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.
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