Grammar: Simple present on the web-site for teachers and learners of English as a secondary language from a German point of view
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present progressive (Kl. 5)
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Simple present
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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
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

<Click here and you will always get back to the table of contents>
Table of Contents
Example:
Simple Present
HOMEback to the homepagePAGE to the top back to the previous page back to
Pattern practice:
present progressive (Kl. 5)
go on to
Exercise:
Simple present
on to the next page