Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A1 - Lesson 3: Using Present Simple (e.g., "I like...")

Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A1 - Lesson 3

Using Present Simple (e.g., "I like...")

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use the Present Simple tense to talk about habits, routines, and facts, paying special attention to using "-s" correctly.

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The Big Idea: Talking About Everyday Life

We use the Present Simple¹ tense to talk about things that are always true or happen regularly. We use it for a habit², a routine³, or a fact⁴.

The verb form changes for He, She, and It. This is the most important rule!

Subject	Verb Rule	Example Statement
I / You / We / They	Verb (no change)	I like coffee. They work in Siem Reap.
He / She / It	Verb + s	She likes tea. He works at a hotel.

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Vocabulary Glossary

1. Present Simple (Tense) | បច្ចុប្បន្នកាលធម្មតា | A verb tense used for habits, routines, and facts. ↩
2. Habit (Noun) | ទម្លាប់ | Something you do often, like drinking coffee every morning. ↩
3. Routine (Noun) | ទម្លាប់ប្រចាំថ្ងៃ | The normal things you do every day. ↩
4. Fact (Noun) | ការពិត | Something that is always true. (e.g., The sun rises in the east.) ↩
5. like (Verb) | ចូលចិត្ត | To enjoy something. ↩
6. eat (Verb) | ញ៉ាំ | To put food in your mouth and swallow it. ↩

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record_voice_over Pronouncing the "-s" Ending

The "-s" at the end of the verb (for he/she/it) can have different sounds. Listening for this sound is key to understanding, and producing it is key to sounding clear.

• /s/ sound: After 'p', 't', 'k', 'f' sounds. (e.g., works, stops, eats)
• /z/ sound: After most other sounds. (e.g., lives, plays, drives, goes)
• /ɪz/ sound: After 's', 'sh', 'ch' sounds. This adds a whole syllable. (e.g., watches, washes)

Listen carefully to the audio guide to hear the difference.

lightbulb Questions and Negatives (do/does)

To make questions and negative sentences in the Present Simple, we need the helping verbs "do" and "does".

Very Important Rule: After "do", "does", "don't", or "doesn't", the main verb NEVER has an "-s".

Questions

• You like coffee. ➡ Do you like coffee?
• He works here. ➡ Does he work here? (NOT "works")

Negative Statements

• They live here. ➡ They don't live here.
• She likes spicy food. ➡ She doesn't like spicy food. (NOT "likes")

sports_esports Practice Present Simple

Activity 1: Choose the Correct Verb

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.

1. My mother (work / works) at the market. (Answer: works)
2. I (get up / gets up) at 6 AM every day. (Answer: get up)
3. He (speak / speaks) English very well. (Answer: speaks)
4. We (don't / doesn't) work on Sunday. (Answer: don't)
5. Does she (like / likes) coffee? (Answer: like)

Activity 2: Talk About Your Routine

Answer these questions about your daily routine using a full sentence.

• What time do you get up? (e.g., "I get up at...")
• Where do you eat⁶ lunch? (e.g., "I eat lunch at...")
• Do you like⁵ to study English? (e.g., "Yes, I do. I like...")

task Your Grammar Mission

This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to talk about your daily life using the Present Simple.

1. Tell a friend one thing you do every day. (e.g., "I ride my moto to school.")
2. Tell a friend one thing a family member does. Remember the "-s"! (e.g., "My father works in an office.")