THE PRESENT TENSE
28 Present Simple
FORM
Positive Question Negative
I
You
We
They
He
She
It
work.
works.
Do
Does
I
you
we
they
he
she
it
work?
work?
I
YOU
We
They
He
She
it
do not
(don't)
does not
(doesn't)
work.
work.
• There is only one form of you in English, which is the same in singular
and plural.
• Note the endings with he, she, and it. If the verb ends in ss, sh, ch, or x,
add es:
He finishes {finish ends in sh)
She watches (watch ends in ch)
USE
• For something which is permanently true:
I come from France.
He doesn't speak Spanish.
We live in London.
• For repeated actions or habits:
1 get up at six o'clock every day.
What time do you leave work?
I don't see them very often.
Practice
Rewrite each sentence as a positive or negative sentence, or a question,
according to the instructions.
1 I visit my parents very often, (negative)
/ don't visit my parents very often.
2 Does he go to school every day? (positive)
He goes to school every day.
3 She comes from Germany, (question)
Does she come from Germany?
30
Verbs
4 She goes to work by car. (question)
5 We watch television every night, (negative)
6 He doesn't walk to work every day. (positive)
7 She plays football every Saturday, (question)
8 He washes his car every week, (question)
9 They live in Australia, (question)
10 They go to school by bus. (question)
11 Does she finish work at five o'clock? (positive)
12 He goes to the cinema on Fridays, (question)
13 I come from Africa, (negative)
14 Does he live in this street? (positive)
15 He works in a restaurant, (question)
16 She gets up at five o'clock, (question)
17 They eat a lot. (negative)
18 Does he work here? (positive)
31
Verbs
29 Present Continuous
FORM
Positive Question
I am -
He
She is -
It
We
You are —
They
I'm
He's
She's
It's
We're
You're
They're
working.
Am
Is
Are
I
he
she
it
we
you
they
working?
I am —
He
She is -
It
We
You are -
They
I'm
He's
She's
It's
We're
You're
They're
not working.
—
He
She
It
We
You
They
isn't
aren't
working.
Negative with not Negative with n't
USE
• For an action in progress now:
I'm reading a grammar book now.
What are you looking at?
She isn't eating at the moment.
Practice
Rewrite each sentence as a positive or negative sentence, or a question,
according to the instructions.
1 She's watching television now. (question)
Is she watching television now?
2 He isn't staying at this hotel, (positive)
He's staying at thle hotel.
3 She's reading, (negative)
She isn't reading.
4 They're working, (question)
32
Verbs
5 He's writing a letter, [question)
6 He's eating, (negative)
7 I'm not working, (positive)
8 She's studying at the moment, (question)
9 I'm sleeping, (negative)
10 You're reading my newspaper, (question)
11 She's writing a letter, (question)
12 He's talking to Mary, (question)
13 They're not playing football, (positive)
14 He's listening to the radio, (question)
15 You're playing with my football, (question)
The words: at, by