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Present Simple

 The Simple Present has the same form as the Infinitive, but takes an -S / -
ES in the 3rd person singular.
 It takes an -ES with verbs ending in: -S, -SS, -CH, -SH, -X, -Z, -O.
 Verbs ending in Consonant + Y, change to -IES (I study / she studies).
 Verbs ending in vowel + Y, we add an -S (I play / he plays).

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

Don’t / Doesn’t + Infinitive Don’t / Doesn’t + subject+ Infinitive
I play I don’t play Do I play ?
You play You don’t play Do you play ?
He / she / it plays He /she / it doesn’t play x Does he play x ?
We play We don’t play Do we play ?
You play You don’t play Do you play?
They play They don’t play Do they play ?
 Present Simple

We use the Present Simple to talk about:

• repeated actions or habits (We usually use frequency adverbs - normally, sometimes, often, always…)
He usually takes the bus to work.
• situations which are permanent
Philip lives in a very nice flat in London.
• general truths
The earth goes round the sun.
• feelings (using verbs of feelings)
I like this food.
• future events which are part of a fixed timetable or programme
The train leaves at 7.30 tomorrow morning.
Present Simple + Adverbs o Frequency

always 100% often rarely

60%
frequently seldom 20%
usually hardly ever
80% sometimes
40%
normally occasionally never 0%

TO BE + ADVERB ADVERB + VERB DON’T + ADVERB + VERB

DOESNT
I am often late for school. I always take the bus to school.
He doesn’t usually go to the
theatre.
Present Continuous

The auxiliary “TO BE” in the Simple Present + Main Verb with “-ING”
Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am playing I am not playing Am I playing ?

You are playing You are not playing Are you playing ?
He / she / it is playing He /she / it is not playing Is he playing?
We are playing We are not playing Are we playing ?
You are playing You are not playing Are you playing?
They are playing They are not playing Are they playing?

Short forms can be used:

• I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’re, you’re, they’re
• I’m not, you aren’t, he isn’t, we aren’t, you aren’t, they aren't
 Present Continuous

 Verbs ending in -E, lose the -E ( to make - making).

 Verbs ending in -Y, don’t lose the -Y (to play - playing).

Don’t Forget

 Short verbs ending in one vowel and one consonant double the consonant

to shop - shopping (verbs ending in -X, -W are exceptions)

 Verbs ending in one vowel and -L double the -L (travel - travelling)

 we don’t use the following verbs in continuous tenses:

to be, to like, to believe, to prefer, to want, to love, to remember,

to need, to know.
 Present Continuous

We use the Present Continuous to talk about:

• something which is in progress at the time of speaking

He is writing on the board.
• something in progress around the present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking
Phil is spending a lot of money.
• temporary situations
Christina is staying with her grandmother in Brighton for a week.
• something we have already arranged or planned to do in the future
I am visiting some friends in Scotland next week.
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