1

PRESENT SIMPLE

Introduction
......................................................................................................................................
The present simple in English is used to talk about:
repeated actions or habits in the present;
......................................................................................................................................
I go to school every day.
(Eu vou escola todos os dias.)
Maria always goes to the cinema on Saturdays.
(Maria sempre vai ao cinema aos sbados.)
......................................................................................................................................
facts that are generally true;
......................................................................................................................................
Elephants live in Africa and India.
(Elefantes vivem na frica e na ndia.)
Vegetarians don't eat meat.
(Vegetarianos no comem carne.)
......................................................................................................................................
permanent situations.
......................................................................................................................................
Maria lives in So Paulo.
(Maria mora em So Paulo.)
The children wear blue uniforms.
(As crianas usam uniformes azuis.)
......................................................................................................................................
Affirmative Form
......................................................................................................................................
To form the affirmative, after he, she and it, we usually add -s to the verb. Verbs that end in ch,
sh, s, x or z take -es. E.g. watches, washes, kisses, fixes, buzzes. For verbs that end in a
consonant +y, the y changes to i and -es is added. E.g. carry -> carries, fly ->flies.
......................................................................................................................................
Negative Form
......................................................................................................................................
To form the negative, we need the auxiliary verb do + not and the main verb in the infinitive
without to. We use does (do + -es) + not with he, she and it. E.g. I do not work; she does
not work. It is more usual to use the contracted forms.
Look at the examples below.
......................................................................................................................................
I don't speak Italian.

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He doesn't watch TV in the evenings.
......................................................................................................................................
Questions
......................................................................................................................................
To form questions we use do or does before the subject.
Look at the examples below
......................................................................................................................................
Do you speak English?
Does he live in a big house?
......................................................................................................................................
Short answers
......................................................................................................................................
We use the auxiliary verb do or does in short answers
Yes, I/you/we/they do.
Yes, he/she/it does.
No, I/you/we/they don't.
No, he/she/it doesn't.
......................................................................................................................................
'Do you speak Italian?' 'Yes, I do.' (Not: Yes, I speak. )
'Does he live in Rio de Janeiro?' 'Yes, he does.' (Not: Yes, he lives. )
......................................................................................................................................
Watch Out!
......................................................................................................................................
Don't forget to add the -s or -es to the verb after he, she and it in affirmative sentences:
......................................................................................................................................
He go to church every Sunday.
He goes to church every Sunday.
She walk to school every day.
She walks to school every day.
......................................................................................................................................
Remember that in negative sentences and questions we never add -s or -es to the main verb:
......................................................................................................................................
She doesn't smokes.
She doesn't smoke.
Does it takes long?
Does it take long?

AFFIRMATIVE

I work

I wash

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

you work

you wash

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

he works

he washes

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

she works

she
washes

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...............
...............
...

................
................
.

it works

It washes

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

we work

we wash

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

you work

you wash

...............
...............
...

................
................
.

they work

they wash

NEGATIVE

FULL FORM

CONTRACTED FORM

I do not
work

I don't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

you do
not work

You don't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

he does
not work

He
doesn't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

she does
not work

She
doesn't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

it does
not work

It doesn't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

we do not
work

We don't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

you do
not work

You don't
work

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

they do
not work

They
don't
work

QUESTION FORM

AFFIRMATIVE

QUESTION

I work

Do I
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

you work

Do you
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

he works

Does he
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

she works

Does she
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

it works

Does it
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

we work

Do we
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

you work

Do you
work...?

...............
...............
...

...............
...............
...

they work

Do they
work...?

EXERCISES:
A- Finish the sentences like in the example.
Example: Jane ___________ . (to read a book)
Answer:

Jane reads a book.

1. Johnny and Danny . (to swim in the lake)

2. Tom . (to collect stamps)
3. You . (to sing songs in the bathroom)
4. Julie . (to work in the garden)
5. I . (to sit at home)
6. Tina and Kate . (to open the windows)
7. Adam . (to speak French and German)
8. His sister . (to like lemonade)
9. We . (to listen to music)
10. My father . (to clean the car every Saturday)
B- Fill in "a" or "an".
Example
We read _ book.
:
Answer: We read a book.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Lucy likes dog.

Ben has got old bike.
Let's sing song.
Peter has got aunt in Berlin.
Emily needs new desk in her room.
He has got exercise book in his school bag.
I must find blue pencil.
We listen to English CD.

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Forming the simple present tense
There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and
the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":

Subject

Verb Form

Example

simple form

I sing

You

simple form

You sing

He

simple form + S

He sings

She

simple form + S

She sings

It

simple form + S

It sings

We

simple form

We sing

They

simple form

They sing

In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to
have a verb with -S.
-S or -ES?
With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to
add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:
Verb ending in...

