Simple Present Chart

1.
1 Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements

Affirmative Negative
Base
Subject Verb Subject Do Not/Does Not
Form
do not
I/You/We/They eat a lot. I/You/We/They eat a lot.
don’t
does not
He/She/It eats a lot. He/She/It eat a lot.
doesn’t
1. Use the simple present to talk about:

a. habits and repeated actions a. We eat dinner at 7:30.
b. facts and general truths b. The mail doesn’t come on Sundays.
c. how often something happens c. Jim visits his uncle twice a year.
2. Be careful! Don’t forget to add -s, -es, ✓ Rosa teaches math.

or -ies to verbs when the subject is he, ✗ Rosa teach math.
she, it, or a singular noun.
REAL ENGLISH
See page A1 for simple present spelling rules. Contractions are usually used in
conversation and informal writing.
He doesn’t watch TV.
We don’t like pizza.
1.2 Simple Present: Questions and Answers
Yes/No Questions Short Answers
Do/Does Subject Base Form
Do I/you/we/they Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
sing?
Does he/she/it Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
Wh - Questions Short Answers

Wh- Word Do/Does Subject Base Form
What I Popular songs.
When do you sing? Every Saturday night.
Why they They love music.
Who she Her father.
visit?
How often does she Twice a year.
How he celebrate? He has a party.
Who or What as Subject Short Answers

Wh- Word Verb
Who teaches this class? Professor Ortega.
What makes you happy? My family.
1. Yes/No questions ask for answers of yes or A: Do you speak Russian?

no. B: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
2. Wh- questions ask for specific information. A: Where does Jeff live?
The answer is a person, place, thing, or other B: In Sydney.
piece of information.
3. Who or What can be the subject in a Wh- A: Who teaches math? (Who = subject)
question. When Who or What is the subject, B: Arlene.
the verb is always in the third person singular
form (-s/-es form).
4. Be careful! When Who or What is the subject, ✓ Who teaches this class?
do not use do or does with the main verb. ✗ Who does teach this class?
1.3 Frequency Adverbs with the Simple Present
0% 100%
never rarely/ sometimes often/ usually always

seldom/ frequently
hardly ever
1. Frequency adverbs are often used with the I usually enjoy parties.
simple present. They tell how often something I don’t always remember his birthday.
happens. Do you sometimes eat at restaurants?
2. Frequency adverbs usually come after the verb I am sometimes early for class.
be. They usually come before other verbs. Jenny isn’t often late.
Wedding guests are usually happy.
3. Sometimes, usually, frequently, or often can Brides wear red dresses sometimes.
come at the beginning or end of a statement. Usually Western brides wear white.
4. Ever is common in questions about frequency. A: Do you ever eat at restaurants?

It means at any time. It is not usually used in B: No, I never do. / Yes, I often do.
affirmative statements.
1.4 Present Progressive: Affirmative and Negative Statements
Affirmative Negative
Subject Be Verb + -ing Subject Be + Not Verb + -ing
am am not
I studying. I studying.
’m ’m not
is is not
He/She/It working. He/She/It working.
’s isn’t / ’s not
are are not
You/We/They eating. You/We/They eating.
’re ’re not / aren’t
1. Use the present progressive* to talk about:

a. actions in progress now, at the moment a. Look! They’re dancing in the street.
of speaking
b. actions in progress at the present time, b. My class is studying world history
but maybe not at the moment of speaking this semester.
2. Remember: Use the simple present to talk about:

a. habits and repeated actions a. Dave and I often take a walk after dinner.
b. facts and things that are generally true b. It snows a lot in Finland.
c. how often something happens c. I meet with my boss twice a week.
3. Some adverbs and time expressions commonly It is raining at the moment.

used with the present progressive are: now, at Susie is working hard these days.
the moment, this year, and these days.
* The present progressive is sometimes called the present continuous.

See page A1 for spelling rules for the -ing form of verbs.
1.5 Present Progressive: Questions and Answers
Yes/No Questions Short Answers
Be Subject Verb + -ing
Am I Yes, you are. / No, you’re not.
Is he helping? Yes, he is. / No, he’s not.
Are you Yes, we are. / No, we’re not.
Wh - Questions Answers
Wh- Word Be Subject Verb + -ing
am I You’re studying.
What is he doing? He’s singing.
are they They’re cooking.
Why is she crying? She’s watching a sad movie.
Who or What as Subject Short Answers

Wh- Word Be Verb + -ing
Who dancing with Carmen? Her father.
is
What happening? John’s leaving.
1. Remember: Who or What can be the subject A: Who’s playing the piano?
in a Wh- question. When Who or What is the B: Marta.
subject, the verb is always in the third person
singular form (-s/-es form).
1.6 Action and Non-Action Verbs
1. Action verbs describe physical or mental Action: She studies hard every night.
actions. Non-Action: I want to go to the dance.
2. Non-action* verbs do not describe actions.

They describe states, conditions, or feelings.
Here are some common categories of non-
action verbs:
a. Feelings: dislike, hate, like, love, miss a. I love to dance.

b. Senses: feel, hear, see, smell, sound, taste b. The soup smells delicious.
c. Possession: belong, have, own c. He doesn’t own a car.
d. Appearance: appear, look, seem d. Ted looks tired today.
e. Desires: hope, need, prefer, want e. I want some coffee.
f. Mental States: believe, think, understand f. She understands Japanese.
3. Non-action verbs are not usually used in the ✓ They own a house and an apartment.
progressive. ✗ They are owning a house and an apartment.
4. It is possible to use the progressive form with Non-Action Action
some non-action verbs, but their meaning He has a headache. He is having lunch.
changes. Some common examples are: have, I think this book is great. I am thinking of the
think, look, smell, and taste. answer.
The food tastes good. She is tasting the food.
* Non-action verbs are sometimes called stative verbs.

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1.

1 Simple Present: Affirmative and Negative Statements

1. Use the simple present to talk about:

2. Be careful! Don’t forget to add -s, -es, ✓ Rosa teaches math.

Wh - Questions Short Answers

Who or What as Subject Short Answers

1. Yes/No questions ask for answers of yes or A: Do you speak Russian?

never rarely/ sometimes often/ usually always

4. Ever is common in questions about frequency. A: Do you ever eat at restaurants?

1. Use the present progressive* to talk about:

2. Remember: Use the simple present to talk about:

3. Some adverbs and time expressions commonly It is raining at the moment.

* The present progressive is sometimes called the present continuous.

Who or What as Subject Short Answers

2. Non-action* verbs do not describe actions.

a. Feelings: dislike, hate, like, love, miss a. I love to dance.

* Non-action verbs are sometimes called stative verbs.

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