THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The simple present tense is used for habitual activities, repeated activities, general
truth activities and present condition.
• Examples:
• Habitual or repeated activities.
• Generally sentences describing such activities use adverbs of frequency:
• Seldom
• Often
• Every day
• Every month
• Every year
• Sometimes
• Always
• Never every
• 3 times a month
• 2 times/ twice a week every
• Sunday / on sundays
• Examples :
• 1. I am here almost every day.
• 2. She goes to IPB twice a week.
• 3. They are always happy.
• 4. We often go to Jakarta.
 Activities of General Truth
1. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
2. Most animals kill only for food.
3. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
4. The world is round.
Notes : the sentences presented above state
that something was true in the past, is true in
the present, and will be true in the future. It
is used for general statements of fact.
 Present Condition

1. I am happy now
2. She is a student and she goes to IPB.
3. They work in Jakarta but live in Bogor.
4. Mr. Andi teaches English at that university.
5. They are married and have three children.
 The formula of Simple Present is
divided into twonparts:
• The formula using action verbs and the
formula using to be :
• Formula 1 – with to be (linking verbs)
• Subject + to be (is,am,are)
• He/she/it + is......
• They/we/you + are......
• I + am............
 Subjects and to be are ususually
contracted
• I am ....(I’m)
• You are...(you’re)
• They are.....(they’re)
• She is.....(she’s)
• He is.....(he’s)
• It is......(it’s)
 Formula 2 – with action verbs
Subject + ordinary verb (s/es)

• I go to school every day.

• We live in Jakarta.
• They sometimes visit me.
• You seldom send me a letter.
• If the subject is he,she or it the verb is given a suffix (-s/es)
• Compare formula 1 and 2. In formula 1 whe have to be –is,am,are
(linking verbs). While in formula 2 we have no to be. Hence, we can
conclude that to be ( is,am,are ) is only used in formula 1 ( if the sentence
has no action verbs).
 Look at the sentences using to be. They are usually followed by noun,
adjective, adverb of place adverb of time or adverb of place and time:

1. Positive sentences 2. Interrogative Sentence

a. She is (she’s ) a dance instructor. a. Are you from Singapore?
b. We are (we’re ) in Jakarta b. Is it a good book?
c. My father is (my father’s) sick. c. Are they single?
d. They are lawyers d. Is Marry always on time?
e. Wendy is pretty e. Is the secretary sick today?
f. Linda and Tony are happy. f. Is he a teacher?
g. I am at home this morning.
g. Am I pale?
h. It is nine o’clock
i. He is very kind.
3. Negative Sentence 4. Negative Interrogative Sentence
a. The dogs are not (aren’t) a. Isn’t she a doctor?
vicious. b. Aren’t they from Sweden?
b. The man is no (isn’t) kind. c. Aren’t we in the same class?
c. I am not happy. d. Isn’t the teacher angry?
e. Aren’t Fred and Liz students?
d. She is not happy.
e. The mountain climber is not
brave.
Note: am and not are not
contracted.
• If the subject is one of the followings (singular third person): She
,he, it, Rosy, Mr. John, the cat, the pen etc. End the verb with
suffix-s or es. If the subject is one of the following – we, you, they,
I, Tony and Tina, the shoes, the cars etc. We do not need suffix –s
or –es.
• She goes to school by bus
• He likes pop music very much.
• It makes him very happy.
• Ann cleans the house every morning.
• We go to school by bus, too.
 Varied suffixes –s or –es for singular third person :

a. Verbs ending in ss, x,ch,o,or sh use suffix –es.

- She kisses her daugter before she leaves
home.
- He washes his clothes on Sunday morning.
- Mr. Ahmad teaches English in a high school
- Ann goes to the office by bus.
- He boxes in the championship twice a year.
B. Verbs ending in y preceded by a consonant use suffix –es after y
is changed into i:

She sometimes cries if she feels so bad.

He always tries hard to do the best.
My mother usually carries her hand bag is she goes
shopping.
C. Verbs ending in y preceded by vocal use suffix –s
He often plays football in the afternoon.
She always obeys her mother’s advice
Ann usually buys some vegetables in the market.
 Study the examples below:
I. With I/we/you or they:
Positive sentences • Negative sentences
1. I go to college on foot. 1. I do not (don’t) go to
2. We sometimes stay in college on foot.
Jakarta. 2. Luke and Dan don’t
3. They have three stay in Jakarta very
houses in Netherlands. often.
3. They don’t have three
houses in the
Netherlanda.
• Interrogative sentences: • Negative interrogative
1. Do you go to college on sentences
foot? 1. don’t you and your
2. Do my parents brother go to college
sometimes stay in on foot?
Jakarta? 2. Don’t we sometimes
3. Do they have three stay in Jakarta?
houses in the 3. Don’t the Smiths have
Netherlands? three houses in the
Netherlands?
 With he,she, it
• Positive sentences • Negative sentences
1. He goes to college on 1. Judith does not
foot (doesn’t) go to college
2. She sometimes stays on foot.
in Jakarta 2. Sammy doesn’t stay in
3. I have a house. It has Jakarta.
three rooms. 3. The house doesn’t
have three rooms.
• Interrogative sentences • Negative interrogative
1. Does he go to college sentences:
on foot? 1. doesn’t he go to
2. Does she sometimes college on foot?
stay in Jakarta? 2. Doesn’t she sometimes
3. Does the house have stay in Jakarta?
three rooms? 3. Doesn’t it have three
rooms?
 Exercise 1.
Insert the correct to be in the blank space of each sentence. Then change them into
negative, interrogative, negative interrogative.

1. Robert ......from England

2. My father and my mother....happy.
3. Susan....very sad
4. The lecturer.....satisfied.
5. They......in Ontario now.
6. We.....tired after the long journey.
7. Her cat....hungry.
8. Susan and Jenny.....sisters
9. The girl......in a hurry.
10. The boy.....scared.
 Exescise 2A
fill in the blank spaces on the right, write the simple form of
the verbs
1. John.......(like) to study.
2. Helen......(have) many friends in this school.
3. We.......(study) in the same class.
4. William also......(study) in our class.
5. He and I ........(be) good friends.
6. Both of our English teachers........(be) Americans.
7. They......(explain) the lesson very clearly.
8. There......(be) many students absent today.
9. I........(watch) television every night.
10. My father......(listen) to the radio every night.
 Exercise 2B
do this the same way as exercise 2A

1. The children.......(play) in the park every afternoon

2. There.....(be)some one at the door.
3. Helen...(live) on Church street
4. William ........(go) to the movies almost every night.
5. We always........(come) to school by bus.
6. Henry.......(do) his home work very carefully.
7. He never.......(make) many mistakes in spelling.
8. You......(be) older than I.
9. We bith......(want) to learn English well.
10. They.....(have) much work to do today.
 Conversation 1
practice the conversation below with your friend beside you

Tina : hi. I see you here all the time. Do you come here every day?
Ray : No....well, I have breakfast here before class.
Tina : oh, are you a student?
Ray : yes, I’m a law student.
Tina : really? I’m in the business school.
Ray : oh. So do you live around here?
Tina : well, I live about 29 miles away, in laguna beach.
Ray : so, are you from California?
Tina : well, I’m from Chicago originally, but my family lives here now.

Exercise: repeat the conversation above but give the information about you.