Simple Present Tense

1A. Explanation
The simple present tense takes one of two forms depending on the subject.
Subject
I, you
They, We
Plural nouns
He, She, It
Singular nouns
on count!nouns
base form
eat
go
work
-s form
eats
goes
works
1B. Examples
Subjects followed by verb in base form :
I like rice.
"ou look nice.
They think twice.
We throw dice.
#hefs use spice.
The boys ring the doorbell.
#hildren sing on special occasions.
Some people bring gifts to parties.
$ees sting when they are disturbed.
Subjects with verb in ?s form :
She makes toys.
He rakes lea%es.
It takes time.
&om bakes pies.
Water slakes thirst.
'ill lo%es dates.
&r. Smith fills crates.
(randpa washes plates.
The dog jumps gates.
1C. Exercises
). 'erry *come+comes, to school on time.
-. 'erry and .inda *come+comes, to school on time.
/. &s. 'ones *teach+teaches, geography.
0. The cat *sleep+sleeps, on the sofa e%ery day.
1. &ilk *cost+costs, two dollars a 2uart.
2A. Explanation
3se the simple present tense to indicate4
). 5outine actions
-. 6acts
2B. Examples
Routine actions
'ohn brushes his teeth e%ery morning.
#arol usually dri%es to work.
The teacher grades homework on 6ridays.
Facts
Hawaii is in the Pacific 7cean.
Some birds fly south for the winter.
Water consists of hydrogen and o8ygen.
ote how the present tense is used in the following paragraph.
&r. .ee is a bus dri%er. 9%ery day he gets up at :4;; a.m. and prepares for his day. He
showers, eats his breakfast, and puts on his uniform. His wife dri%es him to the station
where he checks in with his super%isor. Then, he gets on $us <0;1 and starts the engine.
He pulls out of the parking lot and begins his route. =t his first stop, he picks up &rs.
&iller, who li%es in a red house on the corner of &ain Street and Se%enth =%enue. She
works at the post office and has to be to work by >4;;. =t the ne8t stop, the $artlett twins
get on the bus. They attend class at $ayside 9lementary. &ore children get on at the ne8t
three stops, and they ride until the bus reaches their school. &r. .ee enjoys seeing the
kids e%ery day and is happy to see them again in the afternoon when he dri%es them
safely back home.
2C. Exercises
). To practice the present tense, reread the abo%e paragraph, then try to repeat the main
ideas in your own words. $e sure to use the -s form of the %erb when the subject of a
sentence is singular. Ha%e a partner listen to your speech and check for correct usage of
%erbs.
-. Tell whether the present tense is appropriate in the following sentences.
). "esterday I go to Washington ?.#.
-. 9%ery day, &r. 'ohnson cleans his
li%ing room.
/. They usually take the bus to the
office.
0. 5ight now Susan eats her breakfast.
1. &elinda and Harry work in the bank.
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Common Mistakes with the simple present tense
). ot using the !s form with singular subjects4
'ack likes #hinese food.
'ack like #hinese food.
*#orrect,
*Incorrect,
-. 3sing the simple present tense when another tense is re2uired.
.ast night I watched tele%ision for
two hours.
.ast night I watch tele%ision for two
hours.
*#orrect
,
*Incorre
ct,