How to make the 3rd person singular

Example

Add -ES

He passes

Add -ES

She dozes

sh

Add -ES

She wishes

ch

Add -ES

He watches

consonant + y

Change Y to I, then add -ES

It flies

[anything else]

Add -S

He sings

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Simple Present Tense

1A. Explanation
The simple present tense takes one of two forms depending on the
subject.
Subject

base form

I, you
They, We
Plural nouns

eat
go
work

He, She, It
Singular nouns
Non count-nouns

-s
form

eats
goes
works

1B. Examples
Subjects followed by verb in base
form:

Subjects with verb in s form:

I like rice.

She makes toys.

You look nice.

He rakes leaves.

They think twice.

It takes time.

We throw dice.

Mom bakes pies.

Chefs use spice.

Water slakes thirst.

The boys ring the doorbell.

Jill loves dates.

Children sing on special occasions. Mr. Smith fills crates.

Some people bring gifts to parties. Grandpa washes plates.
Bees sting when they are
disturbed.

The dog jumps gates.

1C. Exercises
1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time.
2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on time.

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3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography.
4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa every day.
5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.
2A. Explanation
Use the simple present tense to indicate:
1. Routine actions
2. Facts
2B. Examples
Routine actions

Facts

John brushes his teeth every

morning.

Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean.

Carol usually drives to work.

Some birds fly south for the

winter.

The teacher grades homework on

Fridays.

Water consists of hydrogen and

oxygen.

Note how the present tense is used in the following paragraph.

Mr. Lee is a bus driver. Every day he gets up at 7:00 a.m. and
prepares for his day. He showers, eats his breakfast, and puts on his
uniform. His wife drives him to the station where he checks in with
his supervisor. Then, he gets on Bus #405 and starts the engine. He
pulls out of the parking lot and begins his route. At his first stop, he
picks up Mrs. Miller, who lives in a red house on the corner of Main
Street and Seventh Avenue. She works at the post office and has to
be to work by 9:00. At the next stop, the Bartlett twins get on the
bus. They attend class at Bayside Elementary. More children get on
at the next three stops, and they ride until the bus reaches their
school. Mr. Lee enjoys seeing the kids every day and is happy to see
them again in the afternoon when he drives them safely back home.

2C. Exercises
1. To practice the present tense, reread the above paragraph, then
try to repeat the main ideas in your own words. Be sure to use the -s
form of the verb when the subject of a sentence is singular. Have a
partner listen to your speech and check for correct usage of verbs.
2. Tell whether the present tense is appropriate in the following

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sentences.
1. Yesterday I go to Washington D.C.
2. Every day, Mr. Johnson cleans his
Correct
living room.
Correct
3. They usually take the bus to the
office.

Correct

4. Right now Susan eats her

breakfast.

Correct

5. Melinda and Harry work in the

bank.

Correct

Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t
Incorrec
t

Common Mistakes with the simple present tense

1. Not using the -s form with singular subjects:
Jack likes Chinese food.
Jack like Chinese food.

(Correct)
(Incorrect
)

2. Using the simple present tense when another tense is required.

Last night I watched television for
two hours.
Last night I watch television for two
hours.

(Correct)
(Incorrect
)

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Forming the Simple Present Tense

I ________ in
a bank.
(work)
work
works
workes

She
________ in
Florida. (live)
live
lives
livees

It ________
almost every
day in
Manchester.
(rain)
rain
rains
raines

We ________
to Spain every
summer. (fly)
fly
flys
flies

My mother
________
eggs for
breakfast

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every
morning. (fry)
fry
frys
fries

The bank
________ at
four o'clock.
(close)
close
closies
closes

John
________
very hard in
class, but I
don't think
he'll pass the
course. (try)
try
trys
tries

Jo is so smart
that she
________
every exam
without even
trying. (pass)
pass
passies
passes

My life is so
boring -- I
just

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________ TV
every night.
(watch)
watch
watchies
watches

10 My best friend
________ to
me every
week. (write)
write
writies
writes

Forming the Simple Present Tense

Type the correct form of the word in brackets to fill each space

Parte superior do formulrio

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Parte inferior do formulrio
Parte superior do formulrio
Mary and I (work) in the same office, but we're completely different.
She (like) coffee, but I (like) tea. She (wash) her car every weekend,
but I never (clean) mine. She (smile) all the time at work, but I (feel)
miserable. I (complain) about the boss all the time, but Mary (think)
the boss is a nice person. When I (finish) work, I like to drink beer
with my friends, but Mary (study) at night school. The boss (think)
Mary is perfect, but she (drive) me nuts!
Negatives in the Simple Present Tense
Change each sentence into a negative

1. I like eggs.
2. Mary has an expensive car.
3. The Olympic champion comes from Victoria.
4. Some insects carry serious diseases.
5. This wine costs a lot of money.

Yes/No Questions in the Simple Present Tense

Exercise: Change each sentence into a yes/no question

1. He plays in goal.
2. We get wool from sheep.

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3. They live in teepees.

4. He teaches physics.
5. She drinks coffee
Parte inferior do formulrio