This document provides information on using verbs in the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It discusses the structures, rules and examples of affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences in both tenses. Exercises are included to practice filling in sentences with the correct verb forms. Key points covered include using "-s", "-es" and "-ies" endings on verbs in the present simple, and the "-ing" form of verbs in the present continuous along with exceptions. Mixing the two tenses in sentences is also addressed.

4. (+) Person + infinitive verb + complement
I go to school on weekdays.
We play the bass at night.
You lie me about your mark.
They study English on Thursdays.
THE AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE HAS TO BE
DIVIDED IN TWO:

5. With the 3rd singular sentences, we have to add a final -s / -
ies or -es to the infinitive verb.
(+) Person + verb(-s / -ies / -es) + complement
He plays soccer every day.
She cries all the time.
It catches mice at night.
THE AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE HAS TO BE
DIVIDED IN TWO:

6. HOW TO USE THE FINAL -S
/o/ She does her homework.
/x/ He mixes the cake mixture.
/ss/ She passes her exam.
/sh/ He washes his car.
/ch/ My cat catches mice.
PLAY He plays chess with his
friends.
(The verb ends with letter Y, but there is
a vowel before)
DRINK It drinks a lot of milk.
(The infinitive verb ends with letter K)
DRY He dries his hands with
a paper towel.
TRY It tries to eat a bone.
We add a final -es to
the infinitive verb when
this ends with a final...
-S
We add a final -ies to
the infinitive verb when
this ends with a final Y
and before this there is
a consonant.
We add a final -s to the
infinitive verb when the
infinitive verb doesn't
follow any of the other
rules.

8. In the negative sentences, we use the negative
auxiliaries don’t and doesn’t
(-) Person + Don't / Doesn't + Infinitive Verb + Complement
I eat alone.
We do not drink water.
You don't study French.
They jump high.
He does not work so hard.
She doesn't believe you.
It have a ball.

10. There are two interrogative kind of sentences:
YES / NO QUESTION
Do / Does + Person + Infinitive Verb + Complement + ?
I eat alone?
Do We drink water? Yes, (Person) do. / No, (Person) don’t.
You study French?
They jump high?
He work so hard?
Does She believe you? Yes, (Person) does. / No, (Person)
doesn’t.
It have a ball?

11. There are two interrogative kind of sentences
WH QUESTION
Wh + Do / Does + Person + Infinitive Verb + Complement + ?
What do you do here? I study English.
Where does she work ? She works at Colegio Andino.

12. LET’S EXERCISE!!!

13. Exercise I: Fill in the statement with the correct present Simple
verb form.
1) She _______________ (go) to school every day.
2) Bad students never _____________ (work) hard.
3) The sun always _______________ (shine) in California.
4) I ____________ (wake up) at 7 and _____________ (have) breakfast at
7.30.
5) The teacher ______________(point) at the board when he
_____________
6) (want) to explain something.
7) Architects _______________ (make) the plans of buildings.
8) I always _______________ (meet) you on the corner of this street.

14. Answers exercise I:
1) She GOES (go) to school every day.
2) Bad students never WORK (work) hard.
3) The sun always SHINES (shine) in California.
4) I WAKE UP (wake up) at 7 and HAVE (have) breakfast at
7.30.
5) The teacher POINTS (point) at the board when he WANTS
6) (want) to explain something.
7) Architects MAKE (make) the plans of buildings.
8) I always MEET (meet) you on the corner of this street.

15. We use the Present Continuous when an
action is happening now and around now, at
the same tiime we are speaking or when we
talk about temporary activities.
The main verb formula is,
To be + verbing
The ING means in Spanish: -ando / -endo

16. -ING Rules
Verb+ing
Drive: Driving
If the verb ends
with vowel -E,
omit -E.
Study: Studying
If the verb has a final
-Y, keep it.
Sit: Sitting
A one-sylabel
verb has to
duplicate its last
consonant.
Lie: Lying
If the verb ends
with -IE, change -
IE into Y.

18. The verb to be in all the sentences is, IS, AM , and
ARE
(+) Person + to be + verbing + complement
I am working really hard.
You are swimming at the moment.
We chatting by cellphone.
They talking now.
He is smiling in front of the mirror.
She driving a new car.
It sleeping a nap.

20. Here, we are goint to use ISN’T / IS NOT, AM NOT ,
and AREN’T / ARE NOT.
(-) Person + (to be + not) + verbing + complement
I am not working really hard.
You are not swimming at the moment.
We aren't chatting by cellphone.
They talking now.
He is not smiling in front of the mirror.
She isn't driving a new car.
It sleeping a nap.

22. There are also two interrogative kind of sentences:
YES / NO QUESTION
To be + Person + verbing + complement + ?
Am I having a meeting at the moment?
Is she listening to the radio?
Are they watching the soccer match?
Yes, I am. No, I am not.
she is. she isn't.
they are. they aren't.

23. And the Wh-Word Question.
WH QUESTION
Wh + to be + Person + verbing + complement + ?
What are you doing? I'm studying English now.
When is she listening to the radio? She's listening the radio now.
Why are they watching the soccer match?
Because they like
soccer.

24. LET’S EXERCISE!!!

25. Exercise II: Fill in the sentences with the correct Present
Continuous verb form.
1) I ______________ (not/sit) on a chair but ___________ (eat) a
hamburger.
2) We _______________ (learn) English now.
3) We _______________ (wear) a coat because the sun _____________
(not
4) shine).
5) The baby _______________ (cry) because it is hungry now.
6) Betty ______________ (not/take) its medicine.
7) Some students ________________ (learn) new skills because of
COVID.

26. Exercise II Answers:
1) I AM NOT SITTING (not/sit) on a chair but EATING (eat) a hamburger.
2) We ARE LEARNING (learn) English now.
3) We ARE WEARING (wear) a coat because the sun ISN’T SHINING (not
4) shine).
5) The baby IS CRYING (cry) because it is hungry now.
6) Betty ISN’T TAKING (not/take) its medicine.
7) Some students ARE LEARNING (learn) new skills because of COVID.

27. Mixing both tenses
Exercise

28. Exercise III: Fill in the sentences with the correct Present
Simple or Present Continuous verb form.
1) It __________ (rain) in winter. It ________________ (rain) now.
2) JP generally _______________ (sing) in English but today he
______________
3) (sing) in French.
4) Conny ____________ (cook) some food in the kitchen at present; she
5) always ____________ (cook) in the mornings.
6) The sun ___________ (rise) in the east; now it ___________(set) and
night
7) _______________ (fall).
8) I _______________ (spend) this weekend in Tacna. I ______________
(go)

29. Exercise III Answers:
1) It RAINS (rain) in winter. It IS RAINING (rain) now.
2) JP generally SINGS (sing) in English but today he IS SINGING
3) (sing) in French.
4) Conny IS COOKING (cook) some food in the kitchen at present; she
5) always COOKS (cook) in the mornings.
6) The sun RISES (rise) in the east; now it IS SETTING (set) and night
7) IS FALLING (fall).
8) I AM SPENDING (spend) this weekend in Tacna. I GO (go)
9) there nearly every week.

30. Material created and selected by
Danitza Lazcano Flores
Teacher of English
Master in Education
and
Educational and Vocational
Counselor.