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Present simple

Present simple

Presentation / Objective

All languages obey a set of combinatory rules that help us communicate an infinite number of concepts. While every language has a different set of rules, all languages obey rules. These rules are known as grammar.

Verbs are illustrative and refer to actions and states. Compared to Spanish verbs the verbs in the English language are simple.

Practice is always useful. For this reason, in this section, you will find a set of exercises involving the four skills in the simple present tense.

The simple present tense structure can be employed to express different things. The first will be practised in the following sections.

This exercise will help you to identify common mistakes of Spanish speakers who learn English.

Girl and father at the beach

She visits the beach once a year.

NA. (2015). Playa. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/padre-hija-playa-mar-familia-656734/.
Yellow flowers

I like natural small flowers.

NA. (2015). Tulipanes. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/tulipanes-las-flores-cortadas-708410/.
Happy family

They are so happy.

NA. (2010). Bebé. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/beb%C3%A9-ni%C3%B1o-hija-familia-ni%C3%B1a-17369/.

A couple

He loves his wife.

Leon, M. (2016). Pareja. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/pareja-de-la-boda-se-cas%C3%B3-con-1427863/.

Objective:

At the end of this topic you will:
• Be able to use the simple present affirmative, negative and interrogative forms in English, through cultural contrasts, to refer to habits.

Content

Look at the following information. It will help you to answer the activities and practice the Present simple tense.

The simple present structure refers to now. It can be employed to represent routines, states, descriptions and likes.

Ballesteros, A. (2016). Wordcloud present

Unlike Spanish, the number of conjugations in English is smaller and easier to use. The only complication is the differentiation of subjects. The subjects are the actors or performers of actions and can be classified into four categories:

Category Example
Proper names John, Ana, Joe and Philip, Bates School, Hachiko…
Common names my cousin, my friend, the boys, the school, my dog…
Pronouns he, she, they, it, he…
Synonymous words or phrases the poor guy, the girl, these two, the institution, my little

The differentiation of the subject determines the form in which the verb has to be conjugated. Let’s take the verb OPEN as an example. To represent the routine, we can add a circumstance or context (space, time, mode, etc.).

  • John (he) opens his grocery early.
  • My friend (he/she) opens the doors of La Fonda Doña Inés.
  • The boys (they) open their videogame console every weekend.
  • It opens on weekdays.
  • My little (he/she) opens the door by himself/ herself.

Remember: The differentiation of subjects determines the type of conjugation.

An auxiliary (do/does) is necessary:

  • John does not open his grocery in winter.
  • My friend does not open the windows of his bedroom in windy days.
  • The boys do not open the umbrella for rainy days.
  • It does not snow in Ana’s city.
  • My little does not like the cold.

Additionally, the differentiation of subjects determines the type of the auxiliary. Keep in mind that after the auxiliaries the verbs in the sentence remain unconjugated.

Ballesteros, A. (2016). Wordcloud clima.

An auxiliary (do/does) is necessary:

  • Does it rain a lot in May in your city?
  • What do you wear when it’s too cold?
  • Do the people in the U.S. use umbrellas in the sun?
Ballesteros, A. (2016). Wordcloud afirmativo.

Also, descriptions of weather or related to weather can be made with the use of the present simple. If you use the word BE there are three ways of doing it:

  • I am always a bit cold in winter, but I am not when I have my coat on.
  • The weather in Mexico is not so extreme; rather, it is benign.
  • The people in my city are not used to snow, but they are used to the problems caused by the climate.

Remember: For the negative form you add the word NOT to the auxiliary.

Ballesteros, A. (2016). Wordcloud question.

BE in descriptions is easy to use. However, in questions you change the order:

  • It’s cold in this building. Is it cold outside?
  • They’re happy for the sunshine. Are they happy in cloudy days?

Reading

Activity 1

Weather

Written texts have the advantage of giving time to understand and check information.

The following activity has to do with some habits in Mexico concerning weather.
You will use your knowledge of the simple present by scanning for specific information in an English text.

