Present Simple

Present Simple

1. To Be

   • To be is like the = sign in math. It shows a relationship between the subject and the predicate. Sometimes, Arabic speakers for get to use it because it is often not necessary in Arabic. For example, "My name is Mr. David" in Arabic is just "اسمي مستر دايفد" without any verb. 
   • Uses
     • Describing
       • John is taller than Ahmed
         • +
       • Ezdan Mall is a beautiful mall.
       • Nando's isn't my favorite restaurant.
         • What color is that dress?
           • ?
         • -
     • Jobs
       • My father is a policeman.
         • My mother isn't an accountant.
           • They aren't engineers at Ras Gas.
             • _
         • +
     • Location
       • My uncle is in the hospital
         • I am at the mall looking for new shoes.
           • My cousins are all students at Qatar University
             • Where are you right now?
               • ?
             • +
           • +
         • +
     • Time, Date, Weather
       • It is warm and sunny outside today.
       • The exam is at 12 o'clock.
       • What is today's date?
   • Form
     • In the present, to be becomes "am, is, or are". The choice depends on the subject.
     • I am
       • you are
         • He/she/it is
     • we are
       • they are
       • you are
     • Singular
     • Plural

2. All Other Verbs

   • "To be" is a special verb and has its own rules. All other verbs follow a different pattern.
   • Uses
     • Routines or Habits
       • Everyday, I wake up at 6:30 in the morning.
     • Scientific Facts
       • In the summer, the temperature in Qatar reaches more than 50 degrees Centigrade.
     • Likes/Dislikes/Preferences
       • My mother really dislikes it when I use my mobile phone when I we visit my grandmother.
   • Key Words
     • always, sometimes, never, often, usually, regularly, in the afternoon, in the morning, at night, on Mondays, every Friday, every day, every week, every month
   • Form
     • Every verb must agree with its subject. Also, verbs in English change depending on the kind of sentence. In a declarative sentence (+) the verb can be either the base form or the base form +s. For example: I swim at 7:00 in the morning everyday, but she swims at  5:00 in the evening.
     • +
       • The typical student at Qatar University has to finish Foundations before entering their major.
       • My parents want me to study hard and get good marks in my classes.
     • -
       • To make sentences negative we need do or does
       • Qatar does not have any mountains
       • Most people don't prefer to take classes after 5 pm in the evening
     • ?
       • To form a question with other verbs, we need do and does
       • Does the average student get a job after graduation?
       • Where do you like to go on vacation usually?
     • Endings
       • When the subject is he/she/it we add s: She cooks he drinks The student studies  China producesAll other subjects use the infinitive form:I studyYou loveWe watchThey read