Presente simple

Present   simple   (1 do)

Srudy chis example situation:

AJex is a bus driver, but  now he is in bed asleep. So: He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)

but He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.) Drive(s)lwork(s)/do(es)  cte. is che present simple:

l/we/you/they        drive/work/do   etc. he/she/ic      drives/worksldoes   etc.

We use che present   simple to talk abour things   in general. We are not  thinking   only abour   now. We use it eo say that something  happens  all che time or repeatedly,  or that somerhing  is true in general. le is 110tirnportant    wherher   che action is happening  at the  time of speaking:

•  Nurses look after patients  in hospitals. o   Iusually  go away at weekends,

•  The earth  goes round  the sun.

Remember  that we say: he/she/it  -s. Don't  forget che s:

G    1 work  ...  but He works...        They teach ...  but My sister teaches  ...

For spelling   (-s or -es),  see Appendix  6.

Wc use do/does to make questions  and negative sentences:

do     I/we/youlchey     work?

I/we/youlthey     don't         work

does     he/she/it

come?

do?

he/she/it     doesn't      come do

•  1come from Canada.  Wherc do you come from?

•  'Would  you like a cigarene?'     'No,  thanks.  1don't  smoke.'

•  What  does this word mean? (not 'What  means chis word?')

•  Rice doesn't  g(QW io cold climates.

In the following examples do is also che main  verb:

•  'What  do you do?' (= What's  your jobj')    '1 work  in a shop.'

•  He's so lazy. He doeso't  do anything to help me. (not 'He cloesn't anything')

We use che present simple when we say how often we do things:

•  1 get up at 8 o'clock  every morning.  (not 'I'm getting')

•  How  often do you go co che dentist? (not  'How  often are you going?')

...