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Unit 2 · Present and past

Present simple (I do)

Study

A

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

pastfuture every day · in general
now
Happens again and again — true in general, not only now.
›

Nurses look after patients in hospitals.

›

I usually go away at weekends.

›

The earth goes round the sun.

›

The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.

We say:

I work but he works
you go but it goes
they teach but my sister teaches
I have but he has

For spelling (-s or -es), see Appendix 6.

B

Study this example situation: Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep.

›

He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)

›

but He drives a bus. He is a bus driver.

drive(s), work(s), do(es) etc. is the present simple:

I / we / you / they drive / work / do etc.
he / she / it drives / works / does etc.

We use do / does to make questions and negative sentences:

do I / we / you / they work? / drive? / do?
does he / she / it
I / we / you / they don't work / drive / do
he / she / it doesn't
›

I come from Canada. Where do you come from?

›

What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)

›

Rice doesn't grow in cold climates.

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn't do etc.):

›

'What do you do?' 'I work in a shop.'

›

He's always so lazy. He doesn't do anything to help.

C

We use the present simple to say how often we do things:

›

I get up at 8 o'clock every morning.

›

How often do you go to the dentist?

›

Julie doesn't drink tea very often.

›

Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

D

I promise / I apologise etc. Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something, you can say 'I promise …'; when you suggest something, you can say 'I suggest …':

›

I promise I won't be late. (not I'm promising)

›

'What do you suggest I do?' 'I suggest that you …'

In the same way we say: I apologise … / I advise … / I insist … / I agree … / I refuse … etc.

→ Present simple and present continuous: Units 3–4 · Present tenses for the future: Unit 19

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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2.1

Complete the sentences using the following verbs (in the correct form).

cause(s)close(s)connect(s)go(es)live(s)speak(s)take(s)
  1. 1
    Tanya German very well.example
  2. 2
    Ben and Jack to the same school.
  3. 3
    Bad driving many accidents.
  4. 4
    The museum at 4 o'clock on Sundays.
  5. 5
    My parents in a very small flat.
  6. 6
    The Olympic Games place every four years.
  7. 7
    The Panama Canal the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
2.2

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. 1
    Julia (not / drink) tea very often.example
  2. 2
    What time (the banks / close) here?
  3. 3
    I have a car, but I (not / use) it much.
  4. 4
    Where (Maria / come) from? Is she Spanish?
  5. 5
    'What (you / do)?' 'I'm an electrician.'
  6. 6
    Look at this sentence. What (this word / mean)?
  7. 7
    David isn't very fit. He (not / do) any sport.
  8. 8
    It (take) me an hour to get to work in the morning. How long (it / take) you?
2.3

Complete the sentences using these verbs. Sometimes you need the negative.

believeeatflowgogrowmakerisetelltranslate
  1. 1
    The earth round the sun.example
  2. 2
    Rice in cold climates.example
  3. 3
    The sun in the east.
  4. 4
    Bees honey.
  5. 5
    Vegetarians meat.
  6. 6
    An atheist in God.
  7. 7
    An interpreter from one language into another.
  8. 8
    Liars are people who the truth.
  9. 9
    The River Amazon into the Atlantic Ocean.
2.4

You ask Lisa questions about herself and her family. Write the questions.

  1. 1
    You know that Lisa plays tennis. You want to know how often. Ask her.
    example
  2. 2
    Perhaps Lisa's sister plays tennis too. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
  3. 3
    You know that Lisa goes to the cinema a lot. You want to know how often. Ask her.
  4. 4
    You know that Lisa's brother works. You want to know what he does. Ask Lisa.
  5. 5
    You're not sure whether Lisa speaks Spanish. You want to know. Ask her.
  6. 6
    You don't know where Lisa's grandparents live. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
2.5

Complete using the following.

I agreeI apologiseI insistI promiseI recommendI suggest
  1. 1
    Mr Evans is not in the office today. you try calling him tomorrow.example
  2. 2
    I won't tell anybody what you said. .
  3. 3
    (in a restaurant) You must let me pay for the meal. .
  4. 4
    for what I said. I shouldn't have said it.
  5. 5
    The new restaurant in Baker Street is very good. it.
  6. 6
    I think you're absolutely right. with you.