The verb

is the most irregular — and most important — verb in English.

Present Past Contractions
I am was I’m, I’m not
you / we / they are were you’re, they aren’t
he / she / it is was she’s, it isn’t

makes questions and negatives without :

  • Statement:

  • Negative:

  • Question: —

  • \(\to\) ( is a verb, not an adjective)

  • \(\to\) ( = how you feel; = what causes the feeling: )

  • \(\to\) (age uses , not )

  • There is / there are: Use to say that something exists.

Use to introduce the existence of something: The verb agrees with the noun that follows: , .

and

expresses possession, relationships, and characteristics:

British English often uses in speech: American English prefers plain with -support: Both are correct; is informal and has no infinitive or progressive forms.

The present simple

Form

Base verb for all persons, with in the third person singular:

Statement Negative Question
I/you/we/they
he/she/it

Spelling of the form follows the plural rules of Chapter [ch:nouns]: .

Uses

  1. Habits and routines: Often with adverbs of frequency: (placed before the main verb but after : ).

  2. General truths:

  3. Permanent situations:

  4. Timetables and schedules (future):

  5. Narration, commentary, headlines:

The third-person is the most frequently dropped ending in learner English. Check every present-simple verb with a he/she/it subject: \(\to\) Also, do not double-mark questions and negatives: \(\to\) \(\to\)

The present progressive (continuous)

Form

+ verb: Spelling: (drop silent ); (double a final single consonant after a stressed short vowel); .

Uses

  1. Actions happening now:

  2. Temporary situations:

  3. Changing and developing situations:

  4. Fixed personal arrangements (future):

  5. With , for irritating habits:

Present simple vs. present progressive

@L6.2cmL6.2cm@ Present simple & Present progressive
permanent, repeated, general & temporary, in progress, changing
(her job) & (temporary)
(home) &
(= your job) & (= right now)

Stative verbs

Verbs describing states rather than actions are not normally used in the progressive:

  • Thinking and knowing:

  • Emotions:

  • Senses and appearance:

  • Possession and relations:

\(\to\)
\(\to\)

Many of these verbs have an active sense that does allow the progressive: (opinion — state) vs.  (mental activity); (possession) vs.  (activity); vs. . Advertising has also normalized -type usage in very informal registers.

The imperative

Use the base verb, with no subject, for instructions, invitations, and warnings: Soften commands with or question forms ().

Exercises

Present simple or progressive? Put the verb into the correct present form.

  1. Water

    (freeze) at 0 °C.

  2. Don’t call now — they

    (have) dinner.

  3. She normally

    (drive) to work, but this week she

    (cycle).

  4. I

    (not/understand) this exercise.

  5. Look! It

    (snow).

  6. The 7:15 train

    (arrive) at platform 3 tomorrow.

Make questions and negatives Rewrite as indicated.

  1. She speaks Portuguese. (question)

  2. They are ready. (negative)

  3. He has got a driving licence. (question, BrE)

  4. The children like broccoli. (negative)

  5. There are some messages for me. (question)

Error correction Correct one error in each sentence.

  1. He don’t work on Saturdays.

  2. I’m not believing this story.

  3. She have two children.

  4. Does he plays the piano?

  5. I am agree with the proposal.

  6. Always she drinks tea in the morning.