Simple Present--Usage and Construction

*Accept this as if it were fact.*

There are 3 categories of verbs. The three categories of verbs are called:

_Be Category 1_

There is only ONE verb in this category.

~Modal Category 2~

There are only NINE verbs in this category.

_All the Other Guys Category _

There are THOUSANDS of verbs in this category.

The simple present is used in English in *some cases* where the presente del indicativo is used in Spanish. The simple present in English and the presente del indicativo in Spanish are not equivalent to each other.

In English the simple present is used to GIVE INFORMATION and to ASK FOR INFORMATION about:

permanent or temporary characteristics of the subject of the sentence

routine activity of the subject of the sentence

habitual activity of the subject of the sentence

However, for the Be Category, the simple present is used to GIVE INFORMATION and to ASK FOR INFORMATION about:

the physical location of the subject of the sentence

the location in time of the subject of the sentence

the identity of the subject

the description of the subject

When "be" is the main verb, not an auxiliary verb, either a noun, an adjective or a preposition will occur next to the "be" verb.

The verb "be" in the simple present looks like this:

am

am not

is

is not

isn't

are

are not

aren't

We use the BE category and the ALL THE OTHER GUYS category when we speak or write in the simple present.

Here are some examples of sentences written in the Simple Present:

*BE CATEGORY*

AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT

You are a mother.

I am in Mexico.

My neighbor is at home.

NEGATIVE STATEMENT

I am not in bed.

Deborah's dog is not big.

My neighbor isn't Marisol.

Simple Present Written Activity

Write 5 true AFFRIMATIVE STATEMENTS using the BE CATEGORY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Simple Present Written Activity

Write 5 true NEGATIVE STATEMENTS using the BE CATEGORY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

YES/NO QUESTION

Are you healthy?

Is your home an apartment?

Are your parents in Florida, too?

INFORMATION QUESTION

What are your favorite fruits?

How many hats are in your closet?

Where is your car?

*ALL THE OTHER GUYS CATEGORY*

AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT

I often use one pot to cook my meals.

Manuel likes to invest in undeveloped real estate.

The Villa family lives nearby.

NEGATIVE STATEMENT

I don't eat salad everyday.

I don't know any Americans in Michoacan.

His wife doesn't want to sleep with him anymore.

Simple Present Written Activity

Write 5 true AFFRIMATIVE STATEMENTS using the ALL THE OTHER GUYS CATEGORY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Simple Present Written Activity

Write 5 true NEGATIVE STATEMENTS using the ALL THE OTHER GUYS CATEGORY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

YES/NO QUESTION

Do you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day?

Does your son attend school?

Does Thiago know how to ride a bicycle?

INFORMATION QUESTION

Where do you study at home?

What does your family usually do on Fridays?

In the simple present we use DO and DOES to create yes/no questions for the ALL THE OTHER GUYS category. And in the simple present we use W/H + DO or W/H + DOES to create information questions for the ALL THE OTHER GUYS category.

We do not use the word DID when we are GIVING INFORMATION or ASKING FOR INFORMATION in the simple present. This is true for all three verb categories.