The basis of the English language is in understanding the verbs and how we can form sentences. the first verb we usually begin with is the verb to be as it is one of the most commonly used verbs.
We can form to be with the full form I am or the contraction I´m
| SUBJECT | TO BE | CONTRACTION |
| I | AM | I’M |
| YOU | ARE | YOU’RE |
| HE/SHE/IT | IS | HE’S |
| WE | ARE | YOU’RE |
| YOU (ALL) | ARE | YOU’RE |
| THEY | ARE | YOU’RE |
Present simple: talking about everyday activities
What do we use the present simple for?
We use the present simple to talk about habits, routines and everyday situations
We use the present simple to talk about habitual actions
I always brush my teeth at 7am
I usually do sport twice a week
We use the present simple to talk about routines
I start work at 8am every day
I finish work at 9pm every day
We use the present simple to talk about permanent situations
I work in a language school in Spain
I live in a small and friendly city
We use the present simple to talk about truths
Water boils at 100ºC
Water turns to ice when it freezes
Form:
+ I usually sing a song in the shower every morning. I normally shower as soon as I get up.
– I don’t watch TV every day. He doesn’t read as much as he wishes.
? Do you listen to music on a daily basis? Does your girlfriend like staying at your house?
Warning: Be careful with the third person (He, She, It)
We add an …s or an …es to the end of verbs
The majority of verbs are simple as you simple +S and it becomes the third person, for instance:
SING + S = SINGS
WEAR + S = WEARS
WALK + S = WALKS
However, nouns that end in -S, -SS, -SH, -CH, -X, -Z end in +ES:
AMUSE + S = AMUSES
PASS + ES = PASSES
BRUSH + ES = BRUSHES
TOUCH + ES = TOUCHES
FIX + ES = FIXES
BUZZ + ES = BUZZES
For instance:
My sister plays the guitar.
Alicia brushes her teeth every morning.
Be careful: have is an irregular verb with He, She and It
We use: He has a car. She has long hair. It has a great view.
The auxiliary also changes in the negative and the interrogative, for instance:
The negative uses the auxiliary do not/don’t or does not/doesn’t
| SUBJECT | AUXILIARY | VERB |
| I | DO NOT/DON’T | STUDY |
| YOU | DO NOT/DON’T | STUDY |
| HE/SHE/IT | DOES NOT/DOESN’T | STUDY |
| WE | DO NOT/DON’T | STUDY |
| YOU (ALL) | DO NOT/DON’T | STUDY |
| THEY | DO NOT/DON’T | STUDY |
The interrogative is formed using do or does:
| AUXILIARY | SUBJECT | VERB + ? |
| DO | I | STUDY? |
| DO | YOU | STUDY? |
| DOES | HE/SHE/IT | STUDY? |
| DO | WE | STUDY? |
| DO | YOU (ALL) | STUDY? |
| DO | THEY | STUDY? |
Be careful: with the verb have we use the negative auxiliary do not/don’t or does not/doesn’t, not haven’t or hasn’t
We only use have not/haven’t or has not/hasn’t of their is a participle afterwards, for example:
I have not got a pet.
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Make sure that you understand how adverbs and time expression work:
Adverbs of frequency:
Adverbs of frequency are used to talk about the frequency with which we do certain actions. They are essential for talking about daily routines and the present day.
*Be careful with word order. Between the subject and verb
| BE:
I am always tired when I finish work. He isn’t usually late for school. |
VERBS:
You never get up at 5:00 am. We almost never make dinner for our parents. |
Time expressions: be more specific
We usually use time expressions at the end of a sentence, for example:
I go to work in the morning.
I speak Spanish every day.
Once a week = one time per week
Twice a week = two times a week
Every day
Very often
In the morning/afternoon/evening
At night
All day
This week/month/year
Warning: it is not the same to use every day or everyday
every day = all the days of the week
It is a time expression and goes at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
I spend time with my family every day.
everyday = normal/usual
It is an adjective and goes before a noun
it is an everyday activity.
Practice exercises in PDF
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY AND TIME EXPRESSIONS
