MODULE 1: PRESENT SIMPLE

Use:
The Present Simple is used to express:

1. A habit
We perform routine maintenance work on Sundays.

2. A fact that’s always true

Problem Sensitivity is the ability to tell when something is
wrong or is likely to go wrong.

3. A fact that is true for a long time

We work with undercarriages.
1.1. Verb to be
• Affirmative

Subject Verb to be Complement

I am
Singular You are a heavy equipment mechanic
He/she/It is

We
Plural You are heavy equipment mechanics
They

The machine is working properly.

Contracted way:

Subject + Verb to be Complement

I’m
Singular You’re a heavy equipment mechanic
He’s/She’s/It’s

We’re
Plural You’re heavy equipment mechanics
They’re

The machine’s working properly.

The environment is usually well lit and ventilated
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct to be form:
a) am
b) is
c) are

1. All of us mobile heavy equipment mechanics _____ responsible for

repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
2. The gear systems _____ assembled
3. My task _____ to inspect heavy equipment.
4. Nowadays I _____ involved in maintenance.
5. Two mechanics _____ responsible for technology design.
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct to be form:
a) am
b) is
c) are

1. All of us mobile heavy equipment mechanics __c__ responsible for

repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
2. The gear systems __c__ assembled
3. My task __b__ to inspect heavy equipment.
4. Nowadays I __a__ involved in maintenance.
5. Two mechanics __c__ responsible for technology design.
• Negative

Subject Verb to be Particle not Complement

I am
a heavy equipment
Singular You are
mechanic
He/she/It is
not
We
heavy equipment
Plural You are
mechanics
They

The machine is not working properly.

Contracted way I:

Subject + Verb to be Particle not Complement

I’m
a heavy equipment
Singular You’re
mechanic
He’s/She’s/It’s*
not
We’re
heavy equipment
Plural You’re
mechanics
They’re

* Good maintenance’s not optional these days

Contracted way II:

Verb to be +
Subject Complement
Particle not

I’m not
a heavy equipment
Singular You aren’t
mechanic
He/She/It isn’t

We
heavy equipment
Plural You
aren’t mechanics
They

Good maintenance isn’t optional these days

NEVER: I amn’t a heavy equipment mechanic
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct negative to be form:

a) am not
b) is not
c) are not

1. Mechanics’ work environment ____ always clean

2. Replace worn parts ____ all what I do. I diagnose faults too.
3. I ____ in charge of other areas but equipment maintenance.
4. Being in charge you ____ supposed to work less but harder
5. The typical workweek for a heavy equipment mechanic ____ 10 hours.
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct negative to be form:

a) am not
b) is not
c) are not

1. Mechanics’ work environment __b__ always clean

2. Replace worn parts __b__ all what I do. I diagnose faults too.
3. I __a__ in charge of other areas but equipment maintenance.
4. Being in charge you __c__ supposed to work less but harder.
5. The typical workweek for a heavy equipment mechanic __b__ 10 hours.
• Questions with question words

(Question word) Verb to be Subject (Complement)

am I
a heavy equipment
Singular are you
mechanic?
is he/she/it
Why
we
heavy equipment
Plural are you
mechanics?
they

Are you the new technology designer?

Why is troubleshooting important?
What are the skills needed for mobile heavy equipment mechanics?
Exercises: Put in order the scrambled questions:

1. considered/are/fully/qualified/your/assistants?
____________________________________________
2. Which/skills/are/your?
____________________________________________
3. well/in/your/are/technicians/paid/company?
____________________________________________
4. where/workshops/the/are?
____________________________________________
5. for/formal/heavy/mechanics/is/equipment/training/recommended?
____________________________________________
Exercises: Put in order the scrambled questions:

1. considered/are/fully/qualified/your/assistants?
Are your assistants considered fully qualified?
2. Which/skills/are/your?
Which are your skills?
3. well/in/your/are/technicians/paid/company?
Are technicians well paid in your company?
4. where/workshops/the/are?
Where are the workshops?
5. for/formal/heavy/mechanics/is/equipment/training/recommended?
Is formal training for heavy equipment mechanics recommended?
• Yes/No questions and short answers

Verb Short answers

Subject Complement
to be affirmative Negative*

Am I Yes, you are No, you are not

Are you a mechanic? Yes, I am No, I’m not
Is he/she/it Yes, he/she/it is No, he/she/it isn’t

we Yes, we/you are No, we/you aren’t

Are you mechanics? Yes, we are No, we aren’t
they Yes, they are No, they are not

* Contracted way (to be + not) is allowed

1.1.1. Other full verbs
• Affirmative

Subject Verb (Complement)

I
work
You

He
in equipment
She works
maintenance
it
We
You work
They
e.g.

They determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

The heavy equipment mechanic generates and adapts equipment

and technology to serve user needs.

The strategy works.

Remember:

Spelling of the third person singular

1. Most verbs add -s in the third person singular
lift lifts
hammer hammers
unscrew unscrews
But go and do are different:
go goes
do does
2. If the verb ends in -s, -sh, or ch, add -es
diminish diminishes
wrench wrenches
Spelling of the third person singular

3. If the verb ends in consonant + -y, the y changes to -ies

study studies
fly flies
But if the verb ends in a vowel + -y, the y doesn’t change
play plays

4. Have is irregular
have has
• Negative

Verb
Subject Auxiliary Particle not Complement
infinitive
I
do
You
He
She does in equipment
not work
it maintenance
We
You Do
They
e.g.
My job does not include Installing equipment.
Entry-level mobile heavy equipment mechanics do not perform major repairs.
Devices do not respond.
Contracted way:

Auxiliary + Verb
Subject (Complement)
Particle not infinitive
I
don’t
You
He
She doesn’t in equipment
work
it maintenance
We
You don’t
They
e.g.
My job doesn’t include Installing equipment.
Entry-level mechanics don’t perform major repairs.
Devices don’t respond.
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct negative verb form:
a) do not
b) does not

1. Greg ____ study at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

2. Technology changes but the main principle ____ change.
3. Employers _____ have the same skills than technicians.
4. In this area we _____ have to dismantle neither reassemble heavy
equipment.
5. They ______ have enough hand tools in the storehouse
Exercises: fill in the blanks with the correct negative verb form:
a) do not
b) does not

1. Greg __b __ study at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

2. Technology changes but the main principle __b__ change.
3. Employers ___a__ have the same skills than technicians.
4. In this area we ___a__ have to dismantle neither reassemble
heavy equipment.
5. They ___a___ have enough hand tools in the storehouse
• Questions

(Question Verb
Auxiliary Subject (Complement)
word) infinitive
I
do
You
he
does she in equipment
Why work
It maintenance?
we
do you
they
e.g.
What do we mean by ’regulating devices’?
How do you weld structural members, using gas welders?
How does the team quantify the risk?
What does a mobile heavy equipment mechanic do?
• Yes/No questions and Short Answers

Verb Short Answers

Auxiliary Subject (Complement)
infinitive Affirmative Negative*
I Yes, you do No, you do not
Do
you Yes, I do No, I don’t
he Yes, he does No, he does not
Does she in equipment Yes, she does No, she doesn’t
work
it maintenance? Yes, it does No, it does not
we Yes, we/you do No, we/you don’t
Do you Yes, we do No, we do not
they Yes, they do No, they don’t

* Contracted way (auxiliary + not) is allowed

Exercises. Fill in the blanks: do(a), does(b), don´t(c), doesn´t(d)

1. _____ you work only in our industry? No, I _____

2. _____ they dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment
using hoists? Yes, they _____
3. _____ the suppliers and customers influence on asset
management? No, they _____
4. _____ Carlos perform routine maintenance work on
vehicles? Yes, he _____
5. _____ your assistants read and understand operating
manuals? Yes, they _____
Exercises. Fill in the blanks: do(a), does(b), don´t(c), doesn´t(d)

1. __ a ___ you work only in our industry? No, I __ c ___

2. ___ a __ they dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment
using hoists? Yes, they __ a ___
3. __ a ___ the suppliers and customers influence on asset
management? No, they __ c ___
4. ___b___ Carlos perform routine maintenance work on
vehicles? Yes, he __d___
5. ___b__ your assistant read and understand operating
manuals? Yes, he __b___