The simple present tense is the easiest in the English language, but that doesn't mean it's easy to learn.The best way to introduce your students to an action is to say it in the present tense.You can discuss the different ways present tense is used.Work on negatives and questions after discussing how toconjugate verbs in the present tense.In order to get the material down, have your students practice them together as a class, in groups, and individually.
Step 1: There is an action and a description.
Pick up a book or write on a piece of paper in front of your students and tell them what you did.The present simple tense means starting with an action is an easy way to get the lesson started.
Step 2: The students should talk about your action.
Ask the students, "What did I do?"They could say, "You picked up a book."That can be written on the board.You could do jumping jacks and look at your computer.The action does not matter.
Step 3: The sentence should be rephrased into simple present tense.
Ask the students what the action word is.If you want the sentence to be in first person and simple present tense, underline the word.For example, you could say "I pick up a book" and then re- write the sentence " I lift the book."The verbs should be underlined again.
Step 4: Students can make a list of things they do.
Give them examples of what you do, such as "I wake up at 6 a.m.I eat breakfast at 7 in the morning.I go to school at 7:30.I start class at 8.The students should make a list of their daily schedule.It's just an example.If their schedule is different, just have them pick an example day.
Step 5: Explain how simple present tense is used for short actions.
The most basic use of the present tense is to describe something you're doing.Typically, it's only used for relatively short actions, as otherwise, you move to present perfect or present continuous, which describe longer actions in the present.You could say "Jessica grabs the marker and hurries to the whiteboard" or "The dog takes a nap on the patio".
Step 6: The simple present tense can be used to express states.
"States" refers to states of being.Explain that you use the present tense because it is happening right now."States" are things like feelings or conditions.John feels sad, the cat is asleep on the couch, or James is sick.
Step 7: Discuss how simple it is to repeat actions or habits.
You talk about habits in the present.If the sentence includes a time clause, this use works best."I eat apple pie regularly and I jog twice a week."
Step 8: Discuss future scheduled events with present tense.
It's important for your students to know that the time or day of the event is important when discussing a future event.You can use present tense with these because you're working with the facts you have in the present on a set schedule.You can use examples such as "The train leaves the station at 8:00 pm tomorrow or the conference begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday"
Step 9: Simple present can create uncertainty.
Discuss how the present tense can be used to talk about uncertainty.The present tense works for this purpose because you are in the present."She hopes the weather is nice tomorrow," "I wish this ice cream had chocolate in it," or "They think the dog will be ready Thursday."
Step 10: For things that are always true, present simple tense is used.
Explain how present simple tense makes sense in this situation.It will always be true in the present, no matter what you say.Give your students examples of always true statements.You could say things like "The ocean is full of water" or "1 plus 1 equals 2."
Step 11: Simple present can be used for permanent situations.
A permanent situation could be something like where you live or your career.Discuss how this case is similar to other cases.You state a permanent situation in the present tense until it changes, because it stays true for a long time."I am a teacher, I live in Connecticut."
Step 12: You can explore first-person singular and plural.
Discuss the use of "I" in first-person singular.When using first-person singular, talk about how most verbs take their most basic form.If you want to use the most basic form of the word, you should use "we."You could say, "I eat apples and smile at my friend."You could also say, "We enjoy ice cream."
Step 13: Work on the usage of pronouns.
Explain that "you" can be used for both singular and singular singular.You use the most basic form of the word, such as "laugh," "jump," or "slip."You could say, "You laugh at the joke, you jump into the pool."
Step 14: You can explore third-person singular and how it changes.
Let your students know that they can use "he," "she," or "it" for third-person singular or a singular noun or person's name.You can use "they" or more than one name, such as "Jacob andBecky."Discuss how third-person singular can change the meaning of a word by adding "-s" or " -es" to it, but the basic form of the word stays the same."He bounces a ball," "Becky eats ice cream," or "The cat plays in the litter box" are examples of third-person singular.For third-person singular, say, "They eat bananas," or "Jacob and Becky jump on the trampoline."
Step 15: Discuss the use of the word "to be".
"To be" is one of the most commonly used verbs, but it is also irregular, meaning it doesn't conjugate the same way as regular verbs.It's most often used to establish a state of being, such as "I am happy.""I am", "You are," "He/she/it is," and "We are" are used in this sentence."You are pretty," "She is nice," and "We are fun" are examples of sample sentences you could write.While there are other irregular verbs, they follow a standard pattern in the present tense."To go" becomes "He goes"
Step 16: Students should add "not to be" to sentences to make them negative.
If you want to show them how to add "not" after a positive sentence, write it out on the board.Work as a class to figure out how to make the rest of the sentences negative.You can write "I am hungry," "You are a goofy person," and "She is happy."They wrote "I am not hungry," "You are not a goofy person," and "She is not happy."
Step 17: Adding do and not to action verbs will make them negative.
Use the same action verbs that you used with "to be", but add the words "do not" or "does not."Give students examples, then have them write their own sentences.When you add "does not" in front of it, third-person singular changes back to the basic form of the word.You could write "I eat pie", "You jump on the desk" and "He loves grammar."They would make them negative by writing "I do not eat pie," "You don't jump on the desk," and "He does not love grammar."
Step 18: Students can flip their sentences to make questions.
Students can learn how to turn simple sentences into questions by adding "do" or "does" and flipping the word order.Ask them to work on the rest of the examples."Do you play the violin?" could be written, along with "She jumps on the trampoline" and "They watch the cats".Do you know if she jumps on the trampoline?Do they watch the cats?