GRAMMAR OR NOT GRAMMAR?: PRESENT SIMPLE 1

This is the first part of some posts I'm going to "fasten" on our blog for you to know more about English grammar and to try you understand this language. You are going to find also several exercises which will help you to practice while you learn.

The Present Simple

Use

The Present Simple expresses repeated or usual actions such as habits, routines, hobbies, etc. (i.e.: Wilber does Taekwondo every day.) and facts which are true for a long time or generalizations (a fact which is always true) (i.e.: Wilber teaches English at ENSMA.)

Structure

(+) noun/pronoun + verb + complement
Example: Wilber lives in Santa Marta.

(-) noun/pronoun + auxiliary DO + NOT + verb + complement
Example: Wilber does not live in Miami.

(? Y/N) auxiliary DO + noun/pronoun + verb + complement + ?
Example: Does Wilber live in Santa Marta?

(? Wh-Q) Wh-Q word + auxiliary DO + noun/pronoun + verb + complement + ?
Example: Where does Wilber live in Santa Marta?

Spelling Rules for the 3rd person singular

1. Add –s to most verbs:
take – takes ; walk – walks ; paint – paints

2. If the verb ends in s, ss, sh, ch, x or z add – es:
kiss – kisses ; brush – brushes ; watch – watches ; fix – fixes ; buzz – buzzes

3. If the verb ends in a consonant + -y, change the –y to –i and add –es:
study – studies ; fly – flies ; fry – fries

But if the verb finishes in a vowel + -y, do not change the –y.
play – plays ; say - says

EXERCISE: Sandra's day

Look at the pictures and use the verbs in parenthesis to complete the sentences about Sandra and her family's day. Put the verbs into the 3rd person singular.

Sandra 1.__________ (to be) from England, she 2.__________ (live) in London. She 3.__________ (to be) married to Peter.

Sandra 4.___________ (wake up) at six o'clock every day.

She 5.________ (brush) her teeth, 6.__________ (take) a shower, 7._________ (wash) her hair, and 8.__________ (dry) her body with a towel.

Then she 9.__________ (have) some coffee, eggs, croissaints, and orange juice for breakfast and she 10.___________ (read) the news in the local newspaper.

After breakfast she 11.___________ (brush) her teeth again.

Sandra 12.___________ (have) two children. Paul 13.__________ (to be) 5 years old and John 7. Paul 14._______________ (get dressed).

At 10:00 A.M. Sandra 15.__________ (go) shopping to the town's supermarket.

At 11:30 A.M. she 16.__________ (cook) vegetables for lunch.

Peter 17.___________ (finish) work at 6:00 P.M. and 18.__________ (get) home at 7:00 P.M.

John 19.__________ (pray) and goes to bed at 8:00 P.M.

Finally, Sandra 20.__________ (read) a book and goes to bed at 11:00 P.M.

For further info and practice, please go to the following sites:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html

http://esl.about.com/od/grammarstructures/a/pres_simple.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/h/lb/psv.html