Lesson 1

Simple Present

The simple present tense is a verb tense that is used to describe actions that happen regularly or habitually, or that are true in general. It is also used to make statements about facts or things that are always true.

The simple present tense is formed by adding the base form of the verb to the subject. For example, the verb “to walk” becomes “walk” in the simple present tense.

Here are some examples of the simple present tense:

• I walk to school every day.
• She eats breakfast at 7am.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Dogs bark.
• Cats meow.

The simple present tense can also be used to make questions. To do this, we add the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” to the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. For example:

• Do you walk to school every day?
• Does she eat breakfast at 7am?
• Does the sun rise in the east?
• Do dogs bark?
• Do cats meow?

The simple present tense is a very common verb tense in English, and it is important to be able to use it correctly. By following the rules above, you can be sure to use the simple present tense correctly in your own writing and speech.

Here are some additional rules for the simple present tense:

• For verbs that end in -o, -ch, -sh, -x, or -s, we add -es to the end of the verb in the third person singular. For example, “I go” becomes “he goes,” “she goes,” or “it goes.”
• For verbs that end in -y, we change the y to i and add -es to the end of the verb in the third person singular. For example, “I cry” becomes “he cries,” “she cries,” or “it cries.”
• For verbs that are irregular, we need to memorize the third person singular form. For example, the verb “to be” is irregular, and its third person singular form is “is.”

Practice

Use a partner and practice in class the following:

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Possessive adjectives

Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership. They are placed before a noun to show that the noun belongs to someone or something.

The possessive adjectives in English are:

• my
• your
• his
• her
• its
• our
• their

The possessive adjectives are always singular, even when they are used with plural nouns. For example:

• my books
• your cars
• his friends
• her children
• its toys
• our dogs
• their houses

Possessive adjectives should not be confused with possessive pronouns. Possessive pronouns replace nouns, while possessive adjectives modify nouns. For example:

• This is my book. (possessive adjective)
• This book is mine. (possessive pronoun)

Here are some examples of how possessive adjectives are used in sentences:

• My car is red.
• Your dog is barking.
• His house is big.
• Her hair is long.
• Its tail is wagging.
• Our children are playing.
• Their parents are coming.

Possessive adjectives are an important part of English grammar. They are used to show possession or ownership in a clear and concise way.

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Exercise phrases to introduce yourself

Here are some small phrases you can use with a partner to introduce yourself:

• Hi, my name is [your name].
• It’s nice to meet you.
• How are you?
• What’s your name?
• Where are you from?
• What do you do?
• What brings you here?
• What are you interested in?
• Do you have any hobbies?
• What kind of music do you like?
• What kind of movies do you like?
• What kind of books do you like to read?
• What are your plans for the future?

It’s important to be friendly and approachable when you introduce yourself. Make eye contact, smile, and speak clearly. You can also use a compliment to break the ice. For example, you could say, “I love your shoes!” or “That’s a great shirt!”

It’s also important to be interested in the other person. Ask them questions about themselves and listen to their answers. This will help you get to know them better and make a good impression.

Here are some additional tips for introducing yourself:

• Be confident.
• Be yourself.
• Be positive.
• Be interested in the other person.
• Be respectful.
• Be a good listener.

Introducing yourself can be a daunting task, but it’s an important skill to have. By following these tips, you can make a good impression and start a conversation with anyone.

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Verb “To have”

The verb “to have” is a very common verb in English. It can be used in a variety of ways, but some of the most common uses are:

• To possess something: I have a car.
• To experience something: I have a headache.
• To do something: I have to go to the store.
• To be able to do something: I have the ability to speak English.
• To want something: I want to have a new car.

The verb “to have” can also be used in a variety of phrases and idioms. Here are a few examples:

• Have a nice day!
• Have a good time!
• Have a laugh!
• Have a heart!
• Have a nice meal!
• Have a nice night!
• Have a piece of cake!
• Have a stroke of luck!
• Have a word with me!
• Have your cake and eat it too!

The verb “to have” is a versatile verb that can be used in a variety of ways. By understanding the different uses of the verb “to have”, you can improve your English grammar and communication skills.

