Basic English Grammar Course 1 | Present Simple Tense | Learn and Practice

Summary

In this lesson, Esther explains the present simple tense, covering its various uses, including stating facts, describing routines, and expressing general truths. She highlights how it is used with non-continuous (stative) verbs, such as emotions and perceptions, and how it can describe near future events. The video also addresses negative sentences and questions using 'do' and 'does'. Esther provides clear examples and practical exercises to help learners understand when and how to use the present simple tense effectively, offering both guidance and interactive opportunities for practice.

Takeaways

• 😀 The present simple tense is used to talk about facts, truths, and generalizations that don't change over time. Example: 'The Sun is bright.'
• 😀 The present simple tense is used to describe regular habits and routines. Example: 'I always eat lunch at noon.'
• 😀 Non-continuous verbs, like 'love,' 'need,' and 'feel,' are used in the present simple tense to express thoughts, feelings, emotions, and senses.
• 😀 The present simple tense can be used to talk about near-future events that are scheduled or planned. Example: 'I have class at 6 p.m.'
• 😀 To form negative sentences in the present simple, use 'do not' or 'does not' ('don't'/'doesn't'). Example: 'Mike doesn't eat bread.'
• 😀 For third-person singular subjects (he/she/it), add 's' or 'es' to the verb in the present simple tense. Example: 'He plays soccer.'
• 😀 To form questions in the present simple, use 'do' or 'does' at the beginning of the sentence. Example: 'Does he play soccer?'
• 😀 When the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it', use 'does' and do not add 's' to the verb in questions. Example: 'Does he play soccer?'
• 😀 The verb 'to be' (is, am, are) is commonly used in the present simple tense to describe states or conditions. Example: 'She is at school.'
• 😀 To express routines or events that happen regularly, the present simple tense is used with time expressions like 'every day' or 'daily'. Example: 'They study English every Monday.'

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the present simple tense?

The present simple tense is primarily used to talk about facts, truths, generalizations, habits, routines, and non-continuous actions such as emotions or senses.

Can you give an example of a generalization using the present simple tense?

'Cats are better than dogs' is an example of a generalization in the present simple tense.

What verb form do you use with the present simple tense when the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it'?

When the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it', you add 's' or 'es' to the verb in the present simple tense.

How do we form a negative sentence in the present simple tense when the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it'?

To form a negative sentence in the present simple tense for 'he', 'she', or 'it', use 'does not' or the contraction 'doesn't' followed by the base form of the verb. For example, 'Mike doesn't eat bread.'

What is the rule for forming questions in the present simple tense?

In the present simple tense, questions are formed by placing 'do' or 'does' at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. For example, 'Does he play soccer?'

Why is the verb 'need' not used in the continuous form?

'Need' is a non-continuous (stative) verb, meaning it describes states, feelings, or opinions and is typically used in the present simple tense rather than the continuous form. For example, 'They need help' is correct.

How do you use the present simple tense to describe future events?

The present simple tense can be used to talk about scheduled or planned future events, such as 'The airplane leaves tonight' or 'Lisa arrives on Sunday.'

What is the correct form of the verb 'play' when making a negative sentence with the subject 'he'?

In the negative form, we use 'does not' or 'doesn't' without adding 's' to the verb. So the correct sentence is 'He doesn't play soccer.'

What mistake is made when you say 'We isn't good friends'?

The mistake is in the use of the verb 'isn't' with the subject 'we'. The correct form is 'We are not' or the contraction 'We aren't'.

Can the present simple tense be used to describe habitual actions? Provide an example.

Yes, the present simple tense is used to describe habitual actions. For example, 'I always eat lunch at noon' describes a regular habit.