English 101: Simple Present Tense of the Verb

The simple present tense of the verb describes an action which happens every day or all the time.

Examples:

1. Juan works in the farm every day.

2. They always travel by train.
3. Mr. Santos eats lunch at the school canteen.
4. Her mother washes clothes daily.
5. I ride the bus to office.

For first person pronouns ( I, you, we) and plural subjects, just copy the form of the verb. The third person singular of most verbs is formed by adding s. However, add es instead of s in the following cases:

1. if the verb ends in o

    Examples:
     go = goes
     do = does
   
2. if the verb ends in s, sh, ch, x or z

    Examples:
    wash = washes
    catch = catches
    fix = fixes

3. if the verb ends in y, the y is changed first to i before es is added as long as y is preceded by a consonant

   Examples:
   study = studies
   carry = carries

Practice Test

Use the correct form of the simple present tense of the verb in the following sentences:

1. I (study) my lessons every night.
2. Gina always (try) to arrive early.
3. We (go) to church every Sunday.
4. Kenneth (do) his chores without being told.
5. She often (catch) cold.
6. Mrs. Samson (teach) Physics.
7. My brother (play) in the park.
8. Harry (kiss) her mother before going to school.
9. They (watch) the game on television.
10. You (like) doughnut and coffee.

Answers:
1. study
2. tries
3. go
4. does
5. catches
6. teaches
7. plays
8. kisses
9. watch
10. like

English 101: Have and Has

The present tense of the verb "to have".

Use "have" for plural nouns, including the pronoun I, You, They and We.

Examples:
1. You have a beautiful voice.

2. I have a headache.

3. Both girls have long hair.
4. We have an excursion on Monday.
5. The doctors have many patients.

Use "has" for singular noun and pronoun.

Examples:
1. He has a crush on her.
2. The office has four small windows.

3. The boy has green eyes.

4. The dog has a long tail.
5. Mary has a little lamb.

Practice Test:

Use the correct present tense of to have in the following sentences:

1. We ____ a high school reunion in July.
2. You and me ____ have common interest.
3. My mother ___ a toothache.
4. The secretaries ____ many typing jobs.
5. I ___ a test today.
6. They ____ brown eyes.
7. Both cousins ____ failing marks.
8. You ____ a new dress.
9. The lawyer ____ has many clients.
10. The sky ___ many stars.

Answers:

English 101: The Article A and An

Use "a" before a word beginning with a consonant.

a baby

Examples:
a baby
a car
a duck
a watermelon
a fish

However, if the word is pronounced as a vowel sound, use "an".

Examples:
an hour late
an honest man
an honorable judge

Use "an" before a word beginning with a vowel.

an egg

Examples:
an apple
an egg
an iron
an orange
an umbrella
an American flag

However, if the word is pronounced as a consonant sound, use "a".

a U.S. flag

Examples:

a one-story building
a union
a united front
a unicorn
a U.S. flag

Please note that "a" or "an" is used only for singular noun.

Practice Test:
Use "a" or "an" in the following sentences.

1) It is a ____ library.
2) My mother is ___ wonder woman.
3) This is ___ unusual story.
4) There is ____ one-story building over there.
5) I want to buy ___ US made product.
6) Johnny is  ____ honorable man.
7) Give me ___ hammer.
8) My niece is ____ happy baby.
9) That is ___ empty bottle.
10) I never saw ___ unicorn.

Answers:

English 101: Plural Nouns

Most nouns form their plurals by adding s.

umbrella

Examples:
car - cars
umbrella - umbrellas
window - windows
tree - trees

umbrellas

To form the plural forms of nouns ending in s, z, ch, sh and x, just add es.

Examples:
bus - buses
bench - benches

box

box - boxes
bush - bushes

boxes

Some nouns have irregular plurals. As such, they must be remembered.

mouse

Examples:
child - children
 man - men
foot - feet
mouse - mice
tooth - teeth

mice

Remember:
A. Use the plural form of the verb "to be" for plural nouns or subject. The subject and verb must agree.
Examples:
1) The mouse is small. The mice are small.
2) That child is my son. Those children are my sons.

B. mouse - mice but not house - hice.
C. box - boxes but not ox - oxes.  It is ox - oxen.
D. ox - oxen but not fox - foxen. It is fox - foxes.


Practice Test
Give the plural forms of the following nouns:
1) buzz
2) dish
3) orange
4) salesman
5) tax
6) butterfly
7) horse
8) machine
9) book
10) goose

Answers