1.

Present Simple Tense

Present simple tense is used to
express the idea that an action is
usual. The action can be a habit, a
hobby, or a routine. It is also used to
tell a general truth.

 My

parents go to work by car.

The sun rises in the east.
Spencer rides a scooter to work.
It never snows in Taiwan.
My brother goes to school on foot.
Light travels faster than sound.

 In

the simple present, the third

person singular subjects have a verb
with s for most verbs; however, with
some verbs, we need to add es or
change the ending. The rules are as
follows:

1) Verbs ending in s, z, sh, ch: add

es : watch watches, wish wishes,

2) Verbs ending in consonant+ y:
change y to i then add es : fly flies,
3) Verbs ending in a vowel +y, add
s : pay pays, play plays

1.
2.
3.

1.1-2 Exercise : Use make or

do to complete each
sentence
Mrs. Smith always _____ the bed
for her son.
Sue ________ an appointment with
her dentist twice a month.
Chad ______ huge progresses in
math.
6

4.
5.
6.
7.

We ___________ the shopping once

a week.
The businessman _____________ a
lot of money by selling cars.
My mother ___________ the laundry
in the morning.
Janet and her sister usually
_________ their homework after
school.
7

 1.1-3

Forming Negative,
Question and Wh- sentences:
Forming Negative questions :
sentences in the simple present
tenses are formed by adding do
not or does not before the
simple form of the verb: A third
singular subject uses doesnt,
the others use dont.
8

 Forming

Yes/NO questions:
Yes/No questions are formed by
using do or does. Do or Does
is placed before the subject.
Do you major in history? Yes, I do.
Does your mother speak English?
No, she doesnt.
Do the Browns eat meat? No, they
dont.

 Forming

Wh-questions:
Wh question are formed by putting
do or does in front of the subject
and the wh word is at the
beginning of a sentence.
Where do the Browns live?
What kind of car does Mary have?
How often does your father work
out in the gym?

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 1-1-5

Adverb of Frequency
Adverbs of Frequency are used to
tell how often we do an activity. If
the sentence has one adverb put
the adverb after the subject and
before the verb. However, the
adverb should go after an
auxiliary verb.
11

 Table

1.1: Adverbs of Frequency

percent Adverb of
age
Frequency
100%
80%
12

Example Sentence

always

My father always
goes to work by car.

usually

He usually goes to
work after breakfast.

70%

often/
He often has his
frequently lunch in the office.

50%

He sometimes has a
sometimes
sandwich for lunch.

30%

He occasionally has
occasionally
fast-food for lunch.

10%
13

seldom /
rarely

He seldom goes
home for lunch.

5%
0%

14

He hardly takes a nap

hardly ever
in the afternoon.
never

He is never late for

work.

1.
2.
3.
4.

1.1-6 Exercise: Complete

sentences with the verb and
adverb of frequency:
Americans ________ (send) chocolate to
their sweetheart.
Banks _______ (be) closed on Sundays.
Chinese people _____ (eat) moon cakes
on Mid-autumn Festival.
I ____ (go) to bed before 8: 00. I am a
night owl.
15

My grammar teacher ______ (wear)

high heels.
6. It _____________ (snow) in Taipei.
7. My class _________ (start) at nine.
8. It ______ (rain) in summer in
Keelung.
9. Valentines Day _____ ( be) on
February 14th.
10. It _______ (rain) in winter in
southern Taiwan.
5.

16

 1.2

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous is used to
express the idea that something is
happening now or at this moment. It
is used to say something is in the
process of doing a longer action.

17

 Is

the baby crying now? No, he isnt.

He is sleeping.
Currently, J. K. Rowling is writing a
new book.
I am studying to become a scientist.
I am reading the book The Chicken
Soup for the Soul.
Are you working on any projects?

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 The

present Continuous can be

used to indicate something that is
going to happen in the future. It
always goes with the following
verbs: leave, come, go, visit.
She is visiting her parents-in-law
tonight.
We are going to Brazil next week.
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 Present

continuous tense with the

word "always" means irritating things
happen again and again.
My grandma is always losing the
keys.
I don't like Lisa because she is
always nagging on me.

20

 1.2-1

Spelling rules for the

formation of the present
participle
Some verbs change their spelling
with theing form
1) When a verb ends in a silent e,
the e is dropped. close closing

21

2) When a verb ends in ie, the ie

is changed to y before the ing is

added. die dying lielying
3) No change is made with the end
of y. fly flying play playing
4) If the one-syllable verbs ending in
a single constant with a short
vowel, the final consonant must be
doubled before the ing is added,
except with w, x and y ending.
nodnodding digdigging
runrunning
22

1.
2.
3.
4.

1.2-3 Exercise: Complete the

sentences with Present
Continuous Tense.
Listen! The restaurant ________ (play)
Chopins music.
My grandfather _______(always/forget)
to turn off the light.
Sue and her sister ______ (leave) now.
The little boy _____ (cry). Is he hungry?

23

5.
6.
7.

George ______ (always/ask) silly

questions in class.
Charles _____ (come) next week.
My husband and I _____ (sit) in the
coffee shop. He ______ (have)
some tea and I _______ (have) a
cup of hot chocolate.
24

The taxi ____ (wait) for you outside.

Hurry up.
9. Look! The water ________ (boil).
10. Lauren _______ (surf) the net at this
moment.
8.

25

 1.3

Non-Continuous Verbs
Some verbs cannot be used in the
progressive tenses although these
verbs are happening at the
present. These verbs are called
non-action verbs/stative verbs
which are used to indicate state,
sense, desire, possession, or
opinion.
26

 Table

1.2: Non-Action Verbs

abstract verbs

Know, need, understand,

cost, want, remember,
prefer, believe, recognize,
weigh

love, like, hate, dislike,

emotional verbs fear, envy, care, mind
27

possession verbs
linking verbs

28

have, own, possess

seem, look, sound, smell,
feel, taste, appear, become

 Some

verbs have more than one

meaning. Some meanings behave
like "non-action verbs", while others
behave like "action verbs." Verbs
that have more than one meaning
are listed in table1.3.

29

Table 1.3: Verbs can function as

action verbs or non-action verbs

have

miss
30

I have a brother and a sister.

I am having a cup of coffee.
John misses his ex-wife very
much.
Debbie is missing her favorite
talk show.

31

think

He thinks the test is easy.

He is thinking of changing the
job.

appear

Alex appeared happy.

Andy Lau is appearing on the
stage.

smell

These roses smell good.

Katherine is smelling these roses

1.

2.
3.
4.

1.3-1 Complete each sentence

with present simple or continuous
tense.
I _______ (prefer) Japanese food to
French food.
My niece ____ (dislike) playing sports.
Carlos _______ (own) that flower shop.
The laptop computer _______ (belong)
to me. It is not yours.
32

5.
6.
7.
8.

Whats on your mind? You

____(sound) unhappy.
I _______ (see) my nephew talking
to a stranger.
How much _____ the ticket ___
(cost) ?
The man ____ (weigh) at least 200
pounds.
33