Present Simple

My name is Leo. I am eleven, and I train for swimming. I wake up at 6:00. I stretch, I eat oatmeal and fruit, and I walk to the pool. Training starts at 7:00. After school, I do homework and I practice starts and turns. I go to bed at 9:00. I don’t play video games on weekdays, and I don’t train on Sunday; I rest.

My friend Sylvia isn’t an athlete. She loves art and music. She wakes up at 7:30 and takes the bus to school. After class, she draws in her sketchbook and plays the piano. She doesn’t train in the pool, and she doesn’t like early mornings. She helps her little brother and watches science videos. At the weekend she visits her grandma. Our lives are different, but we are good friends. I train for races; Sylvia creates pictures. I learn discipline every day, and she learns new songs.


SubjectStatements (everyday facts)NegativesQuestionsShort answers
I (Leo)I train before school. / I eat oatmeal.I don’t train on Sunday.Do I train on Sunday?Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
He (Leo)Leo trains before school. / He has fruit.Leo doesn’t train on Sunday.Does Leo train on Sunday?Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
She (Sylvia)Sylvia takes the bus. / She plays the piano.Sylvia doesn’t like early mornings.Does Sylvia take the bus?Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
We/TheyWe do homework after class.We don’t watch videos late.Do they draw after class?Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.

3rd person spelling rules (he/she/it):

  • most verbs: +s → play → plays, train → trains
  • -ch / -sh / -x / -ss / -o: +es → watch → watches, go → goes
  • consonant + y-ies → study → studies
  • irregular: have → has, do → does

Activities

1) Reading Comprehension

  1. True/False: Leo wakes up at 6:00. ___
  2. Multiple choice: Which sport does Leo train for?
    A) running B) swimming C) cycling
  3. Short answer: What time does training start? __________
  4. True/False: Sylvia is an Olympic athlete. ___
  5. Multiple choice: What does Sylvia do after class?
    A) swims in the pool B) plays football C) draws and plays the piano
  6. Short answer: Which day does Leo rest? __________

2) Fill in the blanks — 3rd person -s (focus on she/Sylvia and other he/it)

Complete with the present simple of the verb in brackets.

  1. Sylvia ___ (wake) at 7:30.
  2. She ___ (take) the bus to school.
  3. She ___ (draw) after class.
  4. She ___ (play) the piano.
  5. She ___ (help) her little brother.
  6. She ___ (watch) science videos.
  7. She ___ (visit) her grandma at the weekend.
  8. She ___ (go) to school by bus.
  9. Leo ___ (train) early.
  10. Training ___ (start) at seven.

3) Fill in the blanks — Negatives & Questions (do/does + base verb)

Use don’t/doesn’t for negatives and Do/Does for questions.

  1. I ___ ___ (not/play) video games on weekdays.
  2. Sylvia ___ ___ (not/train) in the pool.
  3. She ___ ___ (not/like) early mornings.
  4. I ___ ___ (not/train) on Sunday.
  5. Sylvia ___ ___ (not/drive) to school; she takes the bus.
  6. Training ___ ___ (not/start) at eight.
  7. ___ you ___ (train) every day?
  8. ___ Sylvia ___ (take) the bus to school?
  9. What time ___ training ___ (start)?
  10. ___ you ___ (go) to bed at nine?

Super-Specific Grammar Box (with Leo & Sylvia)

SubjectStatements (now)NegativesQuestionsShort answers
I (Leo)I am warming up.I am not racing.Am I racing?Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
He (Leo)Leo is stretching. / He is swimming.Leo isn’t racing yet.Is Leo swimming?Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
She (Sylvia)Sylvia is painting a poster. / She is taking photos.Sylvia isn’t swimming.Is Sylvia swimming?Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
We/TheyWe are watching the race. / They are clapping.We aren’t leaving.Are they clapping?Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

-ing spelling tips:

  • most verbs: play → playing, paint → painting
  • drop silent e: make → making, time → timing
  • short vowel + consonant: swim → swimming, run → running

Text (~140 words) — Live at the Pool Open Day

My name is Leo. Right now we are at the City Pool Open Day. I am warming up in lane two and Coach is timing my laps. I am not racing yet; I am stretching because the water is cold.
Sylvia isn’t swimming. She is painting a big blue poster for our club and is taking photos for the school blog. She is interviewing parents, and they are smiling.
Our friends are clapping, and the band is playing music. Children are trying the small pool while lifeguards are showing safety rules. I am smiling because my family is watching me. Sylvia is laughing and is waving from the stands. We are having a busy, happy morning!


Activities

1) Reading Comprehension

  1. True/False: Leo is racing now. ___
  2. Multiple choice: Where are Leo and Sylvia?
    A) the library
    B) a mountain trail
    C) the City Pool Open Day
  3. Short answer: What is the coach doing? __________________
  4. True/False: Sylvia is swimming in the pool. ___
  5. Multiple choice: Who is showing safety rules?
    A) the band B) the lifeguards C) the parents
  6. Short answer: Why is Leo smiling? __________________

2) Fill in the blanks — am / is / are + verb-ing (affirmative/negative)

  1. I ___ ___ (warm up) in lane two.
  2. Coach ___ ___ (time) my laps.
  3. I ___ ___ (not race) yet.
  4. Sylvia ___ ___ (paint) a poster.
  5. She ___ ___ (take) photos.
  6. Our friends ___ ___ (clap).
  7. The band ___ ___ (play) music.
  8. Children ___ ___ (try) the small pool.
  9. Lifeguards ___ ___ (show) safety rules.
  10. We ___ ___ (have) a busy morning.

3) Fill in the blanks — Questions in the Present Continuous

(Complete with Am/Is/Are and the -ing verb.)

  1. ___ Leo ___ (race) now?
  2. What ___ he ___ (do) in lane two?
  3. ___ Sylvia ___ (swim)?
  4. What ___ she ___ (paint)?
  5. Where ___ they ___ (be) now?
  6. Who ___ ___ (show) safety rules?
  7. ___ the children ___ (try) the small pool?
  8. Why ___ Leo ___ (smile)?

Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.