Simple Present.

Introduction The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses in English. 1. Forming the simple present tense There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing": Subject I You He She It We They Verb Form simple form simple form simple form + S simple form + S simple form + S simple form simple form Example I sing You sing He sings She sings It sings We sing They sing

In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S. 2. -s or -es ? With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules: Verb ending in... How to make the 3rd person singular Example

s z sh ch consonant + y [anything else]

Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Change Y to I, then add -ES Add -S

He passes She dozes She wishes He watches It flies He sings

1. John ________ very hard in class, but I don't think he'll pass the course. A. ? try B. C. ? ? trys tries

2. It ________ almost every day in Manchester. A. ? rain B. C. ? ? rains raines

3. We ________ to Spain every summer. A. ? fly B. C. 4. ? ? flys flies

My best friend ________ to me every week.

A. B. C.

? ? ?

write writies writes

5. I ________ in a bank. A. ? work B. C. ? ? works workes

6. My mother ________ eggs for breakfast every morning. A. ? fry B. C. ? ? frys fries

7. The bank ________ at four o'clock. A. ? close B. C. ? ? closies closes

8. My life is so boring -- I just ________ TV every night. A. ? watch B. C. ? ? watchies watches

9. She ________ in Florida. A. ? live B. C. ? ? lives livees

10. Jo is so smart that she ________ every exam without even trying. A. ? pass B. C. ? ? passies passes

Simple Present FORM [VERB] + s/es in third person Examples:

You speak English. Do you speak English? You do not speak English.

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do. Examples:

I play tennis. She does not play tennis. Does he play tennis? The train leaves every morning at 8 AM. The train does not leave at 9 AM. When does the train usually leave? She always forgets her purse. He never forgets his wallet. Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun. Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things. Examples:

Cats like milk. Birds do not like milk. Do pigs like milk? California is in America. California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass. Windows are not made of wood. New York is a small city. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT THIS FACT IS UNTRUE.