SIMPLE PRESENT

Functions:

·      To indicate the general truth The hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia.

·      To indicate a habitual action The students often go to the computer lab.

·      To indicate an action or a state that is not just happening at the present It is Ahmad’s duty to clean the classroom.

Usage:

·   Regarding the third person singular pronoun (He, She, It) or the singular noun (The policeman, Mr Albert), the main verb has an inflection of a suffix ‘-s’ or ‘-es’. For example, a.    Drink + -s = Drinks b.    Wash + -es = Washes

·    Regarding the first person singular pronoun (I), the first person plural pronoun (We), the second person plural pronoun (You), the third person plural pronoun (They) or the plural noun (The policemen, Ali and Abu), the main verb is in the base form.

The table illustrates the examples with the main verb ‘smile’.

Subject	Main Verb
He, She, It, The policeman, Mr Albert	smiles
I, You, We, They, The policemen, Ali and Abu	smile

However, the form of the copula ‘be’ verb differs with reference to the subject of a sentence.

The table illustrates the examples with the copula ‘be’ verb.

Subject	Copula  Verb
I	am	happy.
He, She, It, The policeman, Mr Albert	is	happy.
You, We, They, The policemen, Ali and Abu	are	happy.

Board Game

Introduction:

This game helps students practise the present simple tense as well as prepositions of place by matching verbs with other words and expressions.

Materials:

Game board (Click to download), word cards, dice, counters

Preparation:

1.  Make one copy of the game board and cards for each group of three to four students

2.  Cut the cards out as indicated

3.  Provide dice and counters for each group.

Teaching Procedures:

1.  Write the following words and phrases on the board in three columns:

     I go                  in                     an office

     I work             to                    school

     I live                                        Perak

2.  Ask the students to make as many sentences as possible.

     Examples:

     I live in Perak.

     I go to school in Perak.

     I work in an office in Perak.

3.  Tell the students that they are going to play a game whereby they need to match verbs and other words like the above examples.

4.  Ask the students to work in small groups of three or four.

5.  Give one game board and one set of cards, a counter and a dice to each group.

6. Before the students start playing the game, demonstrate how to play using the instructions written on the board game.

7.  Now the students are ready to play the game. While they are playing, monitor each group and check whether they are playing it correctly.

8.  If appropriate, players can use two of their cards to make a longer sentence, e.g. They work in an office in New York. If the group thinks it is correct, the player puts their card(s) to the bottom of the pile on the table, and it is the next player’s turn to play.

9.  If the sentence is not correct, the player may not put their card to the bottom of the pile, but must keep it.

10.  If a player hasn’t got any word card that goes with the verb, they pick up a card from the top of the pile and match it with the verb if possible.

Word Cards: 

China	Brazil	a town	school
Sydney	a shop	a hotel	a bank
Thailand	an office	a village	Philippine
an apartment	Taipei	Itali	a classroom
a bungalow	England	Malaysia	Hanoi
Amsterdam	Germany	a laboratory	Kuala Lumpur
a university	Hollywood	Moscow	Singapore
a restaurant	Selangor	a factory	London

Sample Worksheet With Answers

Related Link: 

Video for Simple Present Tense

Sources:

Abdul Halim Ibrahim. (2012). Sentence building-blocks and patterns: Language units and dimensions. Malaysia: Persatuan Penulis Budiman Malaysia.

Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The grammar book (2^nd ed.). US: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.