Jessie Yang

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb


do

base
There are three important exceptions:
  1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
  2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
  3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like:


subject
auxiliary verb

main verb

+
I, you, we, they


like
coffee.
He, she, it


likes
coffee.
-
I, you, we, they
do
not
like
coffee.
He, she, it
does
not
like
coffee.
?
Do
I, you, we, they

like
coffee?
Does
he, she, it

like
coffee?

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

subject
main verb


+
I
am

Malaysian.
You, we, they
are

Malaysian.
He, she, it
is

Malaysian.
-
I
am
not
old.
You, we, they
are
not
old.
He, she, it
is
not
old.
?
Am
I

late?
Are
you, we, they

late?
Is
he, she, it

late?
 
How do we use the Simple Present Tense?
We use the simple present tense when:
  • the action is general
  • the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
  • the action is not only happening now
  • the statement is always true
 
Let listen and repeat with the video below

Learn English with the "Easy Way to English" textbook by Maureen Kill
Sometimes let the pupils see the video also can help them to remember .
QUIZ:

Simple Present Tense
1Do you chocolate milk?
2He not want to come to the movies.
3 we too late to catch the bus?
4It a beautiful day today.
5Sorry, Lisa not here at the moment.
6 I correct?
7Robert not go to my school.
8My parents in a 2 bedroom apartment.
9We European.
10You so happy today!