The Simple Present Tense - cont.


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In today's lesson we continue our unit on verbs.  We continue with the Simple Present Tense.

To study the prior lesson, click here, on "How do we form the simple present tense? Positive Action Verbs"

Simple Present Tense - Positive be verbs

In the simple present tense, the subject and the verb must agree (must be in concordance) in number (singular, plural) and person (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person).  

This holds true for action verbs as well as be verbs, and for positive verbs as well as negative verbs.

1.  Positive be Verbs

be Verbs - Simple Present Tense

The be verb is highly irregular. See below.

  1st person (I, we) 2nd person (you) 3rd person ( he, she, it)
singular (I) am (you) are (he, she, it) is
plural (we) are (you) are (they) are



Review and Examples from Your Essays

Positive be Verbs, Positive Actions Verbs, Simple Present Tense: Examples from your essays


The sentences below contain be verbs and action verbs, singular and plural.

  • Marriage requires responsibility in order to live together.

  • The moon is busy working on the other side of the Earth, where my father lives.

  • In New York City, the buildings are oven-like structures.

  • These prayer sticks are usually lit on a special day.

  • Love endures only if the husband and wife help and understand each other.


Exercise 3:  This reviews everything we've learned so far in this unit.  Practice forming simple present tense (positive) verbs. In the following sentences, the main subject is in bold.  All the verbs are action verbs.  However, some are regular and others are irregular.  Fill in the blank with the correct form (number and person) of the simple present tense verb.

1.  Love (preserve) __________ the beauty of life.
2.  My wife usually (go) __________ out to rent a movie and to buy some snacks.
3.  Red (symbolize) __________ sex, heat, terror and beauty.
4.  This problem (repeat) __________ itself in every generation.
5.  My country (have) __________ many problems.
6.  They (work) __________ quickly and carefully.
7.  These people (have) __________ successful careers.

Click here for the answers to this editing exercise.

Next:  Simple Present Tense: Negative


We continue this unit with our next lesson, Simple Present Tense: How to form negative action and be verbs. 

So now from the ESL Help Desk, thanks for dropping by for this lesson and remember to email us your questions about English grammar by way of our blog. 

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