Grammar-A1_2-present-simple

Grammar A1 present simple

Recommended for:

Gold Experience

Focus

High Note

2019

The present simple

Let’s look at:

• When we use the present simple?
• How we make positive sentences in the present simple?
• How we make negative and question forms in the present simple?

When do we use it?

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Function: present simple

What time do you start school in the morning?

I start school at 9am. I go to school in the mountains, so I catch the bus very early at 7am. My best friend flies to school in a helicopter!

Wow! Do you study languages?

I don’t study languages at school, but I go to a Spanish class every Tuesday evening.

Look at these examples from the conversation and match them to the uses in the table. The first one is done for you.

We can use the present simple for…

Something which is usually or always true.

Routines and habits in the present.

I start school at 9am.

I catch the bus at 7am.

I go to school in the mountains.

I go to a Spanish class every Tuesday evening.

I don’t study languages at school.

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Function: When do we use the present simple?

1. For something that is usually or always true.

This is something that is true. It’s a fact.

I go to school in the mountains.

2. For routines and habits.

This is a routine. It happens every week at the same time.

I go to Spanish class every Tuesday evening.

How do we make positive sentences in the present simple?

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Look at the example sentences in the table. With I, you, we, you (plural) and they, do we change the verb ending?

Form: present simple

No. The verb is the same

I start school at 9am. I go to school in the mountains, so I catch the bus very early at 7am.

person

verb

I

You

start school at 9am.

changes

start school at 9am.

We

start school at 9am.

You (plural)

They

start school at 9am.

start school at 9am.

My friend Tom starts school at 9am. He catches the bus at 7am and his friend flies to school in a helicopter!

No changes.

starts school at 9am.

He/She/It

Add - s/-es/-ies.

catches the bus at 7am.

Now look at the example verbs in the present simple with he, she or it. What changes do we make to the verb?

flies to school in a helicopter!

No changes.

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Form: present simple positive

My friend Tom starts school at 9am. He catches the bus at 7am and his friend flies to school in a helicopter!

I start school at 9am. I go to school in the mountains, so I catch the bus very early at 7am.

person

verb

I

changes

start school at 9am.

You

start school at 9am.

He/she/it

No changes.

starts school at 9am.

We

start school at 9am.

You (plural)

Add - s/-es/-ies .

No changes.

start school at 9am.

They

start school at 9am.

The verb only changes in the third person he/she/it.

But when do we add - s, -es or change the ending to –ies?

Let’s see…

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Things to consider…

We now know that in the third person positive ( he/she/it ), we add - s , - es , or - ies .

Add - s to the verb (most common).

e.g. He starts at 9am. He works in a bookshop.

start + s = starts work + s = works

Add - es with verbs ending in - o, -ss, -x, -ch, -sh.

e.g. She does exercise. He catches the bus.

do + es = does catch + es = catches

… but when do we add - s,

-es, or -ies? It depends on the spelling of the verb. Look…

Change - y to - ies when the verb ends in a consonant + - y.

e.g. The baby cries a lot. He flies to school in a helicopter.

cry – y = cr + ies = cries fly – y = fl + ies = flies

Negative and question forms.

y

consonant

y

consonant

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Form: present simple negatives & questions

I start school at 9am. I don’t study languages at school, but I go to a Spanish class every Tuesday evening. Does your sister live in Spain now?

What time do you start school in the morning?

Do you study languages?

negatives

I, You, We, They

He, She, It

+ infinitive

No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t live there now. She lives in London.

questions

(qu. word)

(qu. word)

I, you, we, they

he, she, it

+ infinitive?

Look at part of the conversation again and fill in the table with these words. The first is done for you.

doesn’t (does not)

do

does/doesn’t

do/don’t

short answers

Yes/No,

I, you, we, they

he, she, it

don’t (do not)

does

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Form: present simple negatives & questions

What time do you start school in the morning?

I start school at 9am. I don’t study languages at school, but I go to a Spanish class every Tuesday evening. Does your sister live in Spain now?

No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t live there now. She lives in London.

negatives

I, You, We, They

I

don’t (does not)

He, She, It

She

doesn’t (does not)

don’t

+ infinitive

doesn’t

+ infinitive

study languages.

live there now.

We use does/doesn’t in the third person ( he/she/it) in negative statements and questions.

The infinitive form is what you find in a dictionary.

questions

(qu. word)

do

What time

I, you, we, they

Does

do

+ infinitive?

he, she, it

you

Does

+ infinitive?

your sister

start school?

live in Spain now?

Some questions are open (they need a long answer). We use question words with open questions.

short answers

Yes/No,

I, you, we, they

do/don’t.

He, she, it

does/doesn’t.

Some questions are closed ( yes/no questions). They don’t have a question word. We use short answers with these.

Let’s practise!

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Practice activities

Complete the gaps with the words in brackets.

• …………… you…………….(work) in a bank? No, I…………………..

• Stella…………………………….(not eat) meat. She’s a vegetarian.

• Where…………………….Todd…………………….(do) yoga? ……………he……………..(go) to the yoga class in the school?

• Jenny’s jacket……………………………..(match) her trousers. She looks beautiful!

• My best friend…………………………(speak) three languages. I only……………………..(speak) two.

• Francesca……………………..(not play) football on Fridays. She………………………(go) swimming.

don’t

Do

work

doesn’t eat

do

does

Does

go

matches

speaks

speak

goes

doesn’t play

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