The present simple

  • A1 · Beginner
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

The present simple in positive sentences: I work, she works. Two roommates with very different days, the -s for he, she and it, its spelling (watches, studies, has) and its three sounds, and a game of Guess the job.

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I workshe workshe studies

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: two roommatesReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Sleep or sleeps?Grammar exercise
  5. 5The present simpleGrammar rule
  6. 6Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  7. 7Always trueGrammar exercise
  8. 8Say it rightSpeaking practice
  9. 9Guess the jobSpeaking practice
  10. 10People I knowGrammar exercise
  11. 11Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: my neighborGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: two different daysDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Who do you live with?
  2. What time do you usually get home?
  3. What do you do every evening?

Grammar rule

The present simple

I / you / we / theyhe / she / it
I work at night.She works at night.
You live in Chicago.He lives in Chicago.
We have dinner together.Ivy has breakfast after work.
They study every day.Erin studies every day.
One person or thing (Ivy, my friend, the movie, water) → -s. Two or more (my friends, Erin and Ivy) → no -s.

When do we use it?

  • things we do again and again: I get up at 7:00. She works at night. (every day, every evening, twice a week)
  • facts, things that are always true: Cows eat grass. Cats sleep a lot.
  • timetables: The class starts at 9:00. The library closes at 8:00.

Spelling: he, she, it

  • most verbs: + s → works, lives, sleeps
  • after s, sh, ch, x and o: + es → misses, pushes, catches, mixes, goes, does
  • consonant + y: y → ies (study → studies, carry → carries)
  • vowel + y: + s (pay → pays, buy → buys)
  • have → has

Three sounds

  • /s/: works, sleeps, takes
  • /z/: lives, sees, runs
  • /ɪz/, a new syllable: misses, pushes, catches

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

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