The Simple Present Tense

The Simple Present Tense USES To talk about routines or habits. I brush my teeth every morning. He rides the bus to work. To talk about facts or general truths. The sun rises in the east. Americans speak English.

Form Two forms: base form and “s” form 1. We use the base form with I, you, we, they and plural nouns: I you we they + need + water my friends trees 2. We use the “s” form with he, she, it, and singular nouns: he she + needs + water the flower Susan

“S” Form Spelling We add “s” to most verbs to make the “s” form like likes need needs When the base form ends in s, z, sh, ch,or x, we add “-es” miss misses wash washes watch watches fix fixes When the base form ends in a consonant + y, we change the y to i and add “–es”. study studies carry studies When the base form of the verb ends in a vowel + y, we do not change the y. say says play plays Some verbs have irregular forms: Do does have has go goes

Spelling Exercise plan teach match Study Sit Fix Begin have Hurry Play Happen Drink Stay Smoke Row do Marry miss

Spelling Exercise – Answers plan Plans Teach Teaches Match Matches Study Studies Sit Sits Fix Fixes Begin Begins Have Has Hurry Hurries Play Plays Happen Happens Drink Drinks Stay Stays Smoke Smokes Row Rows Do Does Marry Marries Miss Misses

“s” Form - Pronunciation The final form for the third-person singular form of the simple present tense is pronounced three different ways: /s/ /z/, or /iz/ It is pronounced /s/ after the voiceless sounds /p/, /t/, /k/ Stops, wants, walks. It is pronounced /z/ after all the vowel sounds and the voiced sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /m/, /n/, /l/, and /r/ Grabs, needs, drives, lives, comes, wears, rains, plays. It is pronounced /iz/ after the sounds /s/, /z/, and words that end in –ge, -ce, and –se. We must pronounce an extra syllable. use uses wash washes fix fixes charge charges dance dances miss misses DO and SAY have a change in vowel sound: do does say says

Pronunciation Exercise /z/ /iz/ wears misses plays rains drinks takes washes lives worries works

Auxiliary Verbs: Do / Does Affirmative Statements: I take a shower every morning. He takes the train to work. Use DO / DOES with negative Statements and questions: Use Do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns You don’t understand me. Do they work in New York? Use Does with he, she, it, and singular nouns She doesn’t study French. Does he call you every day?

Please remember! After an auxiliary verb (do – does) use the base form of the verb (not the “s” form) He doesn’t worry too much. Does it stay open on holidays? Questions follow this format: Aux + Subject + Verb? ASV? Does she work on weekends? Do they buy groceries at the supermarket?

Questions of Frequency How Often asks questions about frequency. How often is often used with the simple present tense. It is rarely used with the present progressive: How often do you clean your room? NOT: How often are you cleaning your room? Adverbs and expressions of frequency are often used with the simple present tense. They rarely occur with the present progressive: They usually eat breakfast at eight o’clock NOT: They are usually eating breakfast at eight o’clock.

Using Adverbs and Expressions of Frequency They tell us how often we do something Expressions of frequency or time markers Every day, morning, night, weekend… Twice a day, month, year… Three times a day, month, year… Several times a day, month year… Once in a while Adverbs of frequency 100% -----------------------------------------------0% Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

Position: Expressions of frequency (time markers) come at the beginning or the end of a sentence: He plays tennis every day. Every week they go to the movies. Adverbs of frequency come after the verb TO BE: She is usually on time. They are rarely home on weekends. Adverbs of frequency come before other verbs: They never clean their car. She doesn’t often go to New York.