Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep. So: 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.
We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about now. 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 is happening at the time of speaking:
* Nurses took after patients in hospitals.
* I usually go away at weekends.
* The earth goes round the sun.
Remember that we say: he/she/it -s. Don't forget the s:
I work ... but He works ... They teach ... but My sister teaches ...
We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:
do I/we/you/they work?/come?/do?
does he/she/it work?/come?/do?
I/we/you/they don't work/come/do
he/she/it doesn't work/come/do
* I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
* '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 cold climates.
In the following examples do is also the main verb:
* 'What do you do?' (= What's your job?) 'I work in a shop.'
* He's so lazy. He doesn't do anything to help me. (not 'He doesn't anything')
We use the present simple when we say how often we do things:
* I get up at 8 o'clock every morning. (not 'I'm getting')
* How often do you go to the dentist? (not 'How often are you going?')
* Ann doesn't drink tea very often.
* In summer John usually plays tennis once or twice a week.
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 J suggest ...'. We use the present simple
(promise/suggest etc.) in sentences like this:
* 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.
EXERCISES
2.1 Complete the sentences using one of the following:
cause(s) close(s) drink(s) live(s) open(s) speak(s) take(s) place
1. Ann speaks German very well.
2. I never --- coffee.
3. The swimming pool --- at 9 o'clock and --- at 18.30 every day.
4. Bad driving --- many accidents.
5. My parents --- in a very at small flat.
6. The Olympic Games --- every four years.
2.2 Put the verb into the correct form.
1. Jane doesn't drink (not/drink) tea very often.
2. What time --- (the banks/close) in Britain?
3. 'Where --- (Martin/come) from?' 'He's Scottish.'
4. 'What --- (you/do)?' 'I'm an electrical engineer.'
5. It --- (take) me an hour to get to work. How long --- (it/take) you?
6. I --- (play) the piano but I --- (not/play) very well.
7. I don't understand this sentence. What --- (this word/mean)?
2.3 Use one of the following verbs to complete these sentences. Sometimes you need the negative: believe eat flow go grow make rise tell translate
1. The earth goes round the sun.
2. Rice doesn't grow in Britain.
3. The sun --- in the east.
4. Bees --- honey.
5. Vegetarians --- meat.
6. An atheist --- in God.
7. An interpreter --- from one language into another.
8. A liar is someone who --- the truth.
9. The River Amazon --- into the Atlantic Ocean.
2.4 Ask Liz questions about herself and her family.
1. You know that Liz plays tennis. You want to know how often. Ask her. How often do you play tennis?
2. Perhaps Liz's sister plays tennis too. You want to know. Ask Liz.--- your sister ---
3. You know that Liz reads a newspaper every day. You want to know which one. Ask her.---
4. You know that Liz's brother works. You want to know what he does. Ask Liz.---
5. You know that Liz goes to the cinema a lot. You want to know how often. Ask her.---
6. You don't know where Liz's mother lives. Ask Liz.---
2.5 Complete using one of the following.
I apologise I insist I promise I recommend I suggest
1. It's a nice day. I suggest we go out for a walk.
2. I won't tell anybody what you said. ---.
3. (in a restaurant) You must let me pay for the meal. ---.
4. --- for what I said about you. It wasn't true and I shouldn't have said it.
5. The new restaurant in Hill Street is very good --- it.
Answers
2.1 2 drink 3 opens ... closes 4 causes 5 live 6 take place
2.2 2 do the banks close 3 does Martin come 4 do you do 5 takes ... does it take 6 play ... don't play 7 does this word mean
2.3 3 rises 4 make 5 don't eat 6 doesn't believe 7 translates 8 doesn't tell 9 flows
2.4 2 Does your sister play tennis? 3 Which newspaper do you read? 4 What does your brother do? or What is your brother's job? 5 How often do you go to the cinema? 6 Where does your mother live?
2.5 2 I promise 3 I insist 4 I apologise 5 I recommend
