Simple present tense(1)
We use the simple present tense to talk about:
(1) things that are true now, e.g. My name is Susie. I am twelve years old.
(2) how often we do things, e.g. Susie and Betty go shopping every Saturday morning. They usually buy a lot
of things.
(3) Things that are always true, e.g. Birds have two wings. They fly very high.
We form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense with the verb ‘to be’ (is/am/are)like this.
verb ‘to be’
Subject
Positive (+) Negative (-)
I am (‘m) am not (‘m not)
e.g. I am twelve years old. e.g. I am not twelve years old.
We
You (singular)
are (‘re) are not (aren’t)
You(plural)
They
e.g. We are very good students. e.g We are not very good students.
You are a handsome boy. You are not a handsome boy.
You are my friends. You are not my friends.
He
She is (‘s) is not (isn’t)
It
e.g. He is the class monitor. e.g. He is not the class monitor
She is my sister. She is not my sister.
It is a lovely dog. It is not a lovely dog.
Exercise 1
Fill in these sentences using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’ and the words in the brackets. Then write the
words in the blanks.
1. I_____________ happy.(not) 2. He _________ sad.
3. You _____________ Japanese.(not) 4. We __________ Chinese.
5. They ____________ busy.(not) 6. Tigers _________big cats.
7. Cheung Chau __________ in Kowloon. 8. His name ______ Billy..
(not)
9. We _______ good friends. 10. She ______ my mother.
11. You ______ the monitor. 12. I ______ thirteen years old.
13. He ______ 2 years old.(not) 14. They ______ good football players.(not)
Simple present tense(2)
With other verbs, we usually form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense like this
Subject Subject
I/We/You/You/They He/She/It
I eat ice-cream. He eats ice-cream.
You eat ice-cream. She eats ice-cream.
Positive (+) We eat ice-cream. It eats ice-cream.
They eat ice-cream.
I don’t eat ice-cream. He does not eat ice-cream.
You don’t eat ice-cream. She does not eat ice-cream.
Negative(-) We don’t eat ice-cream. It does not eat ice-cream.
They don’t eat ice-cream.
Exercise 2
Say these sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Then write the words in the
blanks.
(1) Susie ______________ shopping in Causeway Bay.(love)
(2) Causeway Bay ____________ very busy.(be)
(3) Betty _______________________ early.(not get up)
(4) I ______________________ fruit.(not like)
(5) School always _____________ at eight o’clock in the morning.(start)
(6) We usually _________________ at school at half past seven.(arrive)
(7) The dog ________________ me. (like)
(8) Henry ___________ a nice school bag.(have)
(9) She ________________ television every night. (not watch)
(10) I ____________________ that dress.(not like)
English Grammar Exercise
Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________
Simple present tense(3)
With most verbs, we add –s to the verb when it is used with the third person singular. With other verbs, we
change the verb in different ways:
Verbs you should…
With most verbs +s
e.g. run →runs
sleep →sleeps
Ending in a consonant + y - y + ies
e.g. Fly →flies
carry →carries
Go/ Do +es
Ending in ss, x, sh, ch + es
e.g. Kiss →kisses
Fax →faxes
Wash →washes
switch →switches
Exercise 3
Say these sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Then write the words in the
blanks.
1. Sam __________(wash)his face every day.
2. Susie ___________(kiss)Mum every night.
3. Dad often _____________(carry)Susie’s books.
4. Nick ___________(cook) dinner for his family every evening.
5. He ____________ (brush)his hair every morning.
6. May often ____________ (read)books.
7. Kitty ____________ (wash) the dishes every night.
8. My bird __________(fly) beautifully.
9. The dog __________(like) eating bones.
10.My baby sister ___________(cry) every night.
11.Jenny always ___________(do) her homework on time.
12.Vincent _____________(love) Flora.
13.Ron_________(take) his dog for a walk every afternoon.
14.Mable usually___________(buy) vegetables at the market.
15.The lion __________(run) very fast.
English Grammar Exercise
Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________
Simple present tense(4)
We form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense with the verb ‘to have’ like this:
Positive (+) Negative(-)
I I
You You
You have a good book. You do not (don’t) have a good book.
We We
They They
He He
She has a good book. She does not(doesn’t) have a good book.
It It
Exercise 4
Say these sentences using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’ or ‘to have’ and the word in
brackets. Then write the words in the blanks.
