Simple Present – a study guide

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Simple Present
The Simple Present or Present Simple is the most used tense in English and uses the base form of the verb (except
for the verb be). The only change from the base is the addition of s/es/ies for third person singular (he, she, it) in
affirmative sentences.

How do we make the Present Simple tense?

There are two basic structures for the Present Simple:

1. Affirmative sentences

Subject = Sujeito
subject + main verb Main Verb = verbo principal
Auxiliary verb = verbo auxiliar

Present Simple

Examples:

A) I like soccer.
B) You like soccer.
C) He likes soccer.
D) She likes soccer.
E) It likes soccer.
F) We like soccer.
G) They like soccer.

2. Negative and interrogative sentences

conjugated in Present Simple

do, does base

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?

From the above table, notice the following points:

For affirmative sentences:

For negative and interrogative sentences:

• The auxiliary verb (do) is conjugated in the Present Simple: do, does
• The main verb is invariable in base form: base (in the example, always “like”)
• For negative sentences, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
• For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.
o They do not like coffee.
o Do they like coffee?
o She does not like coffee.
o Does she like coffee?

Present Simple with main verb be (verb “to be”)

The structure of the Present Simple with the main verb be is:

subject + main verb be

conjugated in Present Simple

am, are, is

Examples:

A) I am Brazilian.
B) You are Brazilian.
C) He is Brazilian.
D) She is Brazilian.
E) It is Brazilian.
F) We are Brazilian.
G) They are Brazilian.

Look at these examples with the main verb be:

+ 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?

• There is no auxiliary verb for affirmatives, interrogatives and negatives with the verb be.
• The main verb (be) is conjugated in the Present Simple: am, are, is
• For negative sentences, we insert not after the main verb.
• For interrogative sentences, we exchange the subject and the main verb.
o Affirmative: I am Brazilian.
o Negative: You are not Brazilian.
o Interrogative: Is he Brazilian?

How do we spell the Simple Present tense?

For most verbs we add -s to the base form to make the she, he, it (third person singular) form:

come → comes order → orders travel → travels

eat → eats record → records walk → walks

move → moves

For other verbs, the spelling changes are:

verb she, he, it

When the verb ends in -ch, -ss, -sh, -x or -zz, we add -es. watch watches

miss misses

wash washes

mix mixes

buzz buzzes

When the verb ends in a consonant + -y we change y to i and add -es. hurry hurries

study studies

reply replies

But when the verb ends in a vowel + -y we just add -s. pay pays
 enjoy enjoys

Have, go, do and be are irregular. have has

go goes

do does

be is

Exercises:

1) Take the quiz on the following webpage: Present Simple Quiz or scan the QR Code to access it.

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-simple_quiz.htm

You have to score 100%. Take notes of any doubts you can´t figure out yourself and ask the teacher.

2) Do all the exercises on pages 116, 117, 122, 123, 126 and 127 of your book (Wilder World Starter).
3) Do all the exercises on pages 108, 110 and 137 of your book (Wilder Word 1)
• Ask the teacher for help if you need.