Understanding Simple Present Tense
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Simple Present Tense
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ScribdTranslationsSimple Present - (Simple Present Tense)
The simple present is used to describe routines or habitual actions that are done with some degree of frequency.
regularity.
The following table shows the affirmative, interrogative, and negative forms of the simple present in English.
Simple present tense
Affirmative mode Interrogative mode Negative mode
I speak Do I speak? I do not speak
You speak Do you speak? You do not speak
He/She/It speaks Does he/she/it speak? He/she/it does not speak
We speak Do we speak? We do not speak
You speak Do you speak? You do not speak
They speak Do they speak? They do not speak
The table shows us how to conjugate verbs in the simple present. However, one must be careful.
since when conjugating the third person he/she/it in the affirmative form the verb undergoes a change
grammatical and an 's' is added at the end of the verb. In the interrogative and negative form, the auxiliary verb
change its structure in this case by adding the not to the negative form.
There are some verbs that when conjugated in the third person, have 'es' added at the end instead of just the
These verbs
There are some particular cases such as, for example, if the verb used ends in 'SS', 'SH', 'CH',
"O" and "X" in forming the 3rd person singular in the affirmative form add "ES". For example:
Si el verbo es WISH (deseo), se conjugará: He wishes. Él desea
Si el verbo es CROSS (cruzar), se conjugará: She crosses. Ella cruza
If the verb is ATTACH, it will be conjugated: He attaches. He attaches.
If the verb is MIX (to mix), it will be conjugated: He mixes. He fixes his car.
If the verb is DO (to do), it will be conjugated: She does.
Por otra parte si el verbo termina en“Y”y le antecede una consonante, la “y” se transformará en una “i” y
The ending 'ES' will be added. For example:
If the verb is CRY, it will be conjugated: She cries.
Simple present, affirmative form
I play volleyball.
When we say I play volleyball, we are referring to the sport that we do frequently.
This does not mean that we are playing it at the moment of saying it.
She works at the Universidad Veracruzana.
This statement refers to the work that a person does daily.
They travel to Xalapa.
This statement refers to the routine of traveling daily. This does not imply that they are traveling in the
moment to say it.
In the interrogative and negative form, the auxiliary verb DO is used. This verb changes in the 3rd person of the
singular aDOESy the main verb is not conjugated, in other words, the 's' is not added. Example:
In negative form
I do not play volleyball. Or the negation can also be contracted. I don't play volleyball.
He does not work in the UV.
In the interrogative form:
Do you speak English?
Yes, I do. or Yes, I speak English since I was a child.
Does she play football?
Yes, she does or No she doesn't / If she plays or not she does not play.
EXERCISES
play do(do(do))arrive kiss look like watch
travel walk fix smoke run go (x2) study
give hold phone fly cry
Put the verbs from the table in simple present.
She smokes three cigarettes per day.
He travels to Veracruz every day.
I play football every Sunday.
He fixed the computer, now I could use it again.
5. Our plane _______________ at 8 o'clock.
She arrived at the airport at 6 am.
He calls me every time he has troubles.
Are you going to the school tomorrow?
9. She studies mathematics with Mrs. Smith every afternoon.
He went to the center to walk the dog.
[Link] watches the TV every night.
12. We run 5 km every Saturday.
My baby _____________ all the time.
[Link] did not give me the password of his computer.
15. You resemble your mother.
[Link] loves ice cream.
She will call me when I get home.
18.____________does she_______________on water?
It_______________the keyboard.
Answers