002 : Present simple (I do)

   A   

Study this example situation:

 

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

 

but He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.)

 

 

 

Drive(s)/work(s)/do(es) etc. is the present simple:

 

I/we/you/they	drive/work/do etc.
he/she/it	drives/works/does etc.

 

 

   B   

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

• Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
• I usually go away at weekends.
• The earth goes round the sun.
• The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.

 

Remember:
I work ... but He works ...
They teach ... but My sister teaches ...

 

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

 

 

   C   

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

 

do does

I/we/you/they he/she/ it

work? drive? do?

 

I/we/you/they he/she/it

don't doesn't

work drive do

• I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
• I don't go away very often.
• What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)
• Rice doesn't grow in cold climates.

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn't do etc.):

• 'What do you do?'  'I work in a shop.'
• He's always so lazy.  He doesn't do anything to help.

 

 

   D   

We use the present simple to say how often we do things:

• I get up at 8 o'clock every morning.
• How often do you go to the dentist?
• julie doesn't drink tea very often.
• Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

 

 

   E   

I promise / I apologise etc.

 

Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something, you can say 'I promise ... '; when you suggest something, you can say 'I suggest ... ':

• I promise I won't be late. (not I'm promising)
• 'What do you suggest I do?'  'I suggest that you ... '

 

In the same way we say: I apologise ... / I advise ... / I insist ... / I agree ... / I refuse ... etc.