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1.2.3: Uses of the Simple Present--Extra Practice

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    Uses of the Simple Present

    The simple present is used for talking about routines, habits, and repeated activities in the present time. We use the simple present to talk about facts, which are always true. Time expressions (e.g., every day, in the summer) and adverbs of frequency (e.g., never, sometimes, always) signal the simple present tense.

    line graph showing a habit/routine happening consistently over time

    What is a routine? Something you do every morning, every week, every year.

    • I brush my teeth two times a day.
    • You go to the gym three times a week.
    • He makes breakfast for my children every morning.
    • She starts work at 7:00 am.
    • They do laundry every Saturday.

    What is a habit? Something you do regularly.

    • My husband reads in bed before he goes to sleep.
    • My cat wakes me up on Saturdays because he is hungry.

    What is a repeated action? Action that we do more than once.

    • I shop at (not every week, but I like to go there).
    • She wears shorts in the summer.

    What is a fact? Something that is always true.

    • The moon revolves around the earth.
    • She has two children.
    • Vegetables are healthy.
    • Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Practice for Simple Present Tense

    Exercise 1:

    Complete the sentences. Use the correct simple present form of the verb.

    Q: Hello, Dr. Ha. Are you (you, be) a medical doctor?

    Dr. H: No, I __________ (be) a child psychologist. I __________ (study) the effect of television on children.

    Q: Interesting! __________ (children, watch) a lot of TV?

    Dr. H: Yes, they __________. Many children __________(watch) four hours every day. They __________ (get, not) much exercise. They __________ (play, not) play much outdoors.

    Q: What problems __________(these children, have)?

    Dr. H: They often __________(get) tired and __________(concentrate, not) well at school. They __________(be) sometimes overweight, too.

    Q: __________(television, be) always bad?

    Dr. H: No, not really. Some programs __________ (be) very educational. But parents (need) to set limits. My daughter _______(watch) only 30 minutes of TV per day, and I __________(help) choose the program.

    Exercise 2:

    Read the statements. Complete the questions. Use the correct form of do or be.

    1. They take care of sick people.    ______         they nurses? ____

    2. A mechanic works in a garage.   _______     he or she fix cars? ____

    3. This person works in a school.    _______   he or she a teacher? ____

    4. They wear fashionable clothes for designers. ______    they models? ____

    5. These people are coaches. _______    they help their teams win? _____

    6. This person is a carpenter.  _______   he or she build things out of wood?_

    Exercise 3:

    Correct nine more errors in present tense

    comes

    Amalia come from Venezuela, and she is 24 years old. She live with her family, and they spends a lot of happy moments together. They often goes

    to parks and local attractions and sometimes travel to beautiful places in other countries. She works as a legal assistant and help a lawyer with his

    research. She doesn't has a lot of free time, but she really like her job. On the weekends, Amalia also spend time with her friends. They often plays

    video games and watch movies. She feel lucky to have a good job, a great family, and nice friends.

    Exercise 4:

    Fill in the blanks with simple present tense verbs.

    1. My brothers ____________ (like) to play sports.

    2. I____________ (take) piano lessons

    3. Iced tea____________ (taste) good on a hot day.

    4. My parents ____________ (take) a walk every evening after dinner.

    5. Both of my sons ____________ (love) to eat my wife’s food.

    6. A young couple____________(live) across the street from me.

    7. Smoking cigarettes ___________(make) a person stink.

    8. The university ______________ (offer) degrees in many fields.

    9. My dog ____________ (enjoy) going for walks with my wife.

    10. I usually ____________ (listen to) music in my office.

    11. My wife and I ____________ (do) the grocery shopping on Saturdays

    13. A mechanic ____________ (repair) cars for a living.

    14. Students ____________ (have) to learn irregular verb

    15. Not studying ____________ (hurt) students’ grades.

    Exercise 5: Interview

    Part 1 Directions: Interview your partner. Write the answers in complete sentences. in the blanks. Use correct pronouns.

    Example: Where do you study? She studies in the library

    1. Where do you live?

    ____________________________________________

    2. What time do you usually wake up?

    ____________________________________________

    3. When do you eat breakfast?

    ____________________________________________

    4. What do you eat for breakfast?

    ____________________________________________

    5. How do you get to school (walk, bus, car, etc.)?

    ____________________________________________

    6. What time do you go to school?

    ____________________________________________

    7. What time do you usually get home?

    ____________________________________________

    8. When do you usually go to bed?

    ____________________________________________

    Part 2 Directions: Write 8 sentences about your own daily routine using the same questions.

    1. ________________________________
    2. ________________________________
    3. ________________________________
    4. ________________________________
    5. ________________________________
    6. ________________________________
    7. ________________________________
    8. ________________________________

    Part 3 Directions: Share and compare your daily activities. Read your sentences to your partner. Your partner reads to you. See if you have the same (or different) daily activities.

    Part 4 Directions: Your instructor will give you a Venn Diagram to complete. Write sentences about yourself where it says You. Write sentences about your partner where it says Partner. If you and your partner have any activities that are the same, write them where it says both.

    Example

    graphic organizer-venn diagram

    Homework

    Choose 5 of the 8 questions below and answer in writing. Use simple present tense. Identify the verbs in each sentence...

    According to this video, research has found that women are happier than men. Which groups would you guess are happier according to studies and why? Keep in mind that there might be differences depending on which country you're from, and of course you are only guessing...

    Who do you think is happier?

    • People who are married or people who are single?
    • Married couples with children or married couples who choose to not have children?
    • Those aged 18-29 or 65 and older?
    • Educated or non-educated people who make the same amount of money?
    • Religious or non-religious people?
    • Introverts or extroverts?
    • Moms who stay home or moms who work part time?
    • Liberals or conservatives?

    EX: I think older people are happier than younger people because they usually have more wisdom


    This page titled 1.2.3: Uses of the Simple Present--Extra Practice is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.

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