GRAMMAR
I- THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
 Formula
[VERB] + s / es in third person as an exception we have the verb to be.
Please see the board below with the verb to be.
 Structure
 To form the Present
Simple Tense we use
the verb's base form (go,
work, speak, study). In
3rd person singular (he,
she, it), the base form of
the verb takes -s/es.
(Auxiliary verbs "be,"
"do," "have", which can
also be used as main
verbs, are exceptions.)
 Affirmative form
I
you                       work
we       lasting situations
they
he/she/it      works /-s/
go - goes /-es/
watch - watches /-es/
play - plays /-s/
study - studies /-es/
! Remember:
to be
I/you/we/they are
he/she/it is
to do
 Examples  We use the Present Simple Tense:
1. Philip gets up at 6 o'clock every
morning.
2. I go to school every day.
3. She sometimes goes out on Friday when we talk about things that happen
night. repeatedly or habitually
4. I usually sleep late on Sunday
morning. With Present Simple Tense we often
5. Peter works for 8 hours every use time expressions such as always,
day. often, sometimes, usually, seldom, on
6. We usually start work at 8 Saturdays, rarely, never, every day,
o'clock. etc.
7. My children often watch TV in
the afternoon.
8. He always forgets his keys.
1. I work in a bank.
when we talk about permanent or long-
2. Kate speaks English very well.
3. Tom lives in London.
1. People make choices because
they can't have everything they
want.
when we talk about people or things in
2. Nurses work in clinics and
general
hospitals.
3. Football is a very popular sport in
Bulgaria.
1. The Earth is spherical.
2. My birthday is in May.
to indicate general truths, facts and
3. California is in the United States.
scientific laws
4. The sun rises in the east.
5. Water freezes at 0°C (32°F).
1. We arrive in Rome at 6 p.m. When we talk about travel plans and
2. The train leaves in five minutes. timetables (mainly with verbs such as
I/you/we/they do go, leave, arrive, start, come, return
3. The course starts next Thursday.
he/she/it does etc.)
1. She loves jazz music. with state (or stative) verbs such as
to have
2. My aunt hates travelling by train. like, dislike, love, think, seem, look,
I/you/we/they have
3. I like ice cream. I don't like know, feel, understand, want, need,
he/she/it has
spinach. hate, remember, forget, prefer,
4. I think she is a wonderful person. believe, mean, taste, hear, see, have
 Negative form
5. Do you believe in God? (when the meaning is "possess"), own,
6. I have no money at the moment. belong, etc. These verbs are not
I
7. My brother has a new car. normally used in the Continuous Tense
you      DO NOT /don't/
8. That bicycle belongs to me. (but there are exceptions).
we           WORK
they 1. Pour all ingredients into a mixing
bowl and mix until smooth.
he/she/it    DOES NOT 2. Walk down the street to the to give instructions/directions
              /doesn't / corner and then turn right.
WORK
 The Present Simple Tense is also used in:
1. She doesn't often go
to the cinema. sentences after "when", "after", "while", "till" / "until", "before", "as
2. I don't get up early at soon as" - When the rain stops, we'll go out.
the weekend. I'll call you back as soon as I return home.
3. They don't speak
English very well.  Zero conditional sentences (when the result of the condition is always
true) - If you heat water to 100°C (212°F), it boils.
 Interrogative form
First conditional sentences (Often called the "real" conditional because it
               I is used for real (or possible) situations. These situations take place if a
DO       you       WORK? certain condition is met.) - If you finish your homework I'll bring you to the
             We zoo.
             they

DOES   he/she/it   
WORK?

1. Do they speak foreign

languages?
2. Do you want a
banana?
3. Does your sister play
the piano?

 Questions and short

answers:

Do you like spaghetti?

Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
Does she know
Bulgarian?
 Notes about formation of the 3rd person singular (he, she,
it):

If the verb ends in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x or -o, add -es to the base
form:
  kiss - kisses, finish - finishes, watch - watches, mix - mixes,
go - goes

 If the verb ends in consonant + y change y to i and add -es:

  study - studies, copy - copies,  try - tries, carry - carries

II- PRESENT CONTINUOUS

 Formula

TO BE + VERB+ING

Am + VERB+ING

Is + VERB+ING

Are + VERB+ING

 Spelling of ING

End of verb Ing form

Rule 1 Consonant + e ... drop the e and add ING

Examle: to smile smiling

To write writing

Rule 2 One vowel+ Consonant ... double the consonant and add ING

Examle: to sit sitting

To run running

Rule 3 Two vowel+ one Consonant ... add ING do not double the consonant
 Examle: to rain raining

To read reading

Rule 4 Consonant + e ... drop the e and add ING

Examle: to smile smiling

To write writing

Please see the board below. With the example

Affirmative statement Négative statement Interrogative form

I am looking We are looking I am not We are not Am I Are we

looking looking looking? looking?

You are You are Lou are not You are not Are you Are you
looking looking looking looking looking? looking?

He is looking He is not Is he Are they

looking looking? looking?
They are
She is looking looking She is not Is she
looking They are not looking?
looking
It is looking It is not looking Is it looking?

 Usage

The present continuous is used for:

 Action taking place at the time of speaking.

Example: It's raining. Who is Kate talking to on the phone?

 The action is true at the present time but we don't think it will be true in the
long term.

Example: I'm looking for a new apartment.

He's thinking about leaving his job.

 The action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been arranged.
Example: I'm meeting her at 6.30.
They aren't arriving until Tuesday.