2ka - simple present tense (print, paste and do)

Simple Present - Summary

Form

be

	affirmative	negative	question
I	I am.	I am not.	Am I?
he/she/it	He is.	He is not.	Is he?
you/we/they	You are.	You are not.	Are you?

have

	affirmative	negative	question
I/you/we/they	I have got. / I have.	I have not got. / I do not have.	Have I got? / Do I have?
he/she/it	He has got. / He has.	He has not got. / He does not have.	Has he got? / Does he have?

other verbs

	affirmative	negative	question
I/you/we/they	I play.	I do not play.	Do I play?
he/she/it	He plays.	He does not play.	Does he play?

Exceptions in Spelling

Exception	Example
The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.	he can, she may, it must
Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.	do - he does, wash - she washes
A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. (but: don't modify y after a vowel)	worry - he worries (but: play - he plays)

Short Forms

affirmative	negative
I am English. = I'm English.	I am not English. = I'm not English.
We are English.= We're English.	We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.
He is English. = He's English.	He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.
I have got a dog. = I've got a dog.	I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.
He has got a dog. = He's got a dog.	He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.
	I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis
	He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.

Use

Use	Example
action in the present taking place once, never or several times	Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.
actions in the present taking place one after another	She takes her bag and leaves.
facts (something is generally known to be true)	The sun sets in the west.
action set by a timetable or schedule	The train leaves at 9 pm.
verbs of possession, senses, emotions and mental activity	I love her.

Typical Signal Words

• always
• every ...
• often
• normally
• usually
• sometimes

Simple Present, Exercise on Use

 facts

Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. Paris (be) the capital of France.
2. Hamlet (be) a play by Shakespeare.
3. Mount Everest (reach) a height of 8848 metres.
4. Water (boil) at 100°C.
5. Ice (melt) at 0°C.
6. The river Thames (flow) past the Houses of Parliament.
7. The Olympic Games (take place) every four years.
8. A waiter (work) in a restaurant.
9. The earth (travel) around the sun in approximately 365 days.
10. My father (speak) English.

taking place once, never or several times

Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. On Mondays he (go) to the gym.
2. You never (arrive) on time.
3. I seldom (go) to the zoo.
4. Francis occasionally (drink) coffee.
5. Ron seldom (do) his homework.
6. They (not / often / sing) songs.
7. Pierre (not / play) tennis every week.
8. I (not / usually / watch) TV in the mornings.
9. (they / spend) their holidays in Canada every year?
10. (he /always / wear) a hat?