Virtual Math Teacher

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?subject + auxiliary verb + main verb
do base


There are three important exceptions:
For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.

Look at these examples with the main verb like: subject auxiliary verb main verb
+ I, you, we, they like coffee.
He, she, it likes coffee.
- I, you, we, they do not like coffee.
He, she, it does not like coffee.
? Do I, you, we, they like coffee?
Does he, she, it like coffee?


Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary: subject main verb
+ I am French.
You, we, they are French.
He, she, it is French.
- I am not old.
You, we, they are not old.
He, she, it is not old.
? Am I late?
Are you, we, they late?
Is he, she, it late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when:
the action is general
the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
the action is not only happening now
the statement is always trueJohn drives a taxi.
past present future

It is John’s job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.


Look at these examples:
I live in New York.
The Moon goes round the Earth.
John drives a taxi.
He does not drive a bus.
We do not work at night.
Do you play football?

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb “to be” in the simple present tense – some of them are general, some of them are now:Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
past present future

The situation is now.
I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
past present future

The situation is general. Past, present and future.




The simple present is used:
to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)
to give instructions or directions:
You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.
to express fixed arrangements, present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00


Examples:
For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
For repeated actions or events
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
For general truths
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
For instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
For fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March

Adverb of Time

q Always

q Never

q Every

q Often

q Seldom

q Usually

q Sometimes

A. VERBAL SENTENCE

Affirmative Form

S +V1(-s/-es) +ObjectSubject Verb 1 Object
I buy some books
You write a story
We study English
They play football
He goes to school
She gives a present
It runs very fast


NEGATIVE FORM
S+ do/does+ not+ V1+ objectSubject Do/does Not Verb 1 Object
I do not buy some books
You do not write a story
We do not study English
They Do not play football
He does not goes to school
She does not gives a present
it does not runs very fast


INTERROGATIVE FORM
Do/does+ S+ V1+ Object?Do/does Subject Verb 1 Object
Do I buy some books?
Do you write a story?
Do we study English?
Do they play football?
Does he go to school?
Does she give a present?
Does it run very fast?


1. Verbs ending in –y: the third person changes the –y to –ies :

fly → flies, cry → cries

Exception: if there is a vowel before the –y :

play → plays, pray → prays
Add –es to verbs ending in: -ss, -x, -sh, -ch :

he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

B. NON VERBAL SENTENCE

AFFIRMATIVE FORM
S+ to be(am/is/are)+ noun/adjective/adverb
NEGATIVE FORM
S+ to be+ not+ noun/adjective/adverb
INTERROGATIVE FORM
To be+ S+ noun/adjective/adverbAffirmative Interrogative Negative
I am a student Am I a student? I am not a student
You are clever Are you clever? You are not clever
We are teachers Are we teachers? We are not teachers
They are in library Are they in library? They are not in library
He is diligent Is he diligent? He is not diligent
She is a beautiful girl Is she a beautiful girl? She is not a beautiful girl
It is a cat Is it a cat? It is not a cat


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?