1. He ___________(have/not) any brothers.
2. Betty _____________(have) one sister.
3. Yuki ______________(have/not) a very nice dress.
4. The cat _____________(have) a very good place to live at.
5. They ___________(have/not) a very big house.
6. We _______________(have) a very kind class teacher.
7. Peter and Jason _____________(have) a powerful computer.
8. I __________(have) 5 members in my family.
9. She __________(have/not) long hair.
10.He ___________(have) white teeth.
11.Sally ___________(have) 6 members in her family. She _____________(have) 3 sisters but
she __________(have/not) any brothers. Sally __________(have) short hair bur all her
sisters ___________(have) long and straight hair. Sally and her sisters ___________(have)
a pet cat called Dolly.
English Grammar Exercise
Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________
Simple present tense (Questions 1)
With the verb ‘to be’, we use ‘Am’/‘Are’/‘Is’ to ask a question in the simple present tense. The
answer is always ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
Exercise 1
Say these questions and answers using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’. Then write the
words in the blanks.
1. ___________ he early? Yes, he is.
2. ___________ I late? No, you aren’t.
3. ___________ you sick? No, I’m not.
4. ___________ they friends? Yes, they are.
5. ___________ she at school? No, she isn’t.
6. ___________ we in the hall? No, you aren’t/we aren’t.
7. ___________ I in Class 1S? Yes, you are.
8. ___________she your friend? Yes, she is.
9. ___________they police? No, they aren’t.
10.__________we good friends? Yes, we are.
Simple present tense (Questions 2)
We can also use ‘Do’/‘Does’ to ask a question in the simple present tense with other verbs. The
answers is always ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
Exercise 2
Say these questions and answers using the correct form of the verb ‘to do’. Then write the
words in the blanks.
1. ________ you like English? Yes, I do/we do.
2. _________Bobby like noodles? No, he doesn’t.
3. _________ we have a test now? Yes, you do/we do.
4. __________ they have a test this morning? No, they don’t.
5. __________ Susie like ice cream? Yes, she does.
6.___________Tommy walk to school? Yes, he does.
7.___________you understand? Yes, I do.
8. ___________I read English books? No, you don’t.
9. ___________you remember me? Yes, I do.
10. ___________we have to stay after school? No, you don’t.
The simple present tense is used to talk about general truths. It is also used to talk about time-
tabled future events. Unlike other tense forms, the simple present tense has a special –s marking
when the subject is a singular noun or a third person pronoun. Fill in the blanks with appropriate
simple present tense form of the verb given in the brackets.
1. The plane ………………….. at 6.30. (arrive)
2. I will phone you when he …………………… . back. (come)
3. Unless we ………………………. now we can’t be there on time. (start)
4. The sun ……………………… in the east. (rise)
5. The next term …………………… on Monday. (begin)
6. She ……………………… an engineer. (be)
7. They …………………. our relatives. (be)
8. When does the train ……………………? (depart)
9. Let’s wait till he …………………….. his work. (finish)
10. Please ring me up as soon as he …………………………. (arrive) Answers
PRESENT PERFECT TENSES
1.Jenny ____________ her school uniform every evening.
A wash B washing C washes
2.Sam ____________ to school every morning.
A walking B walks C walk
3.Every morning, my brother ________ up at 7 o’clock.
A wake B wakes C waking
4.My father ___________ at the post office.
A work B working C works
5.The sun ___________ in the East.
A rises B rise C rising
6.John _________ carrot juice after every meal.
A drink B drinking C drinks
7.My parents _________ to go shopping during the weekends.
A likes B like C liking
8. Teenagers nowadays like to play__________ in schools.
A truants B truancy C truant
9.Henry _______ his teeth after every meal.
A brushes B brushing C brush
10.Donny __________ just across the street.
A live B living C lives
11.We must _______ up before buying our food at the
12. Bablo _________ next to Bubly in class.
A sit B sits C sitting
13. Jonny __________ his mother to sweep the floor everyday.
A help B helping C helps
14.Lions __________ other animals which live in the jungle.
A eat B eating C eats
15.Hannah’s class teacher ____________ a SUV to school.
A drive B drives C driving
16.It __________ an adventurous man to climb Mount Kinabalu.
A takes B take C taking
17. My mother __________ dinner for us every night.
A cooks B cook C cooking
18. A hunter ___________ animals in the jungle.
A hunt B hunting C hunts
19. Children like to ___________ rather than to study.
A plays B play C playing
20.My uncle __________ around the park every Saturday.
A jogging B jog C jogs
21.Every Saturday, James _________ to church.
A goes B go C going
22.We must __________ our teeth before going to bed.
A brush B brushes C brushing
23.Mr. Anand _______ us how to write a proper English essay.
