Nov 14, 2014
PRESENT SIMPLE
Affirmative sentences:
We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person singular (he, she, it) we put an -s at the end of the infinitive.
I/we/you/they play football.He/she/it plays football.
FORM
Negative sentences:
We use the auxiliary do or does (for the 3rd person singular) and the negative particle not.I/we/you/they do not play football.He/she/it does not play football.
Questions:We use the auxiliary do or does (for the 3rd person singular) and change the word order (auxiliary – subject – verb)Do I/we/you/they play football?Does he/she/it play football?
a) Add –s for most verbswork - works, buy - buys, ride - rides, return - returnsb.) Add –es for words that end in –ch, -s , -sh, -x, or –z.watch - watches, pass - passes, rush - rushes, relax - relaxes, buzz - buzzesc.) Change the –y to –i and add –es when the base form ends in a consonant +y.study - studies, hurry - hurries, dry - dries Do not change the –y when the base form ends in a vowel +y. Add –splay - plays, enjoy - enjoysd.) A few verbs have irregular forms.be - is, do - does, go- goes, have - has
SPELLING RULES FOR THE PRESENT SIMPLE
Use the present simple for:
- Routines and habits.e.g. Maria smokes- Permanent actions.e.g. Pedro lives in Seville- Current facts or truths.e.g. The earth is round
USE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Affirmative sentences:
We use a form of to be (am, are or is), the infinitive of the verb and the ending –ing.
I am playing volleyball.He/she/it is playing volleyball. We/you/they are playing volleyball.
FORM
Negative sentences:
We use the negative particle not after the verb to be and then the infinitive +ing.
I am not playing volleyball.He/she/it is not playing volleyball. We/you/they are not playing volleyball.
Questions:We use the verb to be as the auxiliary and change the word order (auxiliary – subject – verb)
Am I playing volleyball?Is he/she/it playing volleyball? Are we/you/they playing volleyball?
SPELLING RULES FOR THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
a.) Add –ing to the base form of the verb.read - reading, stand - standing, jump - jumpingb.) If a verb ends in a silent –e, drop the final -e and add –ing.leave - leaving, take - taking, receive - receivingc.) In a one-syllable word, if the last three letters are consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), doublethe last consonant before adding –ing.sit - sitting, run - running, hop - hoppingHowever, do not double the last consonant in word that end in w, x, or y.sew - sewing, fix - fixing, enjoy - enjoying
d.) In words of two or more syllables that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last consonant only if the last syllable is stressed.admit - admitting, regret - regretting e.) If a verb ends in –ie, change the –ie to y before adding -ing.die - dying
Use the present continuous for:
- Actions in progress at the moment of speaking.e.g. Maria is smoking right now-Future plans.e.g. I’m travelling to London next weekend
USE
ACTION AND
NON-ACTION VERBS
REMEMBER:
Action verbs can be used in the present simple and continuous but non-action verbs are not normally used in the present continuous
•Look! Peter ________ into the water.• jumps• is jumping
•Once a week, I ________ to an art class at the college.• go• am going
•Don't give Mary any cheese. She ________ it!• hates• is hating
• I ________ you're crazy!• think• am thinking
• I ________ lunch in the cafeteria every day.• have• am having
• I ________ to Toronto next Thursday. Do you want to come?• go• am going
•David is rich — he ________ a Mercedes.• drives• is driving
•Diana isn't Italian. I ________ she comes from France.• believe• am believing
•You won't find Jerry at home right now. He ________ in the library.• studies• is studying
• It ________ quite hard — perhaps we shouldn't go out tonight.• snows• is snowing
GO ON PRACTICING AT HOME
- http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/simcon1.htm- http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/66.html - http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_progressive2.htm- http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d3a001_grammar_beginners_present_simple_continuous.htm- http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.html