Mastering the Present Simple: Rules and Usage

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Mastering the Present Simple: Rules and Usage

Learning Objective

You will understand the different spelling rules, signal words, and usage of present simple with 'to be' and 'to have'.

What do you already know about the present simple tense?

Introduction to Present Simple

Present simple is used for:

- general truths (The earth is round)

- habits (we often visit grandma on Sunday) 

-routines (I always walk to school)

It is also used for scheduled events (the party is Friday)  and timetables (the film Blackpool vs Wolverine starts at 8 o'clock) 

Hoe maak je de Present Simple? 

I work	Do I work?	I don't work
You work	Do you work?	You don't work
He/She/It work s	Do es he/she/it work?	He/She/It do es n't work
We work	Do we work?	We don't work
You work	Do you work?	You don't work
They work	Do they work?	They don't work

Present simple

Spelling Rules

So we now know that the third person (he- she- it = shit) has an added s. But you need to remember the spelling: 

Present Simple: Spelling Rules

Present simple
I never ....... (to wear) this dress to school.

1. wear
2. wears

Present simple
He ...... (to visit) us every summer.

1. visit
2. visits

Which sentense is the Present Simple Tense?

1. A
2. B
3. C

Which sentence is in the correct form of the present simple?

1. I was walking to school.
2. I am talking to her on the phone right now.
3. I never eat breakfast in the morning.

Which sentence is in the correct form of the present simple?
(multiple answers possible)

1. Do you know what the answer to question 1 is?
2. She was not listening to me.
3. I am going to work.
4. We always study at the library on Sundays.

Which sentence is in the Present Simple Tense?

1. A
2. B
3. C

Present simple
He ..... (to try) to be relaxed.

1. try
2. tries
3. trys
4. try's

When is the present simple used?

1. When something happened in the past.
2. When somethings happens regularly, sometimes or never.
3. When something is going to happen.
4. When something is taking place now.

Present simple
We often ........... (to talk) about or holiday.

1. talk
2. talks

Signal Words for Present Simple

Signal words such as 'always', 'usually', 'often', 'sometimes', and 'never' are often used with present simple.

Present simple 'to be'

present simple to be + have (got)

+ vragen en ontkenningen

Present Simple: To Be

+	I am	You are	He is
-	I am not	We are not	She is not
?	Am I	Are they	Is it?

Present Simple with 'To Be'

The verb 'to be' (am, is, are) is an irregular verb and is used in the present simple tense to talk about: permanent situations ( I am a teacher) 

general truths ( We are at school right now)

 identities ( My sister in law is from Tajikistan) 

Present Simple: to be (zijn)

What are the three forms of the verb 'to be'?

1. be, is, are
2. am, is, are
3. am, is, being,
4. is, isnt, are

What is the correct form of 'to be' in the present simple for 'I'?

1. am
2. be
3. are
4. is

Present simple.

He ..... (to be) my brother.

1. am
2. are
3. is

Present simple
Jack ... (to be) 15 years old

1. Am
2. Are
3. Is
4. Lives

Present simple.

Derrek and Sheila ..... (to be) at work.

1. am
2. are
3. is

NEGATION present simple TO BE
We......(not/are) in London.

1. aren't/ 're not
2. not are
3. not are
4. don't - were

Present simple
I ... (to be) 12 years old

1. am
2. is
3. are

Present simple
Susan and Tim .... (to be) friends.

1. am
2. are
3. is
4. do

Present Simple with 'To Have'

The verb 'to have' (have, has) is used in present simple to talk about:

possession (I have (got) a laptop)

relationships ( I have(got)  a brother and a sister)

characteristics (I have ( got) pink hair) 

Go online and find the rule: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/present-simple-have-got

 To have got

	+	-	?
I/You	Have got	Haven't got	Have I/you got?
He/She/It	Has got	Hasn't got	Has he/she/it got?
We/You/They	Have got	Haven't got	Have we/you/they got?

Present Simple.
Change this sentence into a question.
You have got a sister.

1. You got a sister?
2. Sister have you?
3. Have you got a sister?

Present Simple.
Change this sentence into a question.
They have got PE at two.

1. They have got PE at two?
2. Have they got PE at two?
3. Do they got PE at two?

Present Simple
I _______ (not have got) many books. Sad.

1. I do not have
2. I haven't got
3. I don't have
4. I don't have got

Present Simple
We ____ (not +to have) any money but Paula ____ (to have got) some cash

1. haven't / has got
2. don't have / has
3. don't have / has got
4. haven't got / have got

Present simple 'to have'