A teach B teaches C teaching
24.I __________ the keys in the drawer.
A put B puts C putting
25.The rowdy boys __________ the poor old man.
A beats B beating C beat
26.Bandy likes to ___________ story books.
A reads B read C reading
27.Good samaritans __________ free food to the orphanage everyday.
A donates B donating C donate
28.Malcom ___________ with his aunt when he visits Europe.
A stay B stays C staying
29. My neighbor’s dogs __________ when they see a stranger.
A bark B barks C barking
30.Elephants usually __________ in groups to search for water.
A travels B travelling C travel Gabriel
31.Heavy downpours _________ flash floods around Malaysia.
A causes B cause C causing
32. Floods ___________ hundreds of houses in Riau.
A submerges B submerge C submerging
33. The council workers _________ the tall grass near my house every month.
A cuts B cutting C cut
33.A snake __________ on its belly.
A crawls B crawl C crawling
34.Tim’s dog always ________ the cats which look for food behind his house.
A chase B chases C chasing
35.My mother ___________ the flowers in her garden everyday.
A water B watering C waters
36. Lopez only _______ oats for breakfast.
A eats B eating C eat
37.Ginny and Minny ___________ their birthdays every year.
A celebrates B celebrate C celebrating
38.Cindy _______ about her activities everyday on the internet.
A blog B blogging C blogs
39. Drug dealers __________ their drugs by using mules.
A smuggle B smuggles C smuggling
40. The police __________ my residential area every one hour.
A rounds B round C rounding
41.Exercise __________ our body healthy and fit.
A keep B keeping C keeps
42.Mrs. Carlson’s daughter _________ singing everyday to perfect her pitch.
A practice B practices C practicing
43.An active volcano ____________ out hot lava when it erupts.
A spew B spewing C spews
PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE
1.Jeremiah ____________ his dog a shampoo bath.
A is giving B giving C gives
2. Mother ___________ the wet clothes outside.
A drying B will drying C is drying
3. Lim __________ in the pool with his friends.
A swim B is swim C is swimming
4.Uncle Jones ___________ newspaper in the living room.
A is reading B reading C is read
5.They ___________ their dance routine at the school hall.
A practice B are practicing C practicing
6.Terry _________ for a government job at the capital.
A is applying B applying C is apply
7.He _________ the new job applicants.
A interview B is interviewing C is interview
8. The trucks__________ their goods at the depot.
A unloading B unloads C are unloading
9.The soldiers __________ progress in the battlefield.
A making B are making C is making
10.My aunty __________ batik shirts for her customers.
A is sewing B sewing C are sewing
11.We __________ outside tonight.
A is eating B eating C are eating
12.Larry ________ to Vietnam next month.
A is goes B is going C going
13. People around the globe _________ the tsunami victims in Japan.
A helping B are helping C is helping
14.Hendry _________ the broken water pipe of his neighbor.
A repairing B is repairing C are repairing
15.Sandy __________ too much carbonated can drinks.
A is drinking B drinking C are drinking
16.The Smiths __________ their flower plants at their garden.
A is watering B are watering C watering
17.The car ___________ even though the battery is still new.
A isn’t start B is starting C isn’t starting
18. I saw Gary __________ at the bus stop yesterday.
A standing B was standing C is waiting
19. James __________ when the fire broke out last night.
A sleeping B is sleeping C was sleeping
20.My mother __________ lunch when we came home yesterday.
A is preparing B preparing C was preparing
21.Henry ____________ as a part - time waiter at the restaurant last night.
A working B is working C was working
22.It __________ heavily yesterday evening.
A raining B was raining C is raining
23. The children __________ under the tree last night while I was doing my work.
A were playing B playing C is playing
24. My uncle ___________ with his friend at the café the whole day, yesterday.
A talking B is talking C was talking
25. The chef ___________ the food when the manager came into the kitchen.
A tasting B was tasting C were tasting
26.Mr. Miyiagi __________ after cleaning his shop.
A resting B were resting C was resting
27.Two days ago, I saw Johanes _________ the big drain in front of his house.
A cleaning B was cleaning C were cleaning
28.My mother ___________ a hard time raising me all by herself.
A having B was having C were having
29.Miss Tammy ___________ with joy when she was informed of a salary increase.
A beaming B were beaming C was beaming
30.I was __________ my bedroom last week.
A painting B was painting C were painting
31.The girls __________ when the headmaster caught them in the school toilet.
A was smoking B were smoking C smoking
32.The boys were ___________ playing video games the whole evening.
