1. The Simple Present Tense

2. The Simple Present Tense
USES
To talk about routines or habits.
I brush my teeth every morning.
He rides the bus to work.
To talk about facts or general truths.
The sun rises in the east.
Americans speak English.

3. Form Two forms: base form and “s” form
1. We use the base form with I, you, we, they and plural nouns: I
you we
they + need + water
my friends
trees
2. We use the “s” form with he, she, it, and singular nouns: he
she + needs + water
the flower
Susan

4. “S” Form Spelling We add “s” to most verbs to make the “s” form
like likes need needs
When the base form ends in s, z, sh, ch,or x, we add “-es”
miss misses wash washes
watch watches fix fixes
When the base form ends in a consonant + y, we change the y to i and add “–es”.
study studies carry studies
When the base form of the verb ends in a vowel + y, we do not change the y.
say says play plays
Some verbs have irregular forms:
Do does have has go goes

5. Spelling Exercise plan teach match Study Sit Fix Begin have Hurry Play
Happen
Drink
Stay
Smoke
Row do
Marry
miss

6. Spelling Exercise – Answers
plan
Plans
Teach
Teaches
Match
Matches
Study
Studies
Sit
Sits
Fix
Fixes
Begin
Begins
Have
Has
Hurry
Hurries
Play
Plays
Happen
Happens
Drink
Drinks
Stay
Stays
Smoke
Smokes
Row
Rows Do
Does
Marry
Marries
Miss
Misses

7. “s” Form - Pronunciation
The final form for the third-person singular form of the simple present tense is pronounced three different ways:
/s/ /z/, or /iz/
It is pronounced /s/ after the voiceless sounds /p/, /t/, /k/
Stops, wants, walks.
It is pronounced /z/ after all the vowel sounds and the voiced sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /m/, /n/, /l/, and /r/
Grabs, needs, drives, lives, comes, wears, rains, plays.
It is pronounced /iz/ after the sounds /s/, /z/, and words that end in –ge, -ce, and –se. We must pronounce an extra syllable.
use uses wash washes
fix fixes charge charges
dance dances miss misses
DO and SAY have a change in vowel sound:
do does say says

8. Pronunciation Exercise
/z/
/iz/
wears
misses
plays
rains
drinks
takes
washes
lives
worries
works

9. Auxiliary Verbs: Do / Does
Affirmative Statements:
I take a shower every morning.
He takes the train to work.
Use DO / DOES with negative Statements and questions:
Use Do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns
You don’t understand me.
Do they work in New York?
Use Does with he, she, it, and singular nouns
She doesn’t study French.
Does he call you every day?

10. Please remember!
After an auxiliary verb (do – does) use the base form of the verb (not the “s” form)
He doesn’t worry too much.
Does it stay open on holidays?
Questions follow this format:
Aux + Subject + Verb? ASV?
Does she work on weekends?
Do they buy groceries at the supermarket?

11. Questions of Frequency
How Often asks questions about frequency. How often is often used with the simple present tense. It is rarely used with the present progressive:
How often do you clean your room?
NOT: How often are you cleaning your room?
Adverbs and expressions of frequency are often used with the simple present tense. They rarely occur with the present progressive:
They usually eat breakfast at eight o’clock
NOT: They are usually eating breakfast at eight o’clock.

12. Using Adverbs and Expressions of Frequency
They tell us how often we do something
Expressions of frequency or time markers
Every day, morning, night, weekend…
Twice a day, month, year…
Three times a day, month, year…
Several times a day, month year…
Once in a while
Adverbs of frequency
100% %
Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

13. Position:
Expressions of frequency (time markers) come at the beginning or the end of a sentence:
He plays tennis every day.
Every week they go to the movies.
Adverbs of frequency come after the verb TO BE:
She is usually on time.
They are rarely home on weekends.
Adverbs of frequency come before other verbs:
They never clean their car.
She doesn’t often go to New York.