1. The Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements3
The Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements
Cultural Customs
Focus on Grammar 2
Part III, Unit 8
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. International Pen Pals
Dear Ali,
I am very happy at the English Language Institute. Every day, I meet so many interesting students with different customs. For example, my classmates from Thailand bow to the teacher. My roommate, Lia, doesn’t wear shoes inside our room.
My classmates from Mexico don’t call the teacher by her first name. This is a great experience! Your friend,
Kadesh

3. The Simple Present 1
Use the simple present to tell about things that happen again and again (habits, regular occurrences, customs, and routines).
Ahmed drinks coffee every afternoon.
Many American children wear costumes on Halloween.

4. “I think we need sweaters.”
The Simple Present 2
Use the simple present to tell facts.
Peru is in South America.
“I think we need sweaters.”
Water freezes at 32° Fahrenheit.

5. The Simple Present 3 Use the simple present with non-action verbs.
Marian and Cara know Arabic.
Roberto likes bullfights.

6. Practice 1 Match each statement to its use in the simple present.
2. “He goes dancing every Friday night.”
2. “He goes dancing every Friday night.”
Example: “They usually celebrate New Year’s Day with a big party.”
“They usually celebrate New Year’s Day with a big party.”
Regular
Occurrence
Fact
3. “Triangles have three sides.”
3. “Triangles have three sides.”
1. “They believe everything she says.”
1. “They believe everything she says.”
Non-Action
Verb

7. Affirmative Statements
Use the base form of the verb for all persons except third person singular. Put –s or –es on the third person singular.
Daniel dances in the Chinese New Year Parade each year.
Ted dresses up like a lion.

8. Use the verbs in the box to describe what these people do every day.
Practice 2
make take watch play
Example:
He makes pizza. 3. 2. 1.
Teachers could use this slide as an opportunity to discuss the differences in pronunciation of –s endings for makes, plays, & watches.
She plays soccer.
He watches soccer.
They take a bath.

9. Negative Statements 1
Use does not or do not before the base form of the verb.
She does not off her shoes.
takes
take
Some people do not sushi.
enjoys
enjoy

10. Negative Statements 2
Use the contractions doesn’t and don’t for negative statements in speaking or in informal writing.
Italians don’t use chopsticks.
Luis doesn’t like bullfights.

11. Practice 3 Change the affirmative statements to negative statements.
Example: Many Chinese eat noodles.
Many Chinese don’t eat noodles.
1. Sheila likes to eat spicy food.
Sheila doesn’t like to eat spicy food.
2. Some nomadic people live in tents.
Some nomadic people don’t live in tents.
3. Monica watches fireworks on the 4th of July.
Monica doesn’t watch fireworks on the 4th of July.

12. Irregular Forms
Third person singular affirmative forms of have, do, and go are not regular.
Subject
Have Do Go I
You We
They He
She It
have do go
has
does
goes

13. Complete the sentences with the correct form of have, do, or go.
Practice 4
Example: She __________ shopping every Friday.
goes
1. Luis __________ his homework every night.
does
2. Leticia and Janet __________ backpacks.
have
3. I always __________ to the movies on Thursdays. go
4. Shaun __________ a biology class on Mondays.
has
5. They always __________ the dishes after dinner. do

14. References
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