Universidad Central de VenezuelaFacultad de Humanidades y Educación

Escuela de EducaciónEstudios Universitarios Supervisados

Cátedra de Idiomas Extranjeros

Simple Present

Facilitator: Prof. Gabriela Delgado

Simple Present: we use the simple present to talk about habits or regular activities and situations, things that are generally or always true.

Past Present Future

X X X X X X X X X X

Look at the diagram below, that represent this tense:

E.g.: He watches TV for an hour.

Structure

The structure of the simple present may be different depending if we are using the verb to be o r if we are using other verbs. Therefore, we will present them separate for you to know how verbs structure work in each case.Let’s begin with the verb be. Affirmatives with be

Pronoun Verb conjugation

Contraction Example

I am I´m I am at school.

You are you’re you are a student.

He

She

It

is he’s

she’s

it’s

He is Marcos.

She is my mom.

It is in the kitchen.

We

you

they

are

We’re

You’re

They’re

We are students.

You are here.

They are friends.

Form: subject+ verb + complement

Structure

Negatives with be

Pronoun Verb conjugation

Contraction Example

I am + not I´m not I am not Anna.

You are + not aren’t you are not a teacher.

He

She

It

is + not isn’t

He is not Marcos.

She is not my mom.

It is not in the kitchen.

We

you

they

are + not aren’t

We are not students.

You are not here.

They are not friends.

Form: subject+ verb + not + complement

Questions with be

Structure

Form: verb +subject + complement?

Verb conjugation Pronoun Example

Am I Am I alone?

Are You Are you the teacher?

Is

He

She

It

Is he Marcos?

Is she your mom?

Is it her backpack?

Are

We

you

they

Are we invited?

Are you here?

Are they Friends?

Note: we don’t use auxiliaries to form questions with the verb be.

Structure The structure of the simple present is different from the one used with the verb to be when using other verbs. Let’s see how the simple present is with verbs different form BE.

Affirmatives In the positive form, verbs keep the same to the base form for the pronouns I, you, we, they , but in the case of the 3rd person singular most of the time you have to add an 's' to the base form.

IYOUWE

THEY

SHEHEIT

EAT A LOT OF CANDIESTRY TO HAVE FUN

EATS A LOT OF CANDIESTRIES TO HAVE FUN

Form: subject+ verb + complement

3rd person verbs spelling rules

As it was stated before, when conjugating 3rd person singular in simple present most of the time you have to add an 's' to the base form. But depending on the verb ending there are some exceptions in which you have to add something more than an “s”. Let’s check quickly these spelling rules:

Verbs ending in Add example

ss, z, x, sh, ch,o -es Kiss kisses

Buzz buzzes

Fix fixes

Wash washes

Watch watches

Do does

Consonant + y y -ies Study studies

Cry cries

Fly flies

Negatives with other verbs

Structure

DO NOT(don’t)

IYOUWE

THEY

SHEHEIT

DOES NOT(doesn’t)

LEAVE AT NOON

LEAVE AT NOON

Form: conjugate the subject+ the helping verb “do” not/ “does” not (don't and doesn't)+ the base form of the verb to make negatives.

Note: we don’t use –s, -es or -ies, to the verbs that follow does not (doesn’t)

Questions with other verbs

Structure

Form: Conjugate the helping verb “do” or “does”+ the subject+ the base form of the verb in question forms.

DO

SHEHEIT

DOES

IYOUWE

THEY

LEAVE AT NOON?

LEAVE AT NOON?

References:

• Bolton, D. and Goodey, N. (1997) Grammar Practice in Context. Spain: Richmond.