Lesson 1 Ubiquity of English. Present simple, there is/there are Simple Present

LESSON 1

Ubiquity of English. Present simple, there is/there are

Simple Present

The simple present is a verb tense with two main uses. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it’s sometimes called present indefinite). Depending on the person, the simple present tense is formed by using the root form or by adding ‑s or ‑es to the end.

Example: I feel great! Pauline loves pie. I’m sorry to hear that you’re sick.

How to Make the Simple Present Negative

The formula for making a simple present verb negative is do/does + not + [root form of verb]. You can also use the contraction don’t or doesn’t instead of do not or does not.

Example: Pauline does not want to share the pie. She doesn’t think there is enough to go around. Her friends do not agree. I don’t want pie anyway.

To make the verb to be negative, the formula is [to be] + not.

Example: I am not a pie lover, but Pauline sure is. You aren’t ready for such delicious pie.

How to Ask a Question

The formula for asking a question in the simple present is do/does + [subject] + [root form of verb].

Example: Do you know how to bake a pie? How much does Pauline love pie?

Exercise:

There Is/There Are

We use there is and there are to say that something exists.

Positive Sentences

We use there is for singular and there are for plural.

• 
  There is one table in the classroom.
  
• 
  There are three chairs in the classroom.
  

Negative Form

The negative is formed by putting not after is or are:

• 
  There is not a horse in the field.
  
• 
  There are not eight children in the school.
  

Questions

To form a question we place is / are in front of there.

Again we use any with plural questions or those which use uncountable nouns.

We also use there is / are in short answers.

• 
  Is there a dog in the supermarket? - No, there isn't.
  
• 
  Are there any dogs in the park? - Yes, there are.
  

Exercise:

01.-	some bananas.
02.-	one clock.
03.-	a butterfly
04.-	two lamps.
05.-	some books.
06.-	some water.
07.-	some tomatoes.
08.-	two mice.
09.-	a parrot.
10.-	a cat.