In this unit, you are practising “present simple”. This tense is used to indicate facts and events which occur in a formally established time through schedules and/or calendars.
It is recommendable that you follow the order given to clearly understand the use of this tense. Not only you are practicing grammar but you are also developing your speaking, reading, listening and writing skills.
At the end of the learning tasks you are taking a test just to verify how well you are using the structure. Remember! The more you practice, the more you learn and the better you communicate.
At the end of this topic, you will:
Use the grammatical tense: “present simple” in its affirmative, negative and interrogative forms to indicate facts and events which occur in a formally established time through schedules and/or calendars.
Look at the following grammar information to understand the topic. It would help if you made your notes to internalize the information provided.
We use "present simple" to talk about future events based on present facts, and based on a schedule, calendar or programme have already been set.
It is very important to conjugate the verb in the correct form. For first person sentences we use the verb in simple form, and for third person we add "s or es" depending on the verb ending
Steve lives in New York.
You play football every day.
You are really kind.
The meeting stars at 3 PM.
We use do not or don’t to 1st person and does not or doesn’t to third person. The verb to be needs the word not or the contraction n’t.
Steve doesn’t live in New York.
You don’t play football every day.
You are not kind.
In the interrogative form we have 2 options. To use a “Yes or No question or a Wh question.
Do you like cars?
Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Does he play baseball?
Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
1. What time does the plane arrive tomorrow?
Atimedia. (2014). Airport. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-052017
from https://pixabay.com/en/airport-salzburg-aircraft-354545/
2. They don’t have a yoga class next Friday night.
4390290. (2017). Yoga. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-05-2017
from https://pixabay.com/en/china-female-dance-yoga-posture-2032472/
3. Does the restaurant open at 6:00 a.m.?
Ysjmj. (2016). Restaurant. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-05-2017
from https://pixabay.com/en/restaurant-chinese-style-1794600/ ;
4. Tomorrow there is a surfing competition at 10:00 hours.
Kanenori. (2017) Speed. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-05-2017
from https://pixabay.com/en/surfing-big-waves-speed-2192675/
5. We leave in 1 hour to the trial hiking.
Didgeman. (2014). Mountain. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-05-2017
from https://pixabay.com/en/gro%C3%9Fvenediger-mountain-alpine-359483/
6. Lunch doesn’t start until 3:00 p.m.
Piepie. (2011). Eat. (Photography). Retrieved on 26-05-2017
from https://pixabay.com/en/girl-eat-finger-food-model-blonde-466136/
The first step to master this new present simple use is by practising it. According to the previous grammar explanation, answer the following diagnostic exercises.
Activity 1
Do you ever organize your family vacation? Are you very punctual and well organized when it comes to schedules?
Now you will read a text about a guy talking about his next family vacation and the organization of the activities during the trip they are going to take.
Please pay close attention to the way he organizes everything they do, eat, and see throughout the vacation.
First, scan the text, write down the words you don’t understand and look them up in an English-English dictionary, here are some options:
a. Cambridge Dictionary.
b. Longman Dictionary.
c. Macmillan Dictionary.
Now try to answer the following exercises based on the text you have read.
Activity 2
Now put your listening skills to the test.
Do you ever make a schedule when on vacation? Do you think it is helpful to plan?
You will listen to two friends talking about their day that they have planned in New York.
Tookapic. (2015). New York City. (Photography). Retrieved on 08-06-2017 from https://pixabay.com/en/new-york-times-square-manhattan-932845/
Now you will have an opportunity to answer some exercises corresponding to the audio you just heard. Remember that you have two tries to finish this activity. Be sure to use lower case and capital letters as needed. In the end, you should know your results.
Activity 3
You have planned the most productive and funniest vacations ever with your family. Write a letter letting them know all the activities you will and won’t do, when or which day you will do such activities.
Do not forget to mention extra information such as the place you visit, the luggage you need, the day you leave and arrive.
Write a 180-200 words letter, including present simple tense to describe the future activities you will do with your family as well as the time.
Use the rubrics to self-evaluate your activity.
Activity 4
Have you ever planned a trip before? Who have you travelled with? Have you travelled with your friends? Has it been funny? Now it is your turn to plan it!
Let's test out your skill; read the following situations. Then click on the plugin to record yourself using the present simple to describe the future activities you will do.
Situation 1:
You have planned a trip with your best friends to the forest, tell them which location, things they will need when you will leave and return home. Don't forget to mention all the activities you will and won't do.
Ersi. (2016). For est. (Photography). Retrieved on 29-05-2017 from https://pixabay.com/en/forest-vista-tour-868715/
Situation 2:
You have planned a trip with your best friends to Cancun, tell them which hotel location, things they will need when you leave and return home. Don't forget to mention all the activities you will and won't do.
Retrieved on 29-05-2017 from https://pixabay.com/en/cancun-mexico-tropical-beach-sea-1235489/
Use the activities in the box to make correct sentences about what you will and won’t do in your next holidays. Try to use the hints already given to finish each sentence correctly.
Aquéllas que se recomienden para profundizar en las temáticas expuestas en el contenido, como:
www.ego4u.com
www.englishgrammar.org
www.learnenglish.britishcouncil.org