Present Simple: Structure, Usage, and Common Mistakes

Apuntes

PRESENT SIMPLE Structure Affirmative I / You / We / They + base verb He / She / It + base verb + s I work. She works. Third person rules: Most verbs → +s (plays, reads, wants) Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o → +es (watches, goes, fixes) Consonant + y → -ies (study → studies, try → tries) Negative I / You / We / They do not (don’t) + base verb He / She / It does not (doesn’t) + base verb I don’t work. She doesn’t work. Common mistake: Incorrect: She doesn’t works. Correct: She doesn’t work. Questions Do + I/you/we/they + base verb? Does + he/she/it + base verb? Do you play hockey? Does she study English? Short answers: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t. Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t. Uses a) Routines I wake up at 7 a.m. She trains every day. b) General facts Water boils at 100°C. Argentina is in South America. c) Official schedules The train leaves at 8 p.m. d) Permanent situations I live in Buenos Aires. Adverbs of frequency Always Usually Often Sometimes Rarely Never Before main verb: I usually study at night. After “to be”: She is always late. ------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENT CONTINUOUS Structure Affirmative Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing I a...