Present Tense 現在式

Simple Present Tense

We use the simple present tense when:

l   the action is general

l   the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future

l   the action is not only happening now

l   the statement is always true

Example:

1.          Can you swim?

2.          Do we go now?

3.          We often read newspapers.

4.          There are nine students in the classroom.

Exercise:

1.          I  _________  (live)in New York.

2.          The Moon __________ (go) round the Earth.

3.          John ___________ (drive) a taxi.

4.          He _______ not ___________  (do / drive) a bus.

5.          We __________ (meet) every Thursday.

6.          We ______ not _____________ (do / work)at night.

7.          _________ you ___________ (do / play) football?

8.       Platinum __________ (be) a useful metal.

9.       He _________ (love) music.

10.      The earth ___________ (be) round

11.      America _________ (be) a large country

12.      Two points __________ (define) a line

Look at these examples with the main verb like:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I, you, we, they			like	coffee.
	He, she, it			likes	coffee.
-	I, you, we, they	do	not	like	coffee.
	He, she, it	does	not	like	coffee.
?	Do	I, you, we, they		like	coffee?
	Does	he, she, it		like	coffee?

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

	subject	main verb
+	I	am		French.
	You, we, they	are		French.
	He, she, it	is		French.
-	I	am	not	old.
	You, we, they	are	not	old.
	He, she, it	is	not	old.
?	Am	I		late?
	Are	you, we, they		late?
	Is	he, she, it		late?