Review the different forms of “to have”

• The verb “to have” can be used in a variety of ways, so it’s important to review the different forms before you start the lesson. The different forms of “to have” are:
  • Present tense: I have, you have, he/she/it has, we have, they have
  • Past tense: I had, you had, he/she/it had, we had, they had
  • Present perfect tense: I have had, you have had, he/she/it has had, we have had, they have had
  • Past perfect tense: I had had, you had had, he/she/it had had, we had had, they had had
• Explain the different uses of “to have”. The verb “to have” can be used in a variety of ways. Some of the most common uses of “to have” are:
  • To possess something: I have a car.
  • To experience something: I have a headache.
  • To do something: I have to go to the store.
  • To be able to do something: I have the ability to speak English.
  • To want something: I want to have a new car.
• Give your students some practice using “to have” in sentences. One way to help your students practice using “to have” is to give them some sentences to complete. For example, you could give them the following sentences and ask them to fill in the blanks with the correct form of “to have”:
  • I ___ a cat.
  • He ___ a dog.
  • She ___ a house.
  • We ___ a car.
  • They ___ a boat.
• Have your students create their own sentences using “to have”. Another way to help your students practice using “to have” is to have them create their own sentences. You can give them a topic to write about, such as their hobbies, their family, or their favorite things.

To have (Negative Form)

The negative form of the verb “to have” can be formed in two ways:

1. With the auxiliary verb “do” and the negative particle “not”:

• I do not have a car.
• You do not have any money.
• He does not have a job.
• She does not have any friends.
• It does not have a name.
• We do not have any time.
• You do not have any patience.
• They do not have any answers.

2. With the contraction “haven’t”:

• I haven’t a car.
• You haven’t any money.
• He hasn’t a job.
• She hasn’t any friends.
• It hasn’t a name.
• We haven’t any time.
• You haven’t any patience.
• They haven’t any answers.

The negative form of “to have” is used to express the absence of something. For example:

• I don’t have a car. (I do not own a car.)
• You don’t have any money. (You are not wealthy.)
• He doesn’t have a job. (He is unemployed.)
• She doesn’t have any friends. (She is lonely.)
• It doesn’t have a name. (It is nameless.)
• We don’t have any time. (We are busy.)
• You don’t have any patience. (You are impatient.)
• They don’t have any answers. (They are clueless.)

To Have (Interrogative Form)

The interrogative form of the verb “to have” is formed by adding the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” to the subject, followed by the main verb “have” and the object. The auxiliary verb “do” is used with the pronouns “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they,” while the auxiliary verb “does” is used with the pronouns “he,” “she,” and “it.”

Here are some examples of the interrogative form of the verb “to have”:

• Do I have a car?
• Do you have any money?
• Does he have a job?
• Does she have any friends?
• Does it have a name?
• Do we have any time?
• Do you have any patience?
• Do they have any answers?

The interrogative form of the verb “to have” is used to ask questions about possession or ownership. For example:

• Do you have a car? (Are you in possession of a car?)
• Does she have any friends? (Does she have people who she considers to be friends?)
• Does it have a name? (Does it have a label or identification?)
• Do we have any time? (Do we have enough time to complete the task?)
• Do you have any patience? (Are you able to wait calmly for something to happen?)
• Do they have any answers? (Do they know the solution to the problem?)

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Let’s practice a little

here is a dialog for “nice to meet you”:

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Scene: A new employee is meeting their new coworkers for the first time.

Characters:

• New Employee: John Smith
• Coworker 1: Jane Doe
• Coworker 2: Michael Jones

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John: Hi, I’m John Smith. I’m the new software engineer.

Jane: Hi, John. I’m Jane Doe. I’m the project manager.

Michael: Hi, John. I’m Michael Jones. I’m the lead developer.

John: Nice to meet you all.

Jane: Nice to meet you too, John. We’re glad to have you on the team.

Michael: Welcome aboard.

John: Thanks. I’m looking forward to working with you all.

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The coworkers continue to chat and get to know each other. They talk about their backgrounds, their families, and their interests. They also talk about their work and their goals for the project. John feels welcomed and excited to be a part of the team.

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Pronunciation of letter “a”

The letter “a” can be pronounced in seven different ways in English.

• The long “a” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “fate.”
• The short “a” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “hat.”
• The schwa sound is a neutral vowel sound that is often used in unstressed syllables. It is like the vowel sound in the word “about.”
• The “aw” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “law.”
• The “ay” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “say.”
• The “ei” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “eight.”
• The “ai” sound is like the vowel sound in the word “rain.”

Here are some examples of words that are pronounced with each of these vowel sounds:

• Long “a”: fate, late, bait
• Short “a”: hat, cat, rat
• Schwa: about, above, around
• “Aw”: law, saw, raw
• “Ay”: say, play, day
• “Ei”: eight, weight, height
• “Ai”: rain, train, stain

It is important to note that the pronunciation of the letter “a” can vary depending on the dialect of English that is being spoken. For example, in British English, the long “a” sound is often pronounced as a diphthong, which is a vowel sound that is made up of two vowel sounds. In American English, the long “a” sound is usually pronounced as a monophthong, which is a vowel sound that is made up of a single vowel sound.