A were playing B playing C was playing
33.The electricity tariff increase _____________ the poor people.
A burdening B was burdening C were burdening
34.Maxis Mobile ___________ away free promo pack yesterday at the Beach Mall, Penang.
A giving B were giving C was giving
35. The lamb was __________ in the field when the wolf pounced on it.
A grazing B were grazing C eating
36.Jerry was __________ his father last week to fix the house fence.
A were helping B was helping C helping
37.My parents will _________ to Sumatra next weekend.
A going B were going C be going
38. I am thinking ___________ to my home town next Monday.
A going B of going C shall going
39. Nancy _____________ her college graduation next week.
A will attending B shall be attending C will be attending
40. I __________ you some questions regarding your work.
A will asking B be asking C will be asking
41.They are ____________ build new houses in Pendang.
A going B will be going C going to
42.We ___________ the highway to Johor this afternoon.
A are taking B will taking C taking
43. Michelle __________ a fever, so she can’t go to the cinema with us.
A having B was having C is having
44.Grace ___________ to me about her school work.
A will talking B was talking C talking
45.The police ____________ after the bank robbers on motorbikes.
A chasing B are chasing C will chasing
46. The accident __________ a massive jam along the North-South highway.
A causing B is causing C will causing
47. We will __________ a torch light for light once we enter the cave.
A be needing B needing C not needing
48.She will __________ healthy food once she is discharged from the hospital.
A eating B is eating C be eating
49.Jenny will _________ me with the school choir practice after school.
A helping B be helping C helps
50. The Catamaran will be ____________ a round trip around the world in 80 days.
A making B make C be make
BOTH / EITHER / NEITHER
1.____________ Ali and Babu are going to Singapore next week.
A Either B Both C Neither
2.____________ Julia nor Patricia is going to the party.
A Either B Both C Neither
3.____________ Salim or Danish is not taking the ESOL examination.
A Either B Both C Neither
4.____________the children were scolded by their mother for breaking the flower vase.
A Either B Both C Neither
5.I want ___________ cereal or bread for breakfast.
A either B both C neither
6.The movie “Alien Encounter” was _________ boring nor interesting.
A either B both C neither
7.Jimmy likes to play ____________ badminton nor tennis.
A either B both C neither
8. Sandy is _____________ going for a vacation or is going to visit her relatives in Sabah.
A either B both C neither
9.The police managed to catch ___________ the snatch thief and the burglar on the same day.
A either B both C neither
10. I plan to take ______________ the car and motorbike test at the same time.
A either B both C neither
11. I want _____________ sugar nor milk in my coffee.
A either B both C neither
18. ________ Danny ______ Cindy got chosen into their school badminton team.
A Both...and B Either...nor C Neither...or
19. _________ Ally _______ the girls are going to the book fair tomorrow.
A Both...or B Either...and C Neither...nor
20. Maniam likes to gamble. He sold off ____________ his cars __________ his house to pay his debts.
A Both...and B Either...or C Neither...nor
21. ___________ David __________ his brother like to play violent video games.
A Both...or B Either...and C Neither...nor
22.I am not sure ___________ to take a business course ___________ an accounting course.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
23. You have two choices. ___________ to go to America _________ to Australia for further studies.
A Both...and B Either...or C Neither...or
24. Nathan can ___________ sing _________play any musical instrument.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
25. You must finish this job ___________ by hook __________by crook.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
26. Suzie and Billy are planning to have __________ their wedding _________ reception on the same day.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
27.We must not ____________ eat __________ talk at the same time.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
28. The children aren’t allowed ___________ to watch tv _________ play video games during school days.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
29. Betty’s doctor advised her _____________to eat sea food ________ to drink caffeinated beverages.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
30.Nobody can ___________ eat ___________ drink at the same time.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
31. ______________ the school authorities __________ the PTA were grilled by government officials.
A Both...and B Either...or C Neither...nor
32.I am __________ a fan of Liverpool ___________ Manchester United. I am a fan of Chelsea.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
33. Mr. Lee is _____________rich ___________ has many properties. He is just an average income earner.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
34.You can __________ walk _________ take a taxi to the shopping complex, it’s not that far.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
35. I have eaten curry me and tomyam before. __________ are spicy __________ yummy.
A Both...and B Either...or C Neither...nor
36.He is upset because nobody __________ listens __________ pays any attention to him.
