GRAMMAR POINT: THE PRESENT SIMPLE
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE
I like I DON T (DO NOT) like DO I like & ?
You like You DON T like DO you like & ?
He / She likeS He / She DOESN T likeØ DOES he / she likeØ & ?
We like We DON T like DO we like & ?
You like You DON T like DO you like & ?
They like They DON T like DO they like & ?
WHEN TO USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE
" PERMANENT or long-lasting situations.
Ex: Where do you work?
He lives in Paris.
" Regular HABITS and daily ROUTINES.
Ex: I usually get up at 7 o'clock.
She doesn't often go to the theatre.
" FACTS.
Ex: The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Water doesn't boil at 20 degrees. It boils at 100 degrees.
" FEELINGS.
Ex: I love cooking.
She feels sad.
" OPINIONS and STATES OF MIND.
Ex: They don't agree with us.
I think he is stupid.
" TIMETABLES and SCHEDULES
Ex: The plane leaves at 6 p.m.
The train doesn't arrive until 10.35.
TIME TO PRACTISE!
Exercise 1: Choose the right answer.
1. How often ___________________ go to the cinema?
do you go does you go go you
2. He ___________________ get up early on Sundays.
not doesn t don t
3. My father ___________________ in a hospital.
works work do work
4. Where ___________________ live?
do your cousin your cousin does your cousin
5. They ___________________ play tennis.
not doesn t don t
6. He ___________________ English and Spanish fluently
don t speak speaks speak
7. I ___________________ drinking coffee.
don t like doesn t like like not
8. Where ___________________?
does they live do they live live they?
Exercise 2: Some information in the following paragraph is missing. Write the
questions you are going to ask to know the missing information.
Mr. Lee is a bus driver. Every day he gets up at ___1___ and prepares for his day. He
showers, eats ___2___, and puts on his uniform. His wife drives him to ___3___ where he
checks in with his supervisor. Then, he gets on Bus ___4___ and starts the engine. He pulls
out of the parking lot and begins his route. At his first stop, he picks up Mrs. Miller, who lives
in a red house on the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue. She works at ___5___ and
has to be to work by 9:00. At the next stop, ___6___ get on the bus. They attend class at
Bayside Elementary. ___7___children get on at the next three stops, and they ride until the
bus reaches their school. Mr Lee enjoys seeing the kids every day and is happy to see them
again in the ___8___when he drives them safely back home.
(Taken from http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/simple_present.html)
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________________________
SOLUTIONS
Exercise 1:
1. How often do you go to the cinema?
2. He doesn t get up early on Sundays.
3. My father works in a hospital.
4. Where does your cousin live?
5. They don t play tennis.
6. He speaks English and Spanish fluently
7. I don t like drinking coffee.
8. Where do they live?
Exercise 2:
1. What time does Mr. Lee get up?
2. What does he eat?
3. Where does his wife drive him?
4. What bus does he get on?
5. Where does Mrs. Miller work?
6. Who gets on the bus at the next stop?
7. How many children get on at the next three stops?
8. When does Mr Less see the kids again?
NOTE: Don t forget to explain to your students why we don t need the auxiliary DO /
DOES in Question 6 and Question 7.
Original text:
Mr. Lee is a bus driver. Every day he gets up at 7:00 a.m. and prepares for his day. He
showers, eats his breakfast, and puts on his uniform. His wife drives him to the station where he
checks in with his supervisor. Then, he gets on Bus #405 and starts the engine. He pulls out of
the parking lot and begins his route. At his first stop, he picks up Mrs. Miller, who lives in a red
house on the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue. She works at the post office and has
to be to work by 9:00. At the next stop, the Bartlett twins get on the bus. They attend class at
Bayside Elementary. More children get on at the next three stops, and they ride until the bus
reaches their school. Mr. Lee enjoys seeing the kids every day and is happy to see them again
in the afternoon when he drives them safely back home.
(http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/simple_present.html)