Simple Present Tense

1A. Explanation

The simple present tense takes one of two forms depending on the subject.

Subject I, you They, We Plural nouns He, She, It Singular nouns Non count-nouns

base form eat go work

-s form eats goes works

1B. Examples

Subjects followed by verb in base form: I like rice. You look nice. They think twice. We throw dice. Chefs use spice. The boys ring the doorbell. Children sing on special occasions. Some people bring gifts to parties. Bees sting when they are disturbed.

Subjects with verb in ?s form: She makes toys. He rakes leaves. It takes time. Mom bakes pies. Water slakes thirst. Jill loves dates. Mr. Smith fills crates. Grandpa washes plates. The dog jumps gates.

1C. Exercises (Realizar estos ejercicios)

1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time.
2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on time.
3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography.
4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa every day.
5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.

2A. Explanation

Use the simple present tense to indicate:
1. Routine actions
2. Facts

2B. Examples (Copiar y hacer la traducción del texto)

Routine actions John brushes his teeth every morning. Carol usually drives to work. The teacher grades homework on Fridays.

Facts Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean. Some birds fly south for the winter. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.

Note how the present tense is used in the following paragraph.

Mr. Lee is a bus driver. Every day he gets up at 7:00 a.m. and prepares for his day. He showers, eats his breakfast, and puts on his uniform. His wife drives him to the station where he checks in with his supervisor. Then, he gets on Bus #405 and starts the engine. He pulls out of the parking lot and begins his route. At his first stop, he picks up Mrs. Miller, who lives in a red house on the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue. She works at the post office and has to be to work by 9:00. At the next stop, the Bartlett twins get on the bus. They attend class at Bayside Elementary. More children get on at the next three stops, and they ride until the bus reaches their school. Mr. Lee enjoys seeing the kids every day and is happy to see them again in the afternoon when he drives them safely back home.

2C. Exercises (Realizar estos ejercicios)

 Tell whether the present tense is appropriate in the following sentences.

1. Yesterday I go to Washington D.C. 2. Every day, Mr. Johnson cleans his living room. 3. They usually take the bus to the office. 4. Right now Susan eats her breakfast. 5. Melinda and Harry work in the bank.

Correct Correct Correct Correct Correct

Incorrect Incorrect Incorrect Incorrect Incorrect

Past tense

Explanation

1. The simple past tense is expressed with the past form of the verb and nothing else.

My grandfather died last year. My grandfather was died last year. My grandfather has died last year.

(Correct) (Incorrect) (Incorrect)

2. The simple past tense refers to

a. action which occurred at a specific time in the past
b. completed action
c. past status

Examples

Specific past action I ate lunch at noon today. He drove to work yesterday.

Completed action She finally mailed the letter. Jan finished her report on time.

Past status John was still single in 1995. Jane was a movie star.

Note the usage of the past tense in the following story.

Yesterday Mrs. Hubbard had a very rough day. In the morning, she went to the kitchen and looked in the cupboard for some food for her dog, but the cupboard was empty. Her poor dog stared up at her with its hungry eyes, and she knew she had to do something quickly. She hurried to the grocery store to buy some dog food, but unfortunately the store was out of her dog's favorite brand, so she had to catch a bus downtown. After buying the food, she waited for a half hour in the rain to get a taxi. When she finally got home, her dog was sound asleep on the living room sofa.

Common problems with the past tense

1. Using the present tense when the past tense is required.

Last week, Tonya fix her neighbor's car. Last week, Tonya fixed her neighbor's car.

(Incorrect) (Correct)

2. Using "was" with verbs in the past tense.

It was happened one night in September. It happened one night in September.

(Incorrect) (Correct)

Exercises

Change the verbs in the following sentence into past tense.

1. Yesterday, I go to the restaurant with a client.

2. We drive around the parking lot for 20 minutes in order to find a parking space.

3. When we arrive at the restaurant, the place is full.

4. The waitress asks us if we have reservations.

5. I say, "No, my secretary forgets to make them."

6. The waitress tells us to come back in two hours.

7. My client and I slowly walk back to the car.

8. Then we see a small grocery store.

9. We stop in the grocery store and buy some sandwiches.

10. That is better than waiting for two hours.

Correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Last night, Samantha have pizza for supper.

2. My pet lizard was died last month.

3. Yesterday I spend two hours cleaning my living room.

4. This morning before coming to class, Jack eats two bowls of cereal.

5. What was happened to your leg?

English Day SISO 2012

On October 3rd San Isidro School celebrated the English Day which was dedicated to English Speaking Countries and had the school's first song festival