A both...and B either...or C neither...nor
37. Neither Dennis nor Danny ___________ been to America.
A is B has C have
38. Either Hanim or Hanis __________ called to the principal’s room.
A is B was C are
39. Both mother and child _________ reported missing in the newspaper.
A was B have C were
40. Both of you ___________ solved the first puzzle, you can move on to the next round.
A have B has C were
41.I am not sure if either Sam or his friends ________________ coming for the party.
A are B was C have
42.Neither Sandy nor her sisters ______________ to help the poor.
A likes B like C liking
43. Neither children nor teenagers ___________ allowed to go in.
A are B is C was
44. I am not sure when to check in at the hotel. It _________ either at 12.00p.m or at 2.00p.m.
A is B are C has
45.Gary ___________ a degree in both Robotics engineering and Botany studies.
A is B have C has 46.The rats ____________ scared of either the cat or the dog.
A isn’t B aren’t C wasn’t
47.The little boy _________ both smart and intelligent.
A is B are C were
48.Neither Ram nor his friends ___________ any attention in the class.
A pay B pays C paying
49.I forgot to take both _________ identification card and my driving license.
A mine B my C I
50. Neither my father nor my uncle ________ fit to go mountain climbing anymore.
A is B are C were
CONJUNCTIONS
1.Ali ____________ Babu are going to Singapore next week.
A and B but C so
2.We were tired ____________ we were happy.
A and B but C so
3.Would you like tea ________ coffee?
A and B but C or
4.The children were wet ____________ dirty after playing in the rain.
A and B but C or
5.Hanim went to the market with Siti ___________ Fatimah.
A and B but C so
6.The movie “Alien Gang” was quite boring _________ dull.
A and B but C so
7.Jimmy likes to play badminton_________ his brother likes to play tennis.
A and B but C or
8. Sandy ________her sister are poor_________ they are very hardworking.
A and...and B and…but C but...and
9.The snatch thief tried to snatch the old lady’s necklace_______ he couldn’t.
A and B but C so
10.Chin Wen plays basketball well, ______ her favorite sport is tennis.
A and B but C yet
11.Why hasn’t James come home _______?
A and B but C yet
12.Studying ________ working at the same time can be very taxing.
A and B but C for
13. Mr. Yamaguchi lost all his material goods in the tsunami _________ his family is safe.
A and B but C yet
14.I am not feeling well, _______ I decided to stay at home today.
A and B but C so
15.The Kampong Bening villagers saw a tiger ____________ quickly alerted the authorities.
A and B but C yet
16.You can study hard for this exam _________ you can fail.
A and B but C or
17.Our class teacher asked us to sweep ___________ mop the class floor.
A and B but C so
18. __________ Jimmy _______ Salim is not going to the party tonight.
A either..or B Either...or C Neither...nor
19. _________ the boys _______ the girls are going to the book fair also.
A Not only...but B But...not only C Not only...but also
20.Hassan wants __________ money __________ fame.
A not only...but B but...not only C not only...but also
21.___________ her brothers ________ her sisters are doctors.
A Two...and B Both...and C Neither...nor
22.I am not sure ___________ to take a business course ___________ an accounting course.
A whether...and B whether...but C whether...or
23. You have to make up your mind,____________ to go to America _________ to Japan.
A whether...but B whether...and C whether...or
24. Nathan lost ___________ his money _________his family due to his gambling habit.
A not only...but also B not only...but C but also...not only
25. We can still reach our destination on time ______________ we start our journey late.
A even B even if C because
26.Johnny was late ________ school __________ it was raining heavily just now.
A for...because B too...because C for...that
27.I want you to do your English exercise ____________ I come back.
A until B for C to
28.You can come to the meeting _______________ you don’t say anything.
A so B as long as C and
29.Doctor advised Sam to rest for a month _____________ he can fully recover.
A since B until C so that
30.Nobody can succeed ___________they are willing to work hard.
A unless B before C but
31.Larry acts ___________ he doesn’t know anything.
A and B while C as if
32.I like to visit the museum ___________ I am free.
A whenever B since C than
33.____________ Mr. Lee is rich ___________ very kind and helpful to the people in need.
A Not only...but B Not only...but also C Not only...so
34.The boys are not allowed to go out __________ they have finished all their chores.
A until B and C so
35. Take the umbrella just __________, who knows it might rain later.
A so B in case C that
36.He is upset __________ nobody listens to him.
A so B while C that
37.Ally will go to the clinic ___________ she is free.
A when B how C till
38. John went to school ___________ it was raining.
A how B if C although
39. The policeman managed to catch the thief __________ the thief fell down.
A when B although C while
40. _________ you have solved the first puzzle, you can move on to the next round.
A Although B Before C Once
