UNIT 2 - Present Simple (I do)

a) We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about the present. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action at the time of speaking:

     ~ The earth goes round the sun

     ~ Nurses look  after patients in hospitals.

     ~ In Britain most of the shops close at 5.30 p.m.

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

     ~ I work in a bank. Barry works in a shop.

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

    *Questions form

      do      I/we/you/they   V 1 + ?

      does  he/she/it           V 1 + ?

    *Negatives form

      I/we/you/they   don't      V 1

      he/she/it           doesn't   V 1

     ~ Excuse me, do you speak English?

     ~ 'Would you like a cigarette?'   'No, thanks. I don't smoke.'

     ~ What does this word mean? (not 'What means this word?')

     ~ Rice doesn't grow in Britain.

c) We use the present simple when we say how often we do things:

     ~ I get up at 8 o'clock every morning. (not 'am getting')

     ~ How often do you go to the dentist?

     ~ Ann doesn't often drink tea.

     ~ In summer Tom usually plays tennis twice a week.

d) Note that we say 'Where do you come from?' (= Where are you from?)

     ~ Where do you come from? (not 'Where are you coming from?)

     ~ He comes from Japan. (not 'He is coming from Japan.')

e) When  you make a suggestion, you can say Why don't you ...?

     ~ ' I'm tired.'   'Why don't you go to bed early?'

Thanks to Cambridge University Press, "English Grammar in Use"