Write the correct adjective to describe the weather of each image.

Reading

Activity 2

Read and relate

The following text is about Mexico City.

Read and drag the best option to complete the sentences. You have two attempts to answer the exercise. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.

Remember to scan the text so that you get an idea of what the text will be about.

Listening

Activity 3

Listening for specific information

Listening in English can be a bit difficult. It is a process that takes time, so don’t worry if you do not understand every word of the discourses referring to habits.

You will be able to identify specific information from spoken English to discriminate True (T) from False (F) information.
Click to listen and then answer the exercise.

To hear the audio click on each image:

Woman in a café
NA. (2016). Café. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/adulto-bar-m%C3%A1quina-de-caf%C3%A9-1846748/
Hurracain
NA. (2016). Huracán. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/hurac%C3%A1n-irene-1245322/
Ice cream shop
NA. (2016). Helado. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/alimentos-men%C3%BA-restaurante-1685942/

Writing

Activity 4

Places around the world

The simple present tense is the perfect excuse to write a text in English.

Why? It allows you to balance your mastery of this structure of the language and the way you think.
You will be able to write a text contrasting between the two places in the world. Remember to use the present simple in affirmative and negative form.

In countries like the US or the UK, the weather is different from Mexico.

Linforth, P. (2015). UK. [Photo]. Retrieved from:https://pixabay.com/es/union-jack-brit%C3%A1nico-bandera-1027893/.
NA. (2016). América. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/am%C3%A9rica-colecci%C3%B3n-colorido-bandera-1298749/
Peña, D. (2016). Mexico. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/m%C3%A9xico-bandera-bandera-mexicana-1460659/

Write a comparative 80-word text about one of the following topics:

  • a) The weather of two countries, two cities or even two continents.
  • b)The items or clothing commonly used in each place for a particular type of weather (RAINY: US-raincoat or UK-mackintosh vs Mexico-paraguas, sombrilla-, SUNNY: US-bermudas or UK short trousers- vs Mexico –no clothing in particular-).

You can use conjunctions like:

While, whereas, on the one hand, on the other hand, and, besides, moreover, first, second, finally.

Check the example:

Topic B:

People in the UK wear coats all year long. Moreover, they usually go to specialised stores, but in Mexico, it is entirely different. Also, the weather in the UK is very predictable because it is cold and windy while in Mexico it is not. English people eat pastry with coffee or a cup of tea. People do not eat ice cream, but they like to buy frozen food. On the other hand, Mexicans eat almost all year delicious ice cream in sunny and cloudy days.

Remember to read the checklist carefully for self-evaluation.

Speaking

Activity 5

What about you? What is your day like?

For many people speaking is perhaps the most challenging ability when studying a foreign language.

Here is an opportunity to record a short speech about the weather in the present. Give at least three reasons to justify your preference. It is essential you make use of the connectors first, second and finally. Your description has to include some cultural aspects of the region you are describing.

Make a 30-60 second recording about your favourite type of weather. You have to give at least three reasons for your preference.

Use the words first, second and finally. Don't forget to read the checklist before making our recording. Once you have finished, compare your audio to the example provided for a self-evaluation.

Click here to listen to the example:

Self-assessment

The simple present tense can be employed in English to express habits or routines.

These exercises will help you to practice this structure in one of its common uses.


Exercise 1. FINAL REVIEW

In this exercise you will check your domain over the regularities of the simple present structure by completing with the proper words missing.



Exercise 2. Negative and interrogatives

In this exercise you will practice the negative and interrogative conjugations of the present simple in English.

You will check your domain over the regularities of the simple present structure by transforming affirmative sentences to negative or interrogative versions.

References

Basic references:

2016. Presente simple. Orianit.edu-negev.gov.il. Recuperado el día 041016. URL: http://www.orianit.edu-negev.gov.il/alonimasd/sites/homepage/tamara/zippedSites/1present_simple/1present_simple.htm
Eales, F. & Oakes, S. (2015). Speak Out. Elementary Students’ Book. China: Pearson Education Limited. pp.128 & 130.