I). Present simple tense:
The present simple tense, or the simple present can be used in several ways. Here are seven different ways:
1).Facts that are always true (general truth):
The Earth goes around the sun.
2).Regular Habits:
The present simple is also used when we want to talk about actions of habits or repeated actions. We can often use expressions like “every …….” and “on Tuesdays,” or adverbs of frequency such as “sometimes,” “never,” and “often.”
-She always drives to work.
3).Permanent Situations:
-He works as a teacher.
4).Scheduled Events and timetables:
-The flight leaves tomorrow at 9.00 a.m.
5).In Zero Conditional clauses:
-Fire burns you if you touch it.
6). In First Conditional clauses:
-What will you do if I tell you the whole story?
-If you help me with my homework, I will cook dinner for you.
1-Present Simple with affirmative sentences:
The simplest affirmative sentences in the Present Simple are formed according to the following model:
Subject (e.g., she) + verb (e.g., eat+s) + object (e.g., an apple) = She eats an apple.
-3rd person singular in Present Simple
In Present Simple tense, when dealing with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), we typically add an -s or -es to the base form of the verb. However, for all other subjects (I, we, they, you ), the verb remains as it is without any additions.
The Present Simple tense has two types of exceptions, where we don’t just add “s” in 3rd person singular (he, she, it), but “es” or “ies” to the verbs.
a).Verbs ending in -s, -x, -z, -sh, -ch + “es”:
-He watches the football match.
-She fixes the broken lamp.
-It buzzes loudly.
b).Verbs ending in a consonant and y + “ies”:
-He studies English every day.
-She tries to solve the problem.
2).How to form questions in Present Simple?
To form questions in the Present Simple, use inversion – that is, swap the subject and the verb. For Present Simple questions, add the auxiliary verb “do” for nearly all subjects (I, you, we, they), or “does” for the third person singular (he, she, it).
-Do you like coffee?
-Does he play football?
-Do they study English?
3).How to form negations in Present Simple?
To form a negation in Present Simple, add “not” between the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” and the rest of the sentence. “Do not” is used for all subjects (I, you, we, they), while “does not” is only used in the third person singular (he, she, it). You can also use the contracted form – “don’t” or “doesn’t”.
-We do not like meat. / We don’t like meat.
-They do not speak Arabic. / They don’t speak Arabic.
-He does not play football. / He doesn’t play football.
-She does not work as a teacher. / She doesn’t work as a teacher.
-It does not rain a lot in summer. / It doesn’t rain a lot in summer.
II). Present Continuous tense:
1).The present continuous is formed as follows:
Subject (e.g., he) + verb (e.g., is (‘to be’ in the third person singular)) + verb (e.g. speak+ing ) + object= He is speaking slowly.
2).Present continuous tense uses:
a). First, we use the present continuous for things that are happening at the moment of speaking.
These actions usually last for a short period of time and they are not finished when we are talking about them.
• I am teaching at the moment.
• Please call back , we are eating dinner now.
• Mohammed is praying.
b). We can also use this tense for other kinds of temporary situations, even if the action isn't happening at this moment.
• Omar is working in a supermarket until he finds a job of his interest. (He might not be working now.)
• I'm reading an amazing story.
Compare this with the present simple, which is used for permanent situations that we feel will continue for a long time.
• I work in a school. (I think this is a permanent situation.)
• I'm working in a school. (I think this is a temporary situation.)
c). We can use the present continuous for temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use the present simple). We often use this with expressions like 'these days' or 'at the moment'. In other words, we use it to talk about changing situations:
• He's eating a lot these days.
• She's swimming every morning (she didn't use to do this).
• Is your English getting better?
-the population of the world is rising very fast.
d). Another present continuous use is for habits that are not regular, but that happen very often. In this case, we usually use an adverb like 'always', 'forever' or 'constantly'. Often, we use the present continuous in this way to talk about an annoying habit.
• You're forever losing your keys!
• She's constantly missing the train.
e). The next use is for definite future arrangements (with a future time word). In this case, we have already made a plan and we are sure that the event will happen in the future.
• We're going to the beach at the weekend.
• I'm leaving at three.
We cannot use this tense (or any other continuous tense) with stative verbs (non-dynamic verbs): want, need, prefer, know, like, love, hate, belong, believe, see, hear, realize, mean, suppose, understand, forget, remember, seem, have (with the meaning of possess), think (with the meaning of believe)
Task one:
Complete the sentences with the verbs given, using the present continuous or the present simple and say what each means:
1). ‘Shall I phone at 7.00?’ ‘No, we normally ……………..dinner at that time.(cook)
2). My mobile hasn’t stopped ringing, since I won the lottery. People ……………to ask how I’m going to spend the money.(phone)
3). Mary …………..her mother in Algiers most weekends.(visit)
4). We usually …………..up at about 7.00. Couldn’t you come an hour later? (get up)
5).I regularly………………swimming in the evenings to try to lose weight.(go)
Task one:
Complete the sentences with the verbs given, using the present continuous or the present simple and say what each means:
1). ‘Shall I phone at 7.00?’ ‘No, we normally ……………..dinner at that time.(cook)
2). My mobile hasn’t stopped ringing, since I won the lottery. People ……………to ask how I’m going to spend the money.(phone)
3). Mary …………..her mother in Algiers most weekends.(visit)
4). We usually …………..up at about 7.00. Couldn’t you come an hour later? (get up)
5).I regularly………………swimming in the evenings to try to lose weight.(go)
Task three:
Choose “present simple” or “present continuous” to complete the following rules:
1). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about temporary situations.
2). The present simple / present continuous isn’t usually used with state verbs.
3). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about habits and routines.
4). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about things that are always true.
5). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about things that are happening now.
6). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about fixed future arrangements.
7). Use the present simple / present continuous to talk about scheduled events.
Task four:
Complete the email. Use the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
To: John@email.com
Hi John,
What ............................. (you / do) at the moment?
I ............................. (sit) in Mascar’s café.
I ............................. (drink) cappuccino. This café ............................. (make) the best cappuccino in the city!
I ............................. (often / come) here after work with our friend Bill. In fact, I ............................. (wait) for him now. You (know) ............................. he’s always late. I .............................(not understand) why! Anyway, can I borrow your car? I ............................. (need) it for an important meeting with a French company team next week. Oh, Bill ............................. (come) into the café now.
Bye, see you later!
David
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