1. Parts of Speech Part 4: Verb Tenses
English Encounters

2. Simple Present Tense

3. Simple Present Tense Regular Verbs: Affirmative Singular Plural
1st Person
I walk
We walk
2nd Person
You walk
3rd Person
He (she, it) walks
They walk
Noun Subject
Joselma walks
Joselma and Jorge walk

4. Simple Present Tense
Rule 1: Use the present tense to express habitual action or something you or someone else knows how to do.
Examples: Affirmative
Jack goes to HCC classes everyday.
His friends usually ride the bus, but Jack drives his brother’s car.
The bus runs every thirty minutes.
Jack plays the violin very well.

5. Simple Present Tense Regular Verbs: Negative Singular Plural
1st Person
I don’t (do not) walk
We don’t (do not) walk
2nd Person
You don’t (do not) walk
3rd Person
He (she, it) doesn’t (does not) walk
They don’t (do not) walk
Noun Subject
Tran doesn’t walk
Tran and Jose don’t walk

6. Simple Present Tense
Rule 1: Use the present tense to express habitual action or something one knows how to do.
Examples: Negative
Jack doesn’t go to HCC classes everyday.
His friends don’t usually ride the bus.
The bus doesn’t run very often.
I don’t often drive myself to school.
Olga doesn’t play tennis.

7. Simple Present Tense Regular Verbs: Affirmative Questions Singular
Plural
1st Person
Do I walk?
Do we walk?
2nd Person
Do you walk?
3rd Person
Does he (she, it) walk?
Do they walk?
Noun Subject
Does John walk?
Do John and Sally walk?

8. Simple Present Tense
Rule 1: Use the present tense to express habitual action or something one knows how to do.
Examples: Affirmative Questions
Does Jack go to HCC classes everyday?
Do his friends usually ride the bus?
Does the bus run very often?
Do I drive today, or do you?
Do you play chess?

9. Simple Present Tense Regular Verbs: Negative Questions Singular Plural
1st Person
Don’t I walk?
Don’t we walk?
2nd Person
Don’t you walk?
3rd Person
Doesn’t he (she, it) walk?
Don’t they walk?
Noun Subject
Doesn’t Maria walk?
Don’t Maria and Ahmad walk?

10. Simple Present Tense
Rule 1: Use the present tense to express habitual action or something you know how to do.
Examples: Negative Questions
Doesn’t Jack go to HCC classes everyday?
Don’t his friends usually ride the bus?
Doesn’t the bus run every thirty minutes?
Don’t I drive today?
Don’t you work at Walmart?

11. Simple Present Tense Examples:
Rule 2: Use the present tense to express future time for schedules and appointments.
Examples:
The bus arrives at 3:00 P.M. this afternoon.
Don’t you have an appointment with the doctor this morning?
The meeting is not until noon today.
When does the party start?

12. Simple Present Tense Examples: I love going to the mall.
Rule 3: Use the present tense to express facts, generalizations, and preferences.
Examples:
I love going to the mall.
Do horses really like apples?
Most windows are made of glass.
I prefer large cities over small towns.

13. Simple Present Tense Non continuous verbs: Abstract Verbs:
Rule 4: Use the present tense with non-continuous verbs to show action that is now.
Non continuous verbs:
Abstract Verbs:
to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...
Possession Verbs:
to possess, to own, to belong...
Emotion Verbs:
to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...

14. Simple Present Tense
Rule 4: Use the present tense with non-continuous verbs to show action that is happening now or not happening now.
Examples:
He is liking the movie. Not Correct
He likes the movie. Correct
Abraham is needing a drink of water now. Not Correct
Abraham needs a drink of water now. Correct
Mahar is at school.
Don’t you have a passport?
Do you want help?

15. Write 5 sentences with the simple present tense about:
A transportation schedule or appointment
Usual or habitual action
Something that one knows how to do
A fact or preference
An action happening now using a non continuous verb.

16. Present Progressive Tense
Regular Verbs: Affirmative (be + verb + ing)
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I am walking
We are walking
2nd Person
You are walking
3rd Person
He (she, it) is walking
They are walking
Noun Subject
Joselma is walking
Joselma and Jorge are walking

17. Present Progressive Tense
Rule No. 1: Use the present progressive tense with normal verbs (not non continuous verbs) to express action that is happening now, or not happening now.
Examples:
He is watching T.V. in his room.
What are you doing?
The children are finishing their homework.
Janis isn’t playing tennis right now.

18. Present Progressive Tense
Rule No. 2: Use the present progressive tense to express what we are in the process of doing, but not necessarily right now.
Examples:
He is taking English 0346 at HCC.
What are you doing these days?
Are you studying to become an engineer?
Janis isn’t playing tennis any more.
Why aren’t you working?

19. Present Progressive Tense
Rule No. 3: Use the present progressive tense to express what will or will not happen in the future.
Examples:
He is going to the store later.
My parents are coming to visit me in a couple of weeks.
Are you working tomorrow?
Janis isn’t playing cards with us tonight.
Why aren’t the boys going to the game tonight?

20. Present Progressive Tense
Rule No. 4: Use the present progressive tense to express repetition and irritation with always or constantly.
Examples:
He is always coming to class late.
Some people are always complaining about something.
Why are you constantly talking?

21. Write 5 sentences using the present progressive tense to express:
Something happening now.
Something happening in the near future.
Longer actions in progress now.
Repetition and irritation with always or constantly.

22. For more study and practice on the simple present and present progressive tenses, go to the website below:

23. Present Progressive Tense
The End of
Simple Present and
Present Progressive Tense