EVOLVE U.C.E: UNIT 4

SIMPLE PRESENT:

FORMING THE PRESENT SIMPLE:

SIMPLE PRESENT - GRAMMAR

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

I take the train to the office.
The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

The President of The USA lives in The White House.
A dog has four legs.
We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

I get up early every day.
Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

It rains a lot in winter.
The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).

In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject	Verb	The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they	speak / learn	English at home
he / she / it	speaks / learns	English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

go – goes
catch – catches
wash – washes
kiss – kisses
fix – fixes
buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

marry – marries
study – studies
carry – carries
worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

play – plays
enjoy – enjoys
say – says

NEGATIVE FORM:

Examples:

I don't play tennis often. / I do not play tennis often.
My mother doesn't enjoy rap music. / My mother does not enjoy rap music.
We don't sleep late on weekdays. / We do not sleep late on weekdays.
The teacher doesn't read comic books. / The teacher does not read comic books.
My professor doesn't believe my excuse. / My professor does not believe my excuse.