Meeting 2 - Simple Present

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the Simple Present Tense, an essential component of English grammar. Understanding the Simple Present is crucial for everyday communication and academic writing. This guide is tailored for beginners, particularly first-semester university students, to help you grasp its usage, structure, and practical applications.

Step 1: Understanding the Usage of Simple Present

The Simple Present Tense is used to express:

• Facts: Statements that are always true.

  • Example: The Earth revolves around the Sun.

• Habits: Actions that occur regularly.

  • Example: She drinks coffee every morning.

• Routines: Daily activities or schedules.

  • Example: He goes to the gym after work.

Practical Tips

• Think of actions that are habitual or factual when forming sentences.
• Use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) to indicate how often an action occurs.

Step 2: Forming Simple Present Sentences

The structure of Simple Present sentences varies based on whether you're making a statement, asking a question, or forming a negative sentence.

Affirmative Sentences

• Structure: Subject + Base Form of Verb (+ s/es for third person singular)
  • Example: She plays tennis.

Negative Sentences

• Structure: Subject + do/does not + Base Form of Verb
  • Example: He does not (doesn't) like pizza.

Interrogative Sentences

• Structure: Do/Does + Subject + Base Form of Verb?
  • Example: Do you speak English?

Common Pitfalls

• Remember to add 's' or 'es' to the verb when the subject is third person singular (he, she, it).
• Use "do" for I, you, we, they and "does" for he, she, it in questions and negatives.

Step 3: Examples of Simple Present in Everyday Context

To better understand the Simple Present, here are some everyday examples:

• Affirmative: I walk to school every day.
• Negative: They do not watch TV in the morning.
• Interrogative: Does she work on weekends?

Exercise

Try creating your own sentences using the different forms of the Simple Present based on your daily activities.

Step 4: Practice Activities

To reinforce your understanding, engage in these practice activities:

1. Fill in the blanks: Complete sentences by choosing the correct form of the verb.

   • Example: She ______ (to go) to the market every Sunday. (Answer: goes)

2. Create questions: Formulate questions using the Simple Present.

   • Example: (You / to like / ice cream?) → Do you like ice cream?

3. Daily Routine Writing: Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using the Simple Present tense.

Conclusion

The Simple Present Tense is foundational for effective communication in English. By mastering its structure and usage, you can express facts, habits, and routines clearly. Continue to practice by forming sentences, asking questions, and writing about your daily activities. The more you practice, the more fluent your English will become. Keep up the good work!