TALKING ABOUT DAILY ACTIVITIES
AND EVENTS
The Simple Present Tense
is used for :
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A general activity
A general truth
Habitual actions
Mental states
Perceptions
Things to remember
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Verb 1 :
to go, to buy, to send, etc.
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Linking verbs :
Am, is, are
Look at the following examples :
General activity
- My sister plays the guitar.
- Mr. Kurniawan manages the shop.
- Ikram works for the Astra Company.
General truth
- Water boils at 100 degrees.
- The sun sets in the west.
- The sky is blue.
Habitual action
- The students go to school everyday.
- She drinks a cup of tea every morning.
- He gets up early in the morning.
Verbs of perception
- We hear some noise in the hall.
- She smells something burning.
- This medicine tastes awful.
Verbs of Mental states
- I believe he is right.
- He knows the answer.
- We don’t understand the questions.
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The Present Progressive Tense
The activity is happening right now/at the
time the speaker is saying it.
Things to remember
The linking verb: am, is are + Verb 1+ ing
(going, eating, buying, etc)
Look at the following examples :
a. It’s noon. I am eating lunch at the
cafeteria right now.
b. Ani can’t come to the phone right
now
because she is taking a shower.
Look at the following table!
SIMPLE PRESENT
TENSE
PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE
Statement
{I-You-We-They}
work
{He-She-It} works.
I am working
(You-We-They} are
working
{He-She-It} is working
Negative
{I-You-We-They} do
not work
{He-She-It} does not
work
I am not working
{You-We-They} are not
working
{He-She-It} is not
working.
Question
Do {I-You-We-They}
work?
Does {he-she-it}
work?
Am I working?
Are {you-we-they}
working?
Is {he-she-it} working?
EXERCISES
For question number 1-3. Find the
correct answer by circling a, b, c or d!
1. Teacher : How do you go to school ?
Student : ….
a. I take a bus.
b. I am taking a bus.
c. I will take a bus.
d. I won’t take a bus.
Key answer : A
Explanation :
It asks about your daily habit.
2. Nina : What does a teacher do ?
Cathy: ….
a. She usually explained the lessons to
the students.
b. She usually explains the lessons to
the students
c. She is explaining the lessons to
the students.
d. She has explained the lessons to
the students.
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Key Answer: B
Explanation : Because it asks about what a
teacher’s habit is
3. Caller
Receptionist
Caller
Receptionist
Caller
: Can I speak to Lia?
: I am afraid ……….
: When will she back?
: At one o’clock,
can I take a
message?
: No, thanks, I’ll call her
back later
a. She is having a meeting.
b. She is in her room
c. She had a meeting
d. She will be here.
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Key : A
Explanation:
The caller asks what Lia’s
For question number 4-7. Find one
word/phrase that is not correct .
Deny
: Do you believe in flying
saucers?
A
Santi
: What did you talking about?
B
C
I think it’s only your imagination
D
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Key : B
Explanation : Santi asks what Deni
is talking about ( at the moment )
5. A : What do you do when you are
A
B
nervous?
B : When I am nervous I’m biting my
C
D
nails
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Key : D
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Explanation: Because its asks your habit
6. Anto
Anti
happy
: Why are you smile?
A
: I’m smiling because I’m happy.
B
C
So I always smile when I’m
D
7. Father : What’s Mayang doing?
Mother : ….That’s strange!
She never cleans her room
a. She is fixing the car.
b. She is studying English.
c. She is cleaning her room.
d. She is having a meeting
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Key : C
Explanation : Father asked about Mayang’s
activities.