2. • WE USE THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE WHEN AN ACTION IS HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW.
EXAMPLE: I’M SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU’RE SICK.
• THE OTHER IS TO TALK ABOUT HABITUAL ACTIONS OR OCCURRENCES.
EXAMPLE: PAULINE PRACTICES THE PIANO EVERY DAY.
3. HOW TO FORM THE SIMPLE PRESENT
• IN THE SIMPLE PRESENT, MOST REGULAR VERBS USE THE ROOT FORM, EXCEPT IN
THE THIRD-PERSON SINGULAR (WHICH ENDS IN -S).
FIRST-PERSON SINGULAR: I WRITE
SECOND-PERSON SINGULAR: YOU WRITE
THIRD-PERSON SINGULAR: HE/SHE/IT WRITES (NOTE THE -S)
• FOR A FEW VERBS, THE THIRD-PERSON SINGULAR ENDS WITH -ES INSTEAD OF -
S. TYPICALLY, THESE ARE VERBS WHOSE ROOT FORM ENDS IN O, CH, SH, TH, SS,
GH, OR Z.
FIRST-PERSON SINGULAR: I GO
SECOND-PERSON SINGULAR: YOU GO
THIRD-PERSON SINGULAR: HE/SHE/IT GOES (NOTE THE -ES)
4. HOW TO MAKE THE SIMPLE
PRESENT NEGATIVE
• THE FORMULA FOR MAKING A SIMPLE PRESENT VERB NEGATIVE IS DO/DOES +
NOT + VERB. YOU CAN ALSO USE THE
CONTRACTION DON’T OR DOESN’T INSTEAD OF DO NOT OR DOES NOT.
EXAMPLES:
• SHE DOES NOT WANT TO SHARE THE PIE.
• I DON’T WANT PIE ANYWAY.
5. HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
• THE FORMULA FOR ASKING A QUESTION IN THE SIMPLE PRESENT IS DO/DOES +
[SUBJECT] + VERB.
EXAMPLE:
• DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BAKE A PIE?
• DOES SHE WANT TO GO TO THE SCHOOL?
7. HOW TO USE IT
• THE PRINCIPAL USE OF THE SIMPLE PRESENT IS TO REFER TO AN ACTION OR
EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE PRESENT, BUT WITH THE VERB "TO BE" THE
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE ALSO REFERS TO A PRESENT OR GENERAL STATE.
• I AM HAPPY.
• SHE IS HELPFUL.
• THEY ARE SAD.
8. HOW TO FORM THE VERB TO BE.
I AM
YOU ARE
SHE IS
HE IS
IT IS
WE ARE
YOU ARE
THEY ARE
EXAMPLES:
1. I AM TIRED.
2. IT (GARDEN) IS BEAUTIFUL.
3. THEY ARE TALL.
9. HOW TO MAKE THE NEGATIVE FORM.
I AM NOT
YOU ARE NOT
SHE IS NOT
HE IS NOT
IT IS NOT
WE ARE NOT
YOU ARE NOT
THEY ARE NOT
EXAMPLES:
1. I AM NOT TIRED.
2. IT (GARDEN) IS NOT BEAUTIFUL.
3. THEY ARE NOT TALL.
10. HOW TO ASK A QUESTION.
AM I?
ARE YOU?
IS SHE?
IS HE?
IS IS?
ARE WE?
ARE YOU?
ARE THEY?
EXAMPLES:
1. AM I TIRED?
2. IS IT (GARDEN) BEAUTIFUL?
3. ARE THEY TALL?
