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Simple Present Tense - Structure and Spelling Rules

The document discusses the simple present tense in English. It provides rules for forming the simple present tense in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences. Specifically, it notes that: 1) For affirmative sentences, the base verb form is used except for third person singular which takes -s or -es. 2) Negative sentences use don't or doesn't with the base verb form. 3) There are three types of interrogative sentences - yes/no questions which use do/does, alternative questions providing choices, and wh- questions beginning with interrogative words.

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Maycol Andres Rivera Ruiz
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423 views4 pages

Simple Present Tense - Structure and Spelling Rules

The document discusses the simple present tense in English. It provides rules for forming the simple present tense in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences. Specifically, it notes that: 1) For affirmative sentences, the base verb form is used except for third person singular which takes -s or -es. 2) Negative sentences use don't or doesn't with the base verb form. 3) There are three types of interrogative sentences - yes/no questions which use do/does, alternative questions providing choices, and wh- questions beginning with interrogative words.

Uploaded by

Maycol Andres Rivera Ruiz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Inglés I
Wilman Andrés Ordóñez
Fecha: Agosto de 2020

[email protected].
co
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

We form the present tense using the base form of verbs and the base form plus the suffixes
-s or -es. It all depends on the person and the kind of sentence.

Rules – Affirmative Sentences

1. For all persons use the base form, except for the third person singular. In general, for the
third person singular, we add -S to the base form.

I WE YOU THEY HE SHE IT


walk walk walk walk walks walks walks
like like like like likes likes likes
plan plan plan plan plans plans plans

2. The spelling for the verb in the third person singular differs depending on the ending of
that verb:
For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES.

I WE YOU THEY HE SHE IT


go go go go goes goes goes
catch catch catch catch catches catches catches
wash wash wash wash washes washes washes
kiss kiss kiss kiss kisses kisses kisses
fix fix fix fix fixes fixes fixes
buzz buzz buzz buzz buzzes buzzes buzzes

3. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we replace Y, with I and add -ES.

I WE YOU THEY HE SHE IT


party party party party parties parties parties
study study study study studies studies studies
worry worry worry worry worries worries worries
4. For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

I WE YOU THEY HE SHE IT


play play play play plays plays plays
enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoys enjoys enjoys
say say say say says says says

Rules – Negative Sentences

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use don't or doesn’t (contracted


forms) with all verbs except be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.)

Affirmative: You speak French.


Negative: You don't speak French.

Affirmative: He speaks German.


Negative: He doesn't speak German.

Don't and doesn’t are added between the subject and the verb. We use don't when the
subject is I, you, we or they. We use doesn't when the subject is he, she or it. Notice that
the suffixes -S and -ES at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence disappears in the
negative sentence.

Negative Contractions

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not

Rules – Interrogative Sentences


Sentences that ask a question are called interrogative sentences.  They’re easy to spot. They
always end with a question mark (?).  But it’s not quite as simple as that.  All interrogative
sentences are not the same.
1. Yes/no Questions
These are questions that can be answered with a yes or a no response. The forms do/don't
or does/doesn’t are added before the subject. Notice that the suffixes -S and -ES at the end
of the verb in the affirmative sentence disappear in the interrogative sentence.

Affirmative: You speak French.


Negative: You don't speak French.
Interrogative: Do/don’t you speak French? – Yes, I do – No, I don’t.

Affirmative: He speaks German.


Negative: He doesn't speak German.
Interrogative: Does/doesn’t he speak German? – Yes, he does – No, he doesn’t.

2 Alternative Questions

Alternative interrogatives are questions that provide for two or more alternative answers. 
In other words, you’re providing a choice.

Do you want coffee, tea, or soda? – Tea.


Does he live in the north or the south? – In the north.

3. Wh-Questions

Wh-Questions begin with a wh-word and call for an open-ended answer. A yes or no answer
isn’t appropriate for these questions, nor does the question provide alternative answers.  The answer
can be a simple response or complex explanation.

What do you want? – Tea/I want tea.


Where does he live? – In the north/he lives in the north.

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