SIMPL

E PRESENT

TENSE

VS. PRESENT

CONTINUOUS

PR

OF.

J OS

E M

OR

AL E

S

EG

L I SH

CO

UR

SE

FORMS

1. Simple present tense verbs have two forms: the base form and the -s form:

2. We use the base form with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns.IYouWe need water.TheyMy friends

BASE FORM -S FORM

LIKENEED

LIKESNEEDS

3. We use the –s form with he, she, it, and singular nouns

He

She

It needs water

The flower

Susan

These verbs have irregular –s forms:

have has /go goes

Examples: I have a car /She has a motorcycle I go to bed at 10 o’clock. / She goes

to bed at 11:30.

VERBS WITH IRREGULAR –S FORMS

FUNCTIONS OF SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

1. Statements of factThe sun rises in the east.Lions live in Africa.Americans speak English

2. Statements of regular activity or repeated action.

We have class on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The professor always explains the grammar.

The teacher usually gives homework.

APPLYING SOME SPELLING RULES TO INDICATE TENSE

1. We add –s to most verbs to make the –s form: I like apples. She likes apples too. I need a pen. He needs a pen too.

2. When the base form ends in s, z, sh, ch, or x, we add –es and pronounce an extra syllable. I miss him, and she misses him too. You wash the dishes, and he washes the clothes. We watch channel 5, and Linda watches channel 2. They fix car, and he fixes motorcycles.

CONT…

3. For words that end in -ge, -ce, and -se, we must pronounce an extra syllable.

I use a pen, and she uses a pencil.

You change $15, and he changes $18.

I dance well, and she dances majestically .

4. When the base form ends in a consonant + -y, we change -y to –i and then add –es.

I study English, and he studies French

I carry a bag, and he carries a briefcase.

CONT…

When the base form ends in a vowel + y, we do not change the –y

Example: I play football and she plays soccer.

5. These verbs have a change in the vowel sound:

say /sei/ says /sεz/

do /du/ does /d∂z/

I say yes, and he says no

I do my homework, and she does her work.

COMPARE BE IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

BE (SER) EXAMPLES BE (ESTAR) EXAMPLES

Am IIs he, she, itAre you, we, they

I am a professor.He is curious.She is beautiful.It is a cute cat.You are a student.You are students.We are students.They are rich.

Am IIs he, she, itAre you, we, are

I am at the concert.He is in school.They are at the park.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS WITH THE VERB TO BELOOK AT THIS EQUATION:

SUBJ. + BE + NEG. NOT + COMPLEMENT.

EXAMPLES:

1. I am not a student any longer.

2. She is not responding my calls.

3. They are not going to the party.

4. We are not good in math.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS WITH REGULAR VERBSLOOK AT THIS EQUATION TO FORM NEGATIVE

STATEMENTS IN ENGLISH:

SUBJ. + AUX. (DO/DOES) + NEGATIVE (NOT) + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT.

Keep in mind that the auxiliary DO is used with I, you, we, they , and

plural nouns. We use the auxiliary DOES with he, she, or it, or singular

nouns.

Examples:

I

you do not like vegetables.

We (don’t)

They

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS (CONT…)

He does not like vegetables.

She (doesn’t)

It

AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE STATEMENTSAFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

I have children

She has a lot of money in the bank.

I use a pencil when I write.

She prays for the elderly.

She likes to eat popcorn.

I don’t have children

She doesn’t have a lot of money in the bankI don’t use a pencil when I write.

She doesn’t pray for the elderly.

She doesn’t like to eat popcorn.

YES/NO QUESTIONS AND SHORT ANSWERSFOLLOW THIS EQUATION TO FORM YES/NO

QUESTIONS:

DO/DOES +SUBJ. + VERB + COMPLEMENT + QUEST. MARK (?)

EXAMPLES:

Do you like horror movies? Yes, I do / No, I don’t

Does she like to play soccer? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.

Does the textbook have pictures? Yes, it does./ No, it doesn’t.

Do Mexicans like football? Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.

WH-QUESTIONS

WORD ORDER:

WH-WORDS

DO/DOES SUBJECT VERB + ?

Where WhenHow longWhat Who

dodoesdoesdo do

they the classthe semesteryou they

study?begin?last?want?prefer?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

For an action in progress now, at this moment.

example: The teacher is explaining the grammar.

For a long-term action that is not completed.

example: The world is changing.

FORMING THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

How do we form the present continuous tense?

1. We form this verb tense by following the structure:

subj. + BE + main verb + -ing + complement

SPELLING RULES

1. We do not change the final –y when we add –ing.

carry-carrying

stay-staying

worry-worrying

study-studying

2. For one syllable verbs that end in consonant-vowel-consonant, we double the final consonant and add –ing.

plan-planning sit-sitting stop-stopping run-running

3. We do not double final w, x, or y

mow-mowing mix-mixing stay-staying

AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS

1. Affirmative statements:I am studying for the exam.You are reading an interesting bookThey are practicing for the game.We are learning a lot of things in class.Jose and Rosa are writing essays in class.

2. He is eating a delicious lasagna.She is sleeping It is sitting on a bench.Jaime is standing in line.

CONTRACTIONS

I am / I’m cleaning my car

You are / you’re discussing arid topics that are difficult to understand.

We are / We’re driving to Mayaguez to attend a graduation.

They are / They’re feeding the horses.

He is / He’s fighting for his rights.

She is /She’s demonstrating to the audience that she has potential.

It is / It’s standing straight.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS / YES-NO QUESTIONSSUBJ. + VERB BE + NEG. (NOT) + MAIN VERB + -ING + COMPLEMENT

They are not paying attention to the class.

He is not reading.

Maria and Jose are not laughing.

YES/NO QUESTIONS

VERB BE + SUBJ. + MAIN VERB + -ING + COMPLEMENT + QUESTION MARK (?)

Am I learning? Yes, I am/ No, I am not

Are you listening to me? Yes, I am / No, I am not

Is she writing essays? Yes, she is / No, she is not

WH-QUESTIONS USING THE PROGRESSIVE FORMWH-WORD + VERB BE + SUBJ. + MAIN VERB + -ING

EXAMPLES:

What are you studying?

Why is he running?

Who am I waiting for?

Where are they going?

When is she coming home?

REFERENCES

Elbaum, S. & Hardison, M. (1986). Grammar in Context. Scott, Foresman & Company. United States.