Time to review – part one: present tenses

Simple present:

a) used to talk about your routine, things that happen all the time:
“I wake up to go to work at 6 a.m.”
b) used to talk about something that happens in this moment:
“I think this is not a good idea!”

What’s the formula?

Affirmative: subject + verb (Present) + complement

I need help with my project.

We study English every Wednesday.

They read many books for school.

Negative: subject + don’t + verb (Present) + complement

I don’t need help with my project.

We don’t study English every Wednesday.

They don’t read many books for school.

Questions: do + subject + verb (Present) + complement

Do you need help with your project?

Do they study English every Wednesday?

Do they read many books for school?

ATTENTION! When using HE/SHE/IT, the formula is different!

Verb ending in consonant + vowel: - y + ies:
Affirmative: subject + (verb + s) + complement
To study – he studies
She needs help with her project.
Verbs ending in o, x, sh, ch, s, ss: + es
He studies English every Wednesday.
To go – she goes
The class starts at 2 o’clock.
To wash – he washes

Negative: subject + doesn’t + verb (Present) + complement

In negative and interrogative sentences, we
She doesn’t need help with her project. don’t add -s to the verb:
He doesn’t study English every Wednesday. She doesn’t likes chocolate. (incorrect)
The class doesn’t start at 2 o’clock. She doesn’t like chocolate. (correct)

Questions: does + subject + verb (Present) + complement ?

Does she need help with her project?

Does he study English every Wednesday?

Does the class start at 2 o’clock?

Practice time!

a) Eu estudo de manhã, mas minha melhor amiga estuda à tarde.

I study in the morning, but my friend studies in the afternoon.

b) Quando você precisa terminar seu projeto para a aula de ciências?

When do you need to finish your project for the science class?

c) Você sabe de onde sua família vem?

Where does your family come from?

d) À que horas a reunião começa? Eu acho que ela começa às 10.

What time does the meeting start? I think it starts at 10.

e) Meu irmão não compra os livros na livraria, ele prefere ir à biblioteca.

My brother doesn’t buy the books at the bookstore, he prefers to go to the library.

Change into negative:

a) My mother travels to the U.S.A. frequently.

My mother doesn’t travel to the USA frequently.

b) My friend needs to study more, he needs to get better grades.

My friend doesn’t need to study more, he doesn’t need to get better grades.

c) They prefer to stay at home during the holiday.

They don’t prefer to stay at home during the holiday.

d) I agree with your opinion, I think you are correct.

I don’t agree with your opinion, I don’t think you are correct.

e) The meeting starts in 5 minutes.

The meeting doesn’t start in 5 minutes.

f) They spend their vacation at the beach every summer.

They don’t spend their vacation at the beach every summer.

Present continuous: used to express things that are in progress in this moment.

What’s the formula?

Affirmative: subject + verb to be (affirmative) + verb (ing)

I am studying for my test now.

They are finishing the renovation at my house.

She is buying food for the holiday.

Negative: subject + verb to be (negative) + verb (ing)

I am not studying for my test now.

They aren’t finishing the renovation at my house.

She isn’t buying food for the holiday.

Questions: verb to be + subject + verb (ing)

Are you studying for the test now?

Are they finishing the renovations at your house?

Is she buying food for the holiday?

Practice time

a) Eles estão estudando filosofia, porque eles têm uma prova hoje à tarde.

They are studying Philosophy because they have a test this afternoon.

b) Minha prima está comprando roupas novas no shopping.

My cousin is buying new clothes at the mall.

c) Por que você está trabalhando agora? São duas da manhã!

Why are you working now? It’s 2 in the morning! / It’s 2 a.m.

d) Eles estão contratando novos funcionários?

Are they hiring new employees?

e) Eu estou fazendo cookies para o café da manhã.

I am making cookies for breakfast.

Change into interrogative.

a) The students are having lunch at the cafeteria.

Are the students having lunch at the cafeteria?

b) You are playing video games with your friends.

Are you playing video games with your friends?

c) She is buying thyme to add to the recipe.

Is she buying thyme to add to the recipe?

d) They are expecting to move to another city really soon.

Are they expecting to move to another city really soon?

e) She is taking a lot of pictures during her trip to Asia.

Is she taking a lot of pictures during her trip to Asia?