Grammar: Simple present
To conjugate the simple present we use the infinitive for the subjects “ I ”, “ you ”, “ we ” and “ they ” and for the third persons “ he ”, “ she ” and “ it ”, we add an “ -s ” to the end of the verb.
|
Subject |
Conjugation |
|---|---|
|
I, you, we, they |
work |
|
he, she, it |
works |
Note: There are spelling exceptions in the third person conjugation (he, she, it) of some verbs.
|
Spelling rules for he/she/it endings |
||
|---|---|---|
|
after most verbs |
add -s |
get – gets start – starts |
|
after ch, sh, s, x |
add -es |
watch – watches wash - washes |
|
after consonant + y |
delete y and add -ies |
study – studies |
|
Irregular verbs |
|
do – does go – goes have – has |
Structure
Affirmative sentences
|
Subject + verb. |
|
|---|---|
|
I |
work |
|
He |
works |
Negative sentences
|
Subject + auxiliary verb (to do) + negative auxiliary (not) + verb. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
I |
do |
not |
work |
|
He/she/it |
does |
not |
work |
Interrogative sentences
|
Auxiliary verb (to do) + subject + verb? |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Do |
you |
work? |
|
Does |
he/she/it |
work? |
Be - present simple
|
Affirmative |
|
|---|---|
|
I am |
I’m |
|
He / She / It is |
He’s / She’s / It’s |
|
You / We / They are |
You’re / We’re / They’re |
Negative
|
Negative |
|
|---|---|
|
I am not |
I’m not |
|
He / She / It is not |
He / She / It isn’t |
|
You / We / They are not |
You / We / They aren’t |
Questions and short answers
|
Questions and short answers |
|
|---|---|
|
Am I a teacher? |
Yes, I am. / No, I’m not |
|
Is he / she / it a lawyer? |
Yes, he / she / it is. / No, he / she / it isn’t |
|
Are you / we / they an accountant? |
Yes, you / we / they are. / No, you / we / they aren’t |
Are you ready to practice?
Practice 1
Practice what you have learned. Complete the following sentences using the present simple tense.
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Write the words in the correct order.
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