Explanation and English Practice: present simple intro EP2-05G

 

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Explanation

 

 

 

‘Present’ simple is not a very good name for this tense. For example, if we say:

‘Mr Rogers smokes a little, but his wife doesn’t smoke at all.’

We are not talking about now. We are talking about yesterday, today, tomorrow – about any time in the past, present or future. We also use the present simple to talk about the natural world, to make scientific observations, for example.

Many animals sleep by day and hunt by night.

These things are true at any time, not just now.

We use the present simple to talk about -

1. Habits and routines:

I always get up before eight.

Jackie doesn’t often wear jeans.

Does his father watch football every day?

2. Personal information.

Robbie doesn’t smoke, but he drinks too much. (i.e. alcohol)

They speak very fast, easily get excited, and wave their arms in the air.

She likes fruit and she especially loves grapes.

3. Facts about the world, which are always true:

The Earth goes round the Sun.

Polar bears don’t live in the Antarctic.

Does salt water freeze at below 0 degrees Celsius (centigrade)?

4. Feelings, sensations, thoughts, opinions, impressions etc.

A: ‘Mummy, I feel cold!’

B: ‘I know you do, but we can’t stop here!’

Do you believe in ghosts?

Wow, Peggy, you look amazing!

 Darling, this film sounds interesting, let’s go and see it.

Exercise

If the following are right, give them a tick (ü), if not, give them a cross (û) and then correct them. Use the present simple. NOTE: there are two mistakes in some sentences

Examples

My father he likes football. û  My father likes football.

My mother doesn’t speak English.  ü

Now try these:

1.    We usually eat dinner at 7 o’clock.

2.    My husband get up very early.

3.    My sisters goes shopping every Saturday.

4.    My friend doesn’t like chocolate.

5.    Do his parents working, or are they retired?

6.    Speaks your mother any English?

7.    Her children watch television but they doesn’t play video games.

8.    Her cat is black, but it have white ears

9.    My mother she is 62 but she don’t look old.

10. The doctor know what tablets I take.

11. It don’t matter what time you arrive, I’m not going out.

12. Do you read women’s magazines?

13. The café close early today but stay open late tomorrow.

14. The old men often drink coffee, but the young man always drink it.

15. Today she is wear her best dress.

16. Go you sometimes to the cinema?

17. I never going to bed before midnight.

18. Do she ever go to the gym?

19. My brother has a car and he washes it on Sundays.

20. Do your children eat vegetables or only likes meat?

21. Does he plays football on Saturdays?

22. I always taking the children to school in the morning.

23. My cat want to sleep all day by the fire.

24. Her daughter doesn’t like her school uniform and try not to wear it.