1.1
Simple Present: Armative and Negative Statements
See page A1 for simple present spelling rules.
1. Use the simple present to talk about:
a. habits and repeated actions
b. facts and general truths
c. how often something happens
a. We eat dinner at 7:30.
b. The mail doesn’t come on Sundays.
c. Jim visits his uncle twice a year.
2. Be careful! Don’t forget to add -s, -es,
or -ies to verbs when the subject is he,
she, it, or a singular noun.
✓ Rosa teaches math.
✗ Rosa teach math.
Affirmative
Subject
Verb
I/You/We/They eat a lot.
He/She/It eats a lot.
Negative
Subject Do Not/Does Not
Base
Form
I/You/We/They
do not
don’t
eat a lot.
He/She/It
does not
doesn’t
eat a lot.
REAL ENGLISH
Contractions are usually used in
conversation and informal writing.
He doesn’t watch TV.
We don’t like pizza.
1.2
Simple Present: Questions and Answers
Yes/No Questions
Do/Does Subject Base Form
Do I/you/we/they
sing?
Does he/she/it
Short Answers
Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
Who or What as Subject
Wh- Word Verb
Who teaches this class?
What makes you happy?
Short Answers
Professor Ortega.
My family.
1. Yes/No questions ask for answers of yes or
no.
A: Do you speak Russian?
B: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
2. Wh- questions ask for specic information.
The answer is a person, place, thing, or other
piece of information.
A: Where does Jeff live?
B: In Sydney.
3. Who or What can be the subject in a Wh-
question. When Who or What is the subject,
the verb is always in the third person singular
form (-s/-es form).
A: Who teaches math? (Who = subject)
B: Arlene.
4. Be careful! When Who or What is the subject,
do not use do or does with the main verb.
✓ Who teaches this class?
✗ Who does teach this class?
Wh- Questions
Wh- Word Do/Does Subject Base Form
What
do
I
sing?When you
Why they
Who
does
she
visit?
How often she
How he celebrate?
Short Answers
Popular songs.
Every Saturday night.
They love music.
Her father.
Twice a year.
He has a party.
1.3
Frequency Adverbs with the Simple Present
alwaysusuallyoften/
frequently
rarely/
seldom/
hardly ever
sometimesnever
100%0%
1. Frequency adverbs are often used with the
simple present. They tell how often something
happens.
I usually enjoy parties.
I don’t always remember his birthday.
Do you sometimes eat at restaurants?
2. Frequency adverbs usually come after the verb
be. They usually come before other verbs.
I am sometimes early for class.
Jenny isn’t often late.
Wedding guests are usually happy.
3. Sometimes, usually, frequently, or often can
come at the beginning or end of a statement.
Brides wear red dresses sometimes.
Usually Western brides wear white.
4. Ever is common in questions about frequency.
It means at any time. It is not usually used in
afrmative statements.
A: Do you ever eat at restaurants?
B: No, I never do. / Yes, I often do.
1.4
Present Progressive: Armative and Negative Statements
Affirmative
Subject Be Verb + -ing
I
am
’m
studying.
He/She/It
is
’s
working.
You/We/They
are
’re
eating.
Negative
Subject Be + Not Verb + -ing
I
am not
’m not
studying.
He/She/It
is not
isn’t / ’s not
working.
You/We/They
are not
’re not / aren’t
eating.
1. Use the present progressive* to talk about:
a. actions in progress now, at the moment
ofspeaking
b. actions in progress at the present time,
butmaybe not at the moment of speaking
a. Look! They’re dancing in the street.
b. My class is studying world history
this semester.
2. Remember: Use the simple present to talk about:
a. habits and repeated actions
b. facts and things that are generally true
c. how often something happens
a. Dave and I often take a walk after dinner.
b. It snows a lot in Finland.
c. I meet with my boss twice a week.
3. Some adverbs and time expressions commonly
used with the present progressive are: now, at
the moment, this year, and these days.
It is raining at the moment.
Susie is working hard these days.
* The present progressive is sometimes called the present continuous.
See page A1 for spelling rules for the -ing form of verbs.
1.5
Present Progressive: Questions and Answers
Yes/No Questions
Be Subject Verb + -ing
Am I
helping?Is he
Are you
Short Answers
Yes, you are. / No, you’re not.
Yes, he is. / No, he’s not.
Yes, we are. / No, we’re not.
Wh- Questions
Wh- Word Be
Subject
Verb + -ing
What
am I
doing?is he
are they
Why is she crying?
Answers
You’re studying.
He’s singing.
They’re cooking.
She’s watching a sad movie.
Who or What as Subject
Wh- Word Be Verb + -ing
Who
is
dancing with Carmen?
What happening?
Short Answers
Her father.
John’s leaving.
1. Remember: Who or What can be the subject
in a Wh- question. When Who or What is the
subject, the verb is always in the third person
singular form (-s/- es form).
A: Who’s playing the piano?
B: Marta.