The Simple Present Tense

By Gaby Rinkerman

Dear Abby…My dad used to have a great body in his younger days. But a lot beer has gone down his belly since then and now he is sort of fat. Dad likes to walk around the house in swimming shorts. When my friends come over, I’m embarrassed. My mother doesn’t like it either. She always says to him: “Fred, go put on a robe.” But he doesn’t pay attention. He never pays attention. My dad is wonderful and I love all 220 pounds of him, but do you think he should sit in the living room in swimming shorts when I have company?Embarrassed Daughter

What do you think was Dear Abby’s answer?

Dear Embarrassed Daughter,When your mom tells your dad to put on a robe, your dad should put on a robe. Does your father like you to sit in the living room in your bathing suit when he entertains business friends? Point this out to him. It might help.

Dear AbbyI am an…The first on the rightwhen you enter the park.Every day at about six o’clocka tiny, old man and his big dogcome to the park,and while the man looks awaythe dog…well, I’m sure you can imagine.What should I do?Yours miserably,Douglas Trim

Unscramble the Texta tiny, old man and his big dogWhat should I do?when you enter the park.I am an…The first on the rightand while the man looks awayEvery day at about six o’clockDear AbbyYours miserably,Douglas Trimcome to the park,the dog…well, I’m sure you can imagine.

The Simple Present Tense

USES To talk about routines or habits.

– I brush my teeth every morning.– He rides the bus to work.

To talk about facts or general truths.– The sun rises in the east.– Americans speak English.

Form

Two forms: base form and “s” form1. We use the base form with I, you, we, theyI, you, we, they and plural nounsplural nouns:

Iyouwethey + need + watermy friendstrees

2. We use the “s” form with he, she, it,he, she, it, and singular nounssingular nouns:

heshe + needs + waterthe flowerSusan

“S” Form Spelling1. We add “s” to most verbs to make the “s” form

like likes need needs

2. When the base form ends in s, z, sh, ch,or x, we add “-es”miss misses wash washes

watch watches fix fixes

3. When the base form ends in a consonant + y, we change the y to i and add “–es”.

study studies carry studies

4. When the base form of the verb ends in a vowel + y, we do not change the y.

say says play plays

5. Some verbs have irregular forms:Do does have has go goes

Spelling Exercise

plan teach

match Study

Sit Fix

Begin have

Hurry Play

Happen Drink

Stay Smoke

Row do

Marry miss

Spelling Exercise – Answers

plan Plans Teach Teaches

Match Matches Study Studies

Sit Sits Fix Fixes

Begin Begins Have Has

Hurry Hurries Play Plays

Happen Happens Drink Drinks

Stay Stays Smoke Smokes

Row Rows Do Does

Marry Marries Miss Misses

“s” Form - Pronunciation The final form for the third-person singular form of the

simple present tense is pronounced threethree different ways:– /s/ /z/, or /iz/

It is pronounced /s/ after the voiceless sounds /p/, /t/, /k/– Stops, wants, walks.

It is pronounced /z/ after all the vowel sounds and the voiced sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /m/, /n/, /l/, and /r/– Grabs, needs, drives, lives, comes, wears, rains, plays.

It is pronounced /iz/ after the sounds /s/, /z/, and words that end in –ge, -ce, and –se. We must pronounce an extra syllable.extra syllable.– use uses wash washes– fix fixes charge charges– dance dances miss misses

DO and SAY have a change in vowel sound:– do does say says

Pronunciation Exercise/s/ /z/ /iz/

wears

misses

plays

rains

drinks

takes

washes

lives

worries

works

Auxiliary Verbs: Do / Does Affirmative Statements:

– I take a shower every morning.– He takes the train to work.

Use DO / DOES with negative Statements and questions: – Use Do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns

• You don’t understand me.• Do they work in New York?

– Use Does with he, she, it, and singular nouns• She doesn’t study French.• Does he call you every day?

Please remember!

After an auxiliary verb (do – does) use the base form of the verb (not the “s” form)– He doesn’t worry too much.– Does it stay open on holidays?

Questions follow this format:– Aux + Subject + Verb? AASSV?V?

Does she work on weekends?

Do they buy groceries at the supermarket?

Questions of Frequency How OftenHow Often asks questions about frequency. How

often is often used with the simple present tense. It is rarely used with the present progressive:– How often do you clean your room?– NOT: How often are you cleaning your room?

Adverbs and expressions of frequency are often used with the simple present tense. They rarely occur with the present progressive:– They usually eat breakfast at eight o’clock– NOT: They are usually eating breakfast at eight

o’clock.

Using Adverbs and Expressions of Frequency They tell us how often we do something

– Expressions of frequency or time markers• Every day, morning, night, weekend…

• Twice a day, month, year…

• Three times a day, month, year…

• Several times a day, month year…

• Once in a while

– Adverbs of frequency

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Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

Position: Expressions of frequency (time markers) come at

the beginning or the end of a sentence:– He plays tennis every day.– Every week they go to the movies.

Adverbs of frequency come after the verb TO BE:– She is usually on time.– They are rarely home on weekends.

Adverbs of frequency come before other verbs:– They never clean their car.– She doesn’t often go to New York.

Internet Grammar Links http://www.collegeem.qc.ca/cemdept/anglais/pressiml.htm http://www.collegeem.qc.ca/cemdept/anglais/tobeetcl.htm