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The Present
1- The simple present (the verb to do)
POSITIVE FORM | NEGATIVE FORM | QUESTION FORM |
I/We/You/They +do | I/We/You/They do not (don't) do | Do + I/We/You/They do ? |
He/She/It +does | He/She/It does not ( doesn't) + do | Does He/She/It do? |
We use the simple present:
- In general statements of fact.
- For things that are true in general,
- For things that happen sometimes or all the time.
- For timetables, trains, programs, schedules, etc
- With: always, never, often, sometimes, usually.
- With the frequency adverbs:
Always - usually - often- sometimes- seldom - rarely - never.
100 % |----------------------> 0 %
The simple present expresses daily habits or usual activities.
In sum, we use it for events or situations that exist
always, usually or habitually in the past, present, and future.
Examples:
- Fish live in the water.
- The sun rises from the East.
- Pupils go to school.
- She always comes over late.
- We don't take a nap at night.
- She comes over sometimes.
Spelling:
- With a singular noun and the subject pronouns: It, She and He:
Final s is added to most verbs.
- Many verbs end in e, add a final s simply.
Like: She likes
- If a verb ends in: s, x, z, ch, sh: add ES
He searches, she mixes, it freezes, he misses, she pushes.
Do: does, Go; goes
- If a verb ends in Consonant-Y, change y to i and add ES.
Try: She tries
- If a verb ends in vowel-Y, add S simply.
Play: He plays
Note:
She goes (go), we go. He does (do), they do. We have,
it has.
Do not use this tense for arrangements (not I go
this evening).
- How much does it cost?
- What does this word mean?
- How often do your friends usually come to see you when
you are in the need?
2- The present continuous: (the verb to do)
(Now, at the time of speaking)
The present continuous is used for an action that
is happening now, in the present.
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POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | QUESTION |
I am | I am not | Am I |
I'm | I'm not | |
He/She/It is ('s) | He/She/It is not (isn't) | Is He/She/It |
We/You/They / are ('re) | We/You/They /are not (aren't) | Are We/You/They |
+ doing | + doing | + doing ? |
Examples:
When / Where / Why are they doing this item?
Note:
Do not use the following verbs in the present continuous:(Use
instead the simple present):
Want, like, hate, need, prefer, depend, know, mean, understand,
believe,remember, forget, love, be, exist, possess, see, hear,
belong, own, think, have.
But: We use: Having a good time.
Having guests for supper.
If think means believe, we don't use the progressive form.
Otherwise, we use it. :
I'm thinking about buying a new car.
The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress
(Is occurring, is happening) right now. The event is in progress
right now. The event began in the past, is in progress now, and
will probably continue into the future.
Abder. Ajaja - © - All rights reserved 2002.
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