Simple Present Tense vs. Present continuous Prof. Jose Morales EGLISH COURSE

Forms Simple present tense verbs have two forms: the base form and the -s form: We use the base form with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. I You We need water. They My friends BASE FORM -S FORM LIKE NEED LIKES NEEDS

3. We use the –s form with he, she, it, and singular nouns It needs water The flower Susan

Verbs with irregular –s forms These verbs have irregular –s forms: have has / go goes Examples: I have a car /She has a motorcycle I go to bed at 10 o’clock. / She goes to bed at 11:30.

Functions of simple present tense Statements of fact The sun rises in the east. Lions live in Africa. Americans speak English Statements of regular activity or repeated action. We have class on Mondays and Wednesdays. The professor always explains the grammar. The teacher usually gives homework.

Applying some Spelling rules to indicate tense We add –s to most verbs to make the –s form: I like apples. She likes apples too. I need a pen. He needs a pen too. 2. When the base form ends in s, z, sh, ch, or x, we add –es and pronounce an extra syllable. I miss him, and she misses him too. You wash the dishes, and he washes the clothes. We watch channel 5, and Linda watches channel 2. They fix car, and he fixes motorcycles.

Cont… 3. For words that end in -ge, -ce, and -se, we must pronounce an extra syllable. I use a pen, and she uses a pencil. You change $15, and he changes $18. I dance well, and she dances majestically . 4. When the base form ends in a consonant + -y, we change -y to –i and then add –es. I study English, and he studies French I carry a bag, and he carries a briefcase.

Cont… When the base form ends in a vowel + y, we do not change the –y Example: I play football and she plays soccer. These verbs have a change in the vowel sound: say /sei/ says /sεz/ do /du/ does /d∂z/ I say yes, and he says no I do my homework, and she does her work.

compare be in different contexts BE (SER) EXAMPLES BE (ESTAR) Am I Is he, she, it Are you, we, they I am a professor. He is curious. She is beautiful. It is a cute cat. You are a student. You are students. We are students. They are rich. Are you, we, are I am at the concert. He is in school. They are at the park.

Negative statements with the verb to be LOOK AT THIS EQUATION: SUBJ. + BE + NEG. NOT + COMPLEMENT. EXAMPLES: 1. I am not a student any longer. 2. She is not responding my calls. 3. They are not going to the party. 4. We are not good in math.

Negative statements with regular verbs LOOK AT THIS EQUATION TO FORM NEGATIVE STATEMENTS IN ENGLISH: SUBJ. + AUX. (DO/DOES) + NEGATIVE (NOT) + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT. Keep in mind that the auxiliary DO is used with I, you, we, they , and plural nouns. We use the auxiliary DOES with he, she, or it, or singular nouns. Examples: I you do not like vegetables. We (don’t) They

Negative statements (cont…) He does not like vegetables. She (doesn’t) It

Affirmative and negative statements I have children She has a lot of money in the bank. I use a pencil when I write. She prays for the elderly. She likes to eat popcorn. I don’t have children She doesn’t have a lot of money in the bank I don’t use a pencil when I write. She doesn’t pray for the elderly. She doesn’t like to eat popcorn.

Yes/no questions AND SHORT ANSWERS FOLLOW THIS EQUATION TO FORM YES/NO QUESTIONS: DO/DOES +SUBJ. + VERB + COMPLEMENT + QUEST. MARK (?) EXAMPLES: Do you like horror movies? Yes, I do / No, I don’t Does she like to play soccer? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t. Does the textbook have pictures? Yes, it does./ No, it doesn’t. Do Mexicans like football? Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.

Wh-questions WH-WORDS DO/DOES SUBJECT VERB + ? Where When How long WORD ORDER: WH-WORDS DO/DOES SUBJECT VERB + ? Where When How long What Who do does they the class the semester you study? begin? last? want? prefer?

Present continuous tense For an action in progress now, at this moment. example: The teacher is explaining the grammar. For a long-term action that is not completed. example: The world is changing.

Forming the present continuous How do we form the present continuous tense? 1. We form this verb tense by following the structure: subj. + BE + main verb + -ing + complement SPELLING RULES We do not change the final –y when we add –ing. carry-carrying stay-staying worry-worrying study-studying

2. For one syllable verbs that end in consonant-vowel-consonant, we double the final consonant and add –ing. plan-planning sit-sitting stop-stopping run-running 3. We do not double final w, x, or y mow-mowing mix-mixing stay-staying

Affirmative statements 1. Affirmative statements: I am studying for the exam. You are reading an interesting book They are practicing for the game. We are learning a lot of things in class. Jose and Rosa are writing essays in class. 2. He is eating a delicious lasagna. She is sleeping It is sitting on a bench. Jaime is standing in line.

Contractions I am / I’m cleaning my car You are / you’re discussing arid topics that are difficult to understand. We are / We’re driving to Mayaguez to attend a graduation. They are / They’re feeding the horses. He is / He’s fighting for his rights. She is /She’s demonstrating to the audience that she has potential. It is / It’s standing straight.

Negative statements / yes-no questions SUBJ. + VERB BE + NEG. (NOT) + MAIN VERB + -ING + COMPLEMENT They are not paying attention to the class. He is not reading. Maria and Jose are not laughing. YES/NO QUESTIONS VERB BE + SUBJ. + MAIN VERB + -ING + COMPLEMENT + QUESTION MARK (?) Am I learning? Yes, I am/ No, I am not Are you listening to me? Yes, I am / No, I am not Is she writing essays? Yes, she is / No, she is not

Wh-questions using the progressive form WH-WORD + VERB BE + SUBJ. + MAIN VERB + -ING EXAMPLES: What are you studying? Why is he running? Who am I waiting for? Where are they going? When is she coming home?

references Elbaum, S. & Hardison, M. (1986). Grammar in Context. Scott, Foresman & Company. United States.