Grammar: Simple present on the web-site for teachers and learners of English as a secondary language from a German point of view

Table of Contents Example: Simple Present HOMEPAGE back to
Pattern practice: present progressive (Kl. 5) go on to
Exercise: Simple present

Simple Present

Form

infinitive-form
he/she/it verb+ s/es

Function

Use the simple present for things in general or things that happen repeatedly

to describe states of feeling, thinking, likes, dislikes,
reading and answering set questions,
describing habitual action or state,
to recount the plot of a story,
dramatic use,
to tell repeated actions over a longer time

Curriculum

1. Lehrplan

Klasse 5

2. Lehrbuch
previuosly done:
present progressive
commands
modal auxiliaries + infinitive

Difficulties

1. Form
The simple form is generally used with these verbs:

verbs of preference	to like, to love, to hate, to prefer, to want, to prefer
verbs of perception	to see, to hear, to smell, to taste
verbs of knowing	to know, to realize, to suppose, to mean, to believe, to forget, to understand, to think (=to believe), to remember
verbs describing a state	to belong, to contain, to consist, to depend, to seem, to have = to possess, to need, to own, to cost

2. Functions

Adverbs of frequency say how often something happens:

always always always always always always always always always always always
often often often often often often often often often often often
normally normally normally normally
usually usually usually usually usually usually
sometimes sometimes sometimes
seldom seldom
rarely rarely
(not)....ever?
never

3. inter-/intralingual interferences: Position of the adverbs of frequency:

Mid-position
- She usually walks to work.
- We can never go to school.
- He doesn't always walk to school.
- I haven't normally got so much time.
- I often have to hitch-hike.

Sometimes, usually and normally can also have front or end position
- Sometimes I go by bus, usually I go by car.
- Often my friend gives me a lift.
Often can also have end position
- Does he walk often?

4. Other difficulties:

Pronunciation and forms of simple present: -s, -es, does(n't) ... ./?
non-reflexives,
use of "to do" in negative and interrogative sentences.

Situations

Roles:

Opinion poll
Animal habits
Routines
What's my line
Something special
Likes and dislikes
Tell the plot of a story/film
Things in common
Frequency surveys
What do you do when...
Defining
A questionnaire about yourself
A football commentator
A dramatic event (A hold-up)
nagging,
showing off,
complaining,
agreement - disagreement,
tasks,
to express feelings

child - parent, pupil - teacher, wife - husband, boy - girl, shop assistant - customer

Table of Contents Example: Simple Present HOMEPAGE back to
Pattern practice: present progressive (Kl. 5) go on to
Exercise: Simple present