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    Present Simple - LearnEnglish Teens - British Council

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    Guillermo Peruyero Argueta
    This document discusses the use of the present simple tense in English. It provides examples of how the present simple is used to talk about repeated actions, permanent states, general truths, and the "timetable future". It also explains how to form questions and negatives in the present simple. Key points covered include using adverbs of frequency, the third person singular '-s' ending, exceptions for the verb "to be", and the classification of certain verbs as "state verbs".

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    Present Simple - LearnEnglish Teens - British Council

    Uploaded by

    Guillermo Peruyero Argueta
    2K views3 pages
    This document discusses the use of the present simple tense in English. It provides examples of how the present simple is used to talk about repeated actions, permanent states, general truths, and the "timetable future". It also explains how to form questions and negatives in the present simple. Key points covered include using adverbs of frequency, the third person singular '-s' ending, exceptions for the verb "to be", and the classification of certain verbs as "state verbs".

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    Practice present simple

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    Present Simple _ LearnEnglish Teens - British Council

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    This document discusses the use of the present simple tense in English. It provides examples of how the present simple is used to talk about repeated actions, permanent states, general truths, and the "timetable future". It also explains how to form questions and negatives in the present simple. Key points covered include using adverbs of frequency, the third person singular '-s' ending, exceptions for the verb "to be", and the classification of certain verbs as "state verbs".

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views3 pages

    Present Simple - LearnEnglish Teens - British Council

    Uploaded by

    Guillermo Peruyero Argueta
    This document discusses the use of the present simple tense in English. It provides examples of how the present simple is used to talk about repeated actions, permanent states, general truths, and the "timetable future". It also explains how to form questions and negatives in the present simple. Key points covered include using adverbs of frequency, the third person singular '-s' ending, exceptions for the verb "to be", and the classification of certain verbs as "state verbs".

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    We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or events, permanent states or things which are

    always true. To find out more about the present simple, read and listen to the conversation below.

    Can you give me some examples?

    Yes, of course. We use the present simple to talk about things which are repeated every
    day, every week, every year, etc.

    I usually get up at 7 o'clock.


    During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on
    Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.
    We always go on holiday in the summer.

    I see. And you use words for explaining more about the time too.

    Yes, we often use adverbs of frequency sometimes, often, usually or other time
    expressions like on Mondays, twice a week or in the summer.

    What about permanent states? What does that mean?

    Permanent states are situations or feelings which are not temporary.

    I like him a lot.


    Sophie works as a travel writer.
    They live in London.

    We also use the present simple for general facts, for example when talking about
    science or geography.

    Thailand is really hot at this time of year.


    Snakes live on the ground, in trees and in water.

    So what do I need to know about forming the present simple?

    The main thing is that the third person singular forms end in -s or -es. That's
    for he, sheor it.

    He watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.


    He thinks chess is a sport!

    OK, and the other forms don't end in -s or -es? I watch TV a lot. We think Coldplay are
    boring.

    Correct!

    What about questions and negatives?


    For most verbs we use the present simple of the verb do/does + subject +
    infinitivewithout to to form questions.

    Do you see him on Wednesdays then?


    Does Jack like sports?

    For negatives we use the subject + do/does + not + infinitive without to.

    Daisy and Jack don't go out together much at the weekend.


    I don't think Coldplay are boring.

    To go back to the idea of permanent and temporary things, what about this sentence: Is
    your mum in Thailand this week? Isn't that temporary?

    Yes, it is. That's a very good point. Normally we use the present simple for permanent
    states, and the present continuous for temporary states, but some verbs are thought of
    as State Verbs and they are not usually used in the continuous form.

    And the verb to be is one of those verbs?

    Exactly! So even though staying in Thailand is temporary, we use the present simple
    with the verb to be. Here's another example:

    How's Daisy? Is she with you?

    But that isn't the question form you just told me about! Where's the do?

    Ah, no. I said 'for most verbs we use do in questions'. The verb to be is different and so
    are modal verbs like can. We'll look at the verb to be separately because it's different
    and very common.

    What are the other state verbs?

    We'll look at those when we look at the Present Continuous. Any more questions?

    Yes, what about: The train leaves at 5 in the morning? Isn't that talking about an event
    in the future?

    Yes, it is, but it's also a repeated event. This is sometimes called the 'timetable future'.

    OK, I have a maths class in a minute, so I have to go.

    Good use of the 'timetable future'! Bye!

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