3

The Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements

Cultural Customs

Focus on Grammar 2 Part III, Unit 8 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

International Pen Pals

Dear Ali, I am very happy at the English Language Institute. Every day, I meet so many interesting students with different customs. For example, my classmates from Thailand bow to the teacher. My roommate, Lia, doesnt wear shoes inside our room. My classmates from Mexico dont call the teacher by her first name. This is a great experience!

Your friend, Kadesh

The Simple Present 1

Use the simple present to tell about things that happen again and again (habits, regular occurrences, customs, and routines).

Ahmed drinks coffee every afternoon.

Many American children wear costumes on Halloween.

The Simple Present 2

Use the simple present to tell facts.

Peru is in South America.

I think we need sweaters.

Water freezes at 32 Fahrenheit.

The Simple Present 3

Use the simple present with non-action verbs.

Marian and Cara know Arabic.

Roberto likes bullfights.

Practice 1
Example: They usually They usually celebrate celebrate New New Years Years Day Day with a with party. big a big party.

Match each statement to its use in the simple present. STATEMENT Regular Occurrence
2. He goes dancing every Friday night.

Fact
1. They believe everything she says.

3. Triangles have three sides.

Non-Action Verb

Affirmative Statements
Use the base form of the verb for all persons except third person singular. Put s or es on the third person singular. Daniel dances in the Chinese New Year Parade each year.

Ted dresses up like a lion.

Practice 2
make take

Use the verbs in the box to describe what these people do every day.
watch play

Example: He makes pizza.

1.

2.

3.

She plays soccer.

He watches soccer.

They take a bath.

Negative Statements 1
Use does not or do not before the base form of the verb.

She does not takes off her shoes. take

enjoy Some people do not enjoys sushi.

Negative Statements 2
Use the contractions doesnt and dont for negative statements in speaking or in informal writing.

Italians dont use chopsticks.

Luis doesnt like bullfights.

Practice 3

Change the affirmative statements to negative statements.

Example: Many Chinese eat noodles. Many Chinese dont eat noodles. 1. Sheila likes to eat spicy food.
Sheila doesnt like to eat spicy food.

2. Some nomadic people live in tents.

Some nomadic people dont live in tents.

3. Monica watches fireworks on the 4th of July.

Monica doesnt watch fireworks on the 4th of July.

Irregular Forms
Third person singular affirmative forms of have, do, and go are not regular.

Subject
I You We They He She It

Have

Do

Go

have

do

go

has

does

goes

Practice 4

Complete the sentences with the correct form of have, do, or go.

goes Example: She __________ shopping every Friday.

does 1. Luis __________ his homework every night. have 2. Leticia and Janet __________ backpacks. go 3. I always __________ to the movies on Thursdays. has 4. Shaun __________ a biology class on Mondays. 5. They always __________ the dishes after dinner. do

References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.