Grammar Basics: Unit 5 – Simple Present

The Simple Present Tense is used for things that are generally true, or for things that happen sometimes/all the time.

The Simple Present is formed like this:

I/you/we/they + V

Examples:

• I eat
• You drive
• We walk
• They talk

he/she/it + V +(e)s

Examples:

• He sings
• She runs
• It rains

Verbs that end in –s/–sh/–ch/–o need –es instead of –s:

Examples:

• watch ==> watches
• wash ==> washes
• miss ==> misses
• do ==> does

Verbs that end in –y need –ies instead of –s:

Examples:

• cry ==> cries
• study ==> studies

Verbs used with adverbs of frequency are in the simple present:

Examples:

• He never cries.
• I usually exercise in the morning.
• She always eats toast for breakfast.

Exercises: Write sentences from the following words. Be sure to put the verb in the right form (sing, sings, etc.)

1. always / at / it / night / rain

2. a / at / he / restaurant / work

3. after / school / study / Tom

4. every / go / on / summer / vacation / we

5. day / every / hours / piano / practice / she / the / three

6. cut / grass / on / Saturdays / their / they

7. a / Dad / every / morning / shower / take

8. at / end / have / May / of / picnic / schoolkids / the / the / their / yearly

9. John / like / skiing

10. bowling / hate / he

11. Hawaii / in / live / they

12. a / book / he / listen / music / never / read / Sam / to / when

13. day / each / later / moon / rise / the

14. need / piano / the / tuning

15. apples / good / taste

16. bake / Christmas / cookies / for / Mother

17. cats / fur / have / soft

18. all / babies / sleep / the / time

19. cleaner / good / have / suction / this / vacuum

20. a / bed / before / book / go / I / I / read / to / usually