The Present Simple Tense

I
We
You read
They
My friends

He
She read + S
It
My friend

I read books every day

He reads books every day
 I
I We
We Do You read?
You do not (don’t) read They
They My friends
My friends
He
Does She read?
He It
She does not (doesn’t) read My friend
It
My friend Do you read every day?
Yes, I do
I don’t read books every day No, I don’t
He doesn’t read books every day
Does he read every day?
Yes, he does
No, he doesn’t
Use:
*habits
Toby walks to work
*to talk about how often things happen
Angela doesn’t visit us very often
*permanent situations
Carlo works in a travel agent’s
*states
Do you have an up-to-date passport?
*general truth and facts
Poland is in the European Union
Use:
*do / does for emphasis
“You don’t like going by bus, do you?”
Actually, I do like going by bus for short distances”
 The Present Continuous Tense
I am (‘m) read + ing = I am (‘m) reading
He
She is (‘s) reading
It
My brother
Look! My brother is reading a book

We
You are (‘re) reading
They
My friends
My friends are reading
 Am I reading? Yes, I am / No, I’m not
I am not (‘m not) reading

He he
She is not (isn’t) reading Is she reading?
It it
My brother my brother

we
Are you reading?
We they
You are not (aren’t) reading my brothers
They
My friends
Use:
*actions happening now
Mike is driving to work at the moment
Use:
*temporary series of actions
Taxi drivers aren’t stopping at the train station because
of the roadworks
Use:
*temporary situations
Are they staying in a hotel near the Olympic stadium?
Use:
*changing and developing situations
Holidays abroad are becoming increasingly popular
Use:
*annoying habits (usually with always)
Dad is always cleaning the car when I want to use it!
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs often refer to:
*thinking
mean
think
believe understand
imagine
know
Stative Verbs:
*existence *emotions

hate prefer
be like satisfy
love want
need enjoy
adore
Stative verbs:
*the human senses *appearance

hear see
smell sound appear look
taste resemble seem
Stative Verbs:
*possession and relationship between things

belong to consist of
have include
involve own
 Some verbs
be, have, imagine, look, see, smell, taste, think,
feel, weigh, fit, appear
are stative with one meaning and non-stative with
another meaning
I think he’s lying (= believe)
I’m thinking about the plan (= am considering)
The food tastes delicious (= has a delicious flavor)
He is tasting the food (= is testing the flavor of)
I can see some people (= perceive with my eyes)
I see what you mean (= understand)
I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow (= am meeting)
The perfume smells nice (= has a nice smell)
He is smelling the milk (= is sniffing)
The baby’s hair feels like silk (= has a texture of)
She’s feeling the baby’s forehead (= is touching)
Bob has a Porsche (= possesses)
He’s having a shower at the moment (= is taking a shower)
The chicken weighs 2 kilos (=has a weight of)
The butcher is weighing the meat (=is measuring
how heavy it is)
This dress fits you perfectly (= it is the right size)
We are fitting new locks (= are putting in)
She appears to be nervous (= seems)
He is appearing in a new play (= is taking part)
He is a rude person (= character – permanent state)
He is being rude (= behavior – temporary situation)