME (S)________________________________________________________________ DATE_______________
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (Action Verbs)

USE 1 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present indicates a FACT that 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.
 Cats like milk.  An architect designs houses.
 Birds do not like milk.  An architect doesn’t work in a hospital.
 Do pigs like milk?  Does an architect play soccer?

SIMPLE PRESENT FORMS

 Most verbs conjugate like the verb "run" below. Notice how you add an "S" to third-person forms (HE, SHE, IT). Third-
person negative forms and third-person questions include the auxiliary "DOES."
POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION
I run in the park. I don’t run in the park. Do you run in the park?
You run in the park. You don’t run in the park. Do I run in the park?
He runs in the park. He doesn’t run in the park. Does he run in the park?
She runs in the park. She doesn’t run in the park. Does she run in the park?
It runs in the park. It doesn’t run in the park. Does it run in the park?
We run in the park. We don’t run in the park. Do we run in the park?
They run in the park. They don’t run in the park. Do they run in the park?

 With some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:
VERB VERB ENDING IN HOW TO MAKE THE 3rd PERSON SINGULAR EXAMPLE
PasS S Add – ES He PASSES in front of her
WaltZ Z Add – ES She WALTZES with me
WiSH SH Add – ES He WISHES good things
WatCH CH Add – ES She WATCHES the TV
MiX X Add – ES He MIXES the ingredients
FlY Consonant + Y Change Y to I, then Add - ES It FLIES around the house
GO Final Vowel “O” Add – ES She GOES to school

The verb HAVE is an Irregular verb and for the 3rd person forms (HE-SHE-IT) you use the conjugation HAS:
Examples:
 She has a beautiful house. He has a nice car. It has a lot of affection

Exercise. Complete the next sentences using the Simple Present form of the Verb in parenthesis
Example: Veronica plays (play) soccer all the time.
1. Jo is so smart that she ……………….. (pass) every exam without even trying.
2. They ……………….. (work) in a bank.
3. My mother ……………….. (mix) lemon and vinegar to clean the stove.
4. We ……………….. (fly) to Spain every summer.
5. The bank ……………….. (close) at four o'clock.

Exercise. Change the next sentences into Negative form. Change the complement for it to be logical statement.
Example: She drives an expensive car She doesn’t drive a cheap car.
1. I do exercise …………………………………………………
2. Mary has an expensive car. …………………………………………………
 3. This wine costs a lot of money. …………………………………………………
4. Some insects carry serious diseases. …………………………………………………
5. Tom likes chocolate ice cream. …………………………………………………

Exercise. Make YES / NO questions with the next sentences

Example: She drinks coffee every day. Does she drink coffee every day?
1. They live in teepees. …………………………………………………
2. We get wool from sheep. …………………………………………………
3. A fox lives in our garden. …………………………………………………
4. This car has two doors. …………………………………………………
5. I want a cup of coffee. …………………………………………………

INFORMATION QUESTIONS
Information Word Auxiliary Subject Verb Complement Answer
What Do You Play On your computer? I play video games
What time Does She Go To work? She goes to work at 6:00
Where Do They Have Their project? They have their project at home
Why Does He Buy A cake? He buys a cake because it’s my birthday

 NOTICE how the information words provide a certain type of information

INFORMATION WORD INFORMATION
WHERE PLACE - LOCATION
WHEN GENERAL TIME
WHAT TIME SPECIFIC TIME - HOURS
WHY REASON - PURPOSE
WHAT DIRECT OBJECT (Animals or Things) / SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
WHO DIRECT OBJECT (People) / SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
WHO……………………WITH COMPANY
HOW LONG DURATION
HOW OFTEN FREQUENCY
WHAT………………..FOR OBJECTIVE - PURPOSE
HOW MANNER - PROCEDURE

Examples:
It’s on the table. Where do you have your book? (Place: on the table)
She returns tomorrow. When does she return? (Time: tomorrow)
They start class at 7:00 am. What time do they start class? (Hour: at 7:00 am)
I study because I want to be an Engineer. Why do you study? (Reason: because I want to be an Engineer)
He eats pizza. What does he eat? (Direct Object: pizza)
I call my girlfriend. Who do you call? (Direct Object: my girlfriend)
She goes with my brother. Who does she go to the cinema with? (Company: with my brother)
They play for 2 hours. How long do they play? (Duration: for 2 hours)
He always exercises. How often does he exercise? (Frequency: always)
I study in order to be a professional. What do you study for? (Purpose: in order to be a professional)
You dance very well. How do I dance? (Manner: very well)

NOTICE. To make the question to the SUBJECT of the sentence, notice that the action is always CONJUGATED in 3rd person.
 Who prepares the dinner? They do* (Subject of the Sentence: They)
 Who has the marker? I do* (Subject of the Sentence: I)
 Who understands English? He does* (Subject of the Sentence: He)
Exercise. Make INFORMATION QUESTIONS considering the underlined words in the sentence
1. They participate in a contest. 6. You work with your brother.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
2. I often drink a glass of juice in the morning. 7. Your cat sleeps at 6:30.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
3. She does homework in the afternoon. 8. He runs in the afternoon.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
4. We like Miguel because he’s very honest. 9. They cook for the weekend.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
5. He calls her because he loves her. 10. My dog plays with a ball.
………………………………………………… …………………………………………………
General Exercise. Answer the next questions. Use your own information. Then ask the same questions to your partner.
YOUR CLASSMATE
Example: Where do you live? I live in La Magdalena “I live in San Carlos”

1. What do you study? ____________________________ ____________________________

2. Where does your father work? ____________________________ ____________________________
3. What time do you get up? ____________________________ ____________________________
4. How often do you go dancing? ____________________________ ____________________________
5. How long do you sleep? ____________________________ ____________________________
6. Why do you study English? ____________________________ ____________________________
7. Who do you live with? ____________________________ ____________________________

Write a summary about your answers and your classmate’s.

YOUR SUMMARY
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YOUR PARTNER’S SUMMARY

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