Grammar for Freshman English Unit 1A

Simple present: I live, he works, etc.
They work in a bank.
Where do you live?
He doesn’t wear glasses.
She usually has cereal for breakfast.
I’m never late for work.

Use the simple present for things that are always true or happen regularly.
Remember the spelling rules, e.g. lives, studies, watches.
Remember the word order for questions: auxiliary, subject, base form of verb.


Present continuous
Be+verb+-ing
A. Who are you waiting for?
B. I’m waiting for a friend.
A. What are you doing after class?
B. I’m going to the café.

Use the present continuous for actions in progress at the time of speaking or for future arrangements.
Remember the spelling rules, e.g. living, studying, getting.

Action and non-action verbs
A. What are you cooking tonight?
B. I’m making pasta.
A. Great! I really like pasta.
Verbs that describe actions, e.g. make, cook, can be used in the simple present or continuous.
Verbs that describe states or feelings, e.g., like, want, be, are not normally used in the present continuous.
Common non-action verbs are agree, be, believe, belong, depend, forget, hate, hear, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, prefer realize, recognize, seem, suppose.