Alan García Mancera Grammar

Present Simple

We use the present simple to talk about:

●     something that is true in the present:

I’m nineteen years old.

I’m a student.

He lives in London.

●     something that happens regularly in the present:

I play football every weekend.

●     something that is always true:

The human body contains 206 bones.


Light travels at almost 300,000 kilometres per second.

We often use adverbs of frequency like sometimes, always and never with the present simple:

I sometimes go to the cinema.

She never plays football.

We always study at de library.

Choose the correct form.

1.    We sometimes ________ books.

2.    Emily _________ to the disco.

3.    It often __________ on Sundays.

4.    Pete and his sister __________ the family car.

5.    I always __________ to the bus stop.

Present Continuous

The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be and the –ing-form of a verb:

I am working

You are working

He is working

She is working

It is working

We are working

You are working

They are working

We use the present continuous to talk about:

●     activities at the moment of speaking:

I’m just leaving work. I’ll be home in an hour.

Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.

Choose the correct present progressive form.

1.    Look! Andy ____________ in the garden.

2.    I ____________ TV at the moment.

3.    We _______________ a book.

4.    She ________________ the piano.

5.    Listen! Sue and John _________________.

Have or Have Got

The have got forms are more common in an informal style. Have got has the same meaning as have and both are used as present tenses. Note that have got is NOT the present perfect of get.

We can use :

� to talk about the things we possess: We have a house in Spain. We’ve got a house in Spain. Paul doesn’t have a car. Paul hasn’t got a car. Do you have any money? Have you got any money?

 � to talk about our families: Jane has a brother and a sister. Jane’s got a brother and a sister.

� to describe people: She has blue eyes. She’s got blue eyes. Does your brother have long hair or short hair? Has your brother got long hair or short hair?

� to say that we are not feeling well: I have a headache. I’ve got a headache.

-       We use have (not have got) to talk about meals and holidays, and with a bath, a shower, or a wash: Do you normally have a big breakfast? Have a good holiday! She’s having a shower at the moment. I always have a wash before I go out.

-      We don’t use “got” in short answers. Have you got a dog? No, I haven’t. The verb “have got” is only used in present simple. For the rest of tenses, we use the verb “have” as main verb. I had a dog when I was a child.

Complete the sentences:

I  __________ a nice room.

She __________ a cat.

Jack  __________ a pet.

The sisters  __________ great teachers.

He __________ an old bike.

They __________ a goldfish.

Emma __________ lots of friends.

We __________ a problem.

Joe and Philip __________ a sister.

My uncle __________ two cars.

CAN

The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. However there are some other used of Canas we will see below.

1. To express ability

Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.

●      Birds can fly.

●      Elephants can't fly.

●      I can speak two languages.

2. To express a possibility (in general)

This refers to a theoretical possibility.

Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might.

●      It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.

●      I know you can win the competition.

●      Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be cheap.

3. To offer to do something for others

Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them.

●      You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like.

●      Can I carry your bags for you?

4. To ask for or give permission / To request something

Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.

Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.

●      You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now.

●      Can I sit in that chair please?

●      Mary, you can play outside if you like.

●      Can I ask you a question?

●      You can't go to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.

●      We can't leave the room until the assignment is completed.

5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed

●      We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.

●      You can drive as fast as you want on the German motorways.

●      You can't smoke in the restaurant.

●      You cannot drive a car without a license.

6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is surprising

●      It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!

●      They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax.

Complete the sentences:

●      I _____________ swim. (+/can)

●      You _____________  draw. (-/can)

●      He _____________  cook. (+/can)

●      She _____________  walk. (-/can)

●      It _____________  jump. (+/can)

●      We _____________  ski. (-/can)

●      You _____________  read. (+/can)

●      They _____________  count. (-/can)

●      Doris _____________  sail. (+/can)

●      Walter and Laura _____________  sing. (-/can)