The Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements

Cultural Customs

3

Focus on Grammar 2Part III, Unit 8By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

International Pen Pals

Dear Ali,

I am very happy at the English Language Institute. Every day, I meet so many interesting students with different customs. For example, my classmates from Thailand bow to the teacher. My roommate, Lia, doesn’t wear shoes inside our room. My classmates from Mexico don’t call the teacher by her first name. This is a great experience!

Your friend, Kadesh

Use the simple present to tell about things that happen again and again (habits, regular occurrences, customs, and routines).

Ahmed drinks coffee every afternoon.

Many American children wear costumes on Halloween.

The Simple Present 1

Use the simple present to tell facts.

Peru is in South America.

Water freezes at 32° Fahrenheit.

“I think we need

sweaters.”

The Simple Present 2

Use the simple present with non-action verbs.

Marian and Cara know Arabic.

Roberto likes bullfights.

The Simple Present 3

1. “They believe everything she says.”

“They usually celebrate New Year’s Day with a big party.”

3. “Triangles have three sides.”

3. “Triangles have three sides.”

2. “He goes dancing every Friday night.”

2. “He goes dancing every Friday night.”

1. “They believe everything she says.”

Practice 1 Match each statement to its use in the simple present.

Fact

Regular Occurrence

Non-ActionVerb

STATEMENTExample: “They usually celebrate New Year’s Day with a big party.”

Ted dresses up like a lion.

Daniel dances in the Chinese New Year Parade each year.

Use the base form of the verb for all persons except third person singular. Put –s or –es on the third person singular.

Affirmative Statements

Practice 2Use the verbs in the box to describe what these people do every day.

make take watch play

He makes pizza.

She plays soccer. They take a bath.He watches soccer.

Example:

3.2.1.

Some people do not sushi.

takesShe does not off her shoes.

Negative Statements 1

take

enjoyenjoys

Use does not or do not before the base form of the verb.

Use the contractions doesn’t and don’t for negative statements in speaking or in informal writing.

Italians don’t use chopsticks.

Luis doesn’t like bullfights.

Negative Statements 2

Practice 3Change the affirmative statements to negative statements.

Example: Many Chinese eat noodles.Many Chinese don’t eat noodles.

1. Sheila likes to eat spicy food.

2. Some nomadic people live in tents.

3. Monica watches fireworks on the 4th of July.

Sheila doesn’t like to eat spicy food.

Some nomadic people don’t live in tents.

Monica doesn’t watch fireworks on the 4th of July.

Irregular Forms

Third person singular affirmative forms of have, do, and go are not regular.

Subject Have Do Go

IYouWe

They

HeShe

It

dohave go

has does goes

Practice 4Complete the sentences with the correct form of have, do, or go.

Example: She __________ shopping every Friday.goes

1. Luis __________ his homework every night.

2. Leticia and Janet __________ backpacks.

3. I always __________ to the movies on Thursdays.

does

have

go

4. Shaun __________ a biology class on Mondays.has

5. They always __________ the dishes after dinner.do

References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.