Unit 2: Present simple (I do)

Use the present simple for things that are true in general, things that happen again and again, and how often they happen. Questions and negatives are made with do and does.

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A What the present simple is

Nadia is a dentist. At the moment, however, it is three in the morning and she is at home, asleep.

She is not treating anybody now. She is asleep. All the same, she treats patients. She is a dentist, whether or not she is awake to prove it.

treat(s), work(s), do(es) and so on are the present simple:

Subject	Verb
I / we / you / they	treat, work, do
he / she / it	treats, works, does

Nadia treats patients. She's a dentist.
I work in a garden centre.
My brothers live in Doncaster.

B Things in general, and things that happen repeatedly

Use the present simple to talk about things in general: something that happens all the time, something that happens again and again, or something that is simply true.

After he, she and it, the verb takes -s or -es:

I / you / we / they	he / she / it
I work	he works
you go	it goes
they teach	my sister teaches
I have	he has

Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x and -o add -es (passes, washes, watches, fixes, does). A consonant followed by -y becomes -ies (study, studies).

Plumbers fix pipes and boilers.
I usually visit my mum on Sundays.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
The library opens at 9 o'clock on Saturdays.

C Questions and negatives: do and does

Use do/does to make questions and don't/doesn't to make negatives. The main verb then goes back to its plain form: does she work, not does she works.

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

Do can also be the main verb, in which case it appears twice: What do you do? He doesn't do anything.

I come from Rotherham. Where do you come from?
I don't eat out very often.
What does 'skint' mean? (not What means 'skint'?)
Olives don't grow well in Yorkshire.
"What do you do?" "I'm a nurse."
He never helps at home. He doesn't do any of the washing up.

D How often we do things

Use the present simple to say how often something happens: every morning, twice a week, usually, never, not very often and so on.

I catch the 7.15 train every morning.
How often do you clean your car?
Ellie doesn't eat meat very often.
My uncle usually goes to Spain two or three times a year.

E I promise, I apologise and similar

Sometimes the act of saying something is the act itself. When you promise, you say I promise. When you suggest something, you say I suggest. These take the present simple, not the continuous.

The same applies to I apologise, I advise, I insist, I agree, I refuse, I recommend.

I promise I'll ring you tonight. (not I'm promising)
"What do you recommend?" "I recommend the soup."
I apologise for the delay.
I refuse to pay four pounds for a coffee.

Exercises

2.1 Complete the sentences using these verbs in the present simple.

cause(s)close(s)connect(s)go(es)live(s)speak(s)take(s)

Mehmet speaks Turkish and English at home.
Mehmet speaks Turkish and English at home.
My cousins to the same college as me.
Ice on the roads a lot of accidents in winter.
The chemist at 6 o'clock on Saturdays.
My grandparents in a bungalow near the sea.
The village show place every August.
The Humber Bridge Hull and North Lincolnshire.

2.2 Put the verb into the correct form.

Our cat doesn't like (not / like) the rain very much.
Our cat doesn't like the rain very much.
What time (the post office / open) on Saturdays?
I've got a bike, but I (not / ride) it very often.
Where (Tomasz / come) from? Is he Polish?
"What (you / do)?" "I work in a bakery."
Look at this label. What (this symbol / mean)?
Gareth is always tired. He (not / get) enough sleep.
It (take) me twenty minutes to walk to the station. How long (it / take) you?

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

believeeatflowgogrowmakerisetelltranslate

The number 7 bus goes past the hospital.
The number 7 bus goes past the hospital.
Bananas don't grow in Britain. It's far too cold.
Bananas don't grow in Britain. It's far too cold.
Bread dough if you leave it somewhere warm.
A potter bowls and jugs out of clay.
Vegans eggs or cheese.
My grandad in ghosts, although he still won't go down to the cellar.
Sian works for the council. She documents from Welsh into English.
Honest people lies.
The River Severn into the Bristol Channel.

2.4 You are asking Priya about herself and her family. Write the questions, using the words in brackets.

You know that Priya goes swimming. You want to know how often. (how often / you / go swimming?)
How often do you go swimming?
How often do you go swimming?
Perhaps Priya's husband swims as well. You want to know. (your husband / swim?)
You know that Priya goes to the theatre a lot. You want to know how often. (how often / you / go to the theatre?)
You know that Priya's sister has a job. You want to know what she does. (what / your sister / do?)
You are not sure whether Priya speaks Welsh. You want to know. (you / speak Welsh?)
You don't know where Priya's cousins live. You want to know. (where / your cousins / live?)

2.5 Complete the sentences using these phrases.

I agreeI apologiseI insistI promiseI recommendI suggest

The doctor is fully booked today. I suggest you ring again on Monday morning.
The doctor is fully booked today. I suggest you ring again on Monday morning.
I'll be home by eleven. I won't be late again.
Two friends are at the till in a café, and one of them is reaching for her purse.
Put your purse away. . This one's on me.
for shouting at you earlier. It was unfair of me.
the chippy by the harbour in Whitby. The fish is excellent.
You're quite right about the parking. with you completely.

Present simple (I do)