Daily routines
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SIMPLE PRESENT: WHEN TO USE IT? 1. Real, actual present (i.e. moment of speaking)
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What are you doing (now)?
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I promise never to do that again.
2. Extended present (i.e. longer, but limited period of time, including the immediate past, time of speaking and immediate future=the action may not be taking place at the moment of speaking)
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John is looking for a place to live.
3. All-inclusive present (an immense period stretching to both sides of past and future, relative to the moment of speaking)
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The Moon orbits the Earth. 2
GENERAL USAGE 1. General statements, universal truths, general knowledge: Birds fly.
This is a general statement conveying a general truth; birds fly. It is an ability, which is common to each and every bird, thus the main verb relating to the subject states a general description/ general truth. Note also, that this is a statement, which transcends different temporal spheres; birds have always had the ability to fly and will always be able to fly. Let’s put this concept into our timeline:
Birds fly
The action/statement stretches both ways down our timeline from our moment of speaking.
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2. Habits, repeated actions, frequency
Actions, which occur in a specific sequence and are divided by a period of time, may also be expressed using the present simple tense. Habits, repeated actions, etc. denote the most characteristic use of the present simple tense.
Note also that such usage often occurs with time expressions, which define the period of time that expires in between repeated actions (twice, daily, always, often, every day, every month, every year, etc.) :
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Mary goes to school every Monday.
The dots represent finished actions that occured at a specific point and time, repeatedly (in our case, on Monday). By saying “goes to school every Monday” we express a habit, repeated action, which has been happening “off/on” every Monday, and may continue into the immediate future, relative to the moment of speaking.
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3. Reporting function The present simple tense is also used when we want to report/quote something from the past (specifically found in written text): •
Shakespeare declares: “So soft, the light from yonder window breaks!”.
4. How about “now”?
The previous definitions and concepts are mainly concerned with either habits or general truths, so it may seem strange, that the present simple tense does not have a “now” usage. As a matter of fact, it does; let’s call it the promise/apology verbs.
Doing by saying is a concept we are all quite acquainted with; expressing “now” in english with the present simple tense is possible by using the “promise” verbs (promise, apologise, suggest, etc.). By using these verbs we express an action that happens at the time of speaking: •
I apologise for the trouble.
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The action that happened in the past is connected with the act of apologising, which is happening right at the time of speaking. Verbs like suggest, apologise, promise, etc. can be used to express actions
right at the time of speaking/doing by saying by incorporating the present simple. BASIC STRUCTURE
This is the basic sentence structure for the present simple tense. Our subject is related to the object and the verb defines the type of the relationship. Present simple tense requires the indefinite form of the
main verb, in our case, sell. Now, you may be asking yourself why is there an -s added to the verb; verbs following the pronouns he/she/it are added an -s inflection. So when confronted with either: •
She sells jewellery. or She sell jewellery. 6
NEGATIVE FORM
The negative form using the present simple tense; be careful when using the verb do with the third person singular- it is added the inflection -s and therefore occurs as does in the sentence.
INTERROGATIVE FORM
The interrogative form for the present simple tense; when using interrogative sentences remember to always put the interrogative form of the verb do at the beginning of the sentence, i.e. initial position in the sentence. Contraction is also a very popular tool, when constructing interrogative, negative or negative-interrogative forms; •
She does not sell jewellery= She doesn’t sell jewellery. 7
Contraction is far more popular with colloquial, informal speech, so do try and avoid in formal writing and speech.
REMEMBER….. Verb Conjugation & Spelling: In the third person we add 'S' in the third person
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb: 1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person. •go – goes
•catch – catches
•wash – washes
•kiss – kisses
•fix – fixes
•buzz – buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES. •marry – marries
•study – studies
•carry – carries
•worry – worries
NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S. •play – plays
•enjoy – enjoys
•say – says 8
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PRACTICE Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb. Compare your answers with your partner.
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Instructions: Unscramble the following sentences and use the correct form of the verb.
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Instructions: Using the images, write about HIS daily routine
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Instructions: In pairs, read the following e-mail. Identify any new vocabulary and try to guess it from context and discuss it with your partner. Answer to Bart Simpson´s email describing YOUR daily routine Hello,
My name is Bart Simpson and I’m going to tell you all about me. I’m 10 years old and I live in a small town called Springfield in the U.S.A with my parents, my two sisters: Lisa and Maggie and my cat “Snowball”. I go to Springfield Elementary school and I’m on the 4th year. I must say that I’m not a very big fan of school because I don’t like studying. What I really like is skateboarding and I do it all the time. I also like reading comics and playing baseball with my friends. Every day I get up at seven o’ clock and I take a quick shower. Then, at twenty past seven, I get dressed and at twenty to eight I have breakfast: cereals, a glass of milk and two pieces of toast. After having breakfast, I go to school in the school bus.
My first lesson starts at eight o’ clock. I have classes until midday. Then I have lunch at the school canteen with my friends. After having lunch, I have classes until four o’ clock and I arrive home around a quarter past four. From half past four until six o’ clock I usually do my homework. After that I go skateboarding with my friends until half past seven. At eight o’ clock, I have dinner with my friends and around half past nine I go to bed. What about you? Tell me about your daily routine!
Best wishes, Bart Simpson
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