This document provides instruction on forming and using the simple present tense in English. It begins by explaining how to make the simple present tense with regular verbs using subject + auxiliary verb + main verb. It then discusses the forms for the verbs "to be" and "to have" in the simple present tense. Examples are given to illustrate the use of the simple present tense to describe habitual or repeated actions. The last part contains exercises for students to practice identifying the correct verb forms in simple present sentences.

1. UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL ECUADOR
FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y
CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN
CARRERA DE IDIOMAS – PLURILINGUE
ELIZABETH GOYES
QUINTO SEMESTRE
2011

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

4. NOTE:
•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.

5. THE FORMS OF SIMPLE
PRESENT

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

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

8. 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 true

9. John 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 meet every Thursday.
•We do not work at night.
•Do you play football?

10. NOTE:
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:

11. Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
past present future
The situation is now.

12. I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
past present future
The situation is general. Past, present and future.

13. LOOK AT THIS TABLE

14. EXAMPLES
Subjects followed by verb in Subjects with verb in ?s
base form: form:
• I like rice. She makes toys.
• You look nice. He rakes leaves.
• They think twice. It takes time.
• We throw dice. Mom bakes pies.
• Chefs use spice. Water slakes thirst.
• The boys ring the doorbell. Jill loves dates.
• Children sing on special Mr. Smith fills crates.
occasions. Grandpa washes plates.
• Bees sting when they are The dog jumps gates.
disturbed.

15. Exercises
Circle the correct form of verb
1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time.
2. 2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on
time.
3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography.
4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa every day.
5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.