English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 2: Present simple (I do)

Study this example situation:

Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep.
He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)

but He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.)

Drive(s)/work(s)/do(es) etc. is the present simple:

I/we/you/theydrive/work/do etc.
he/she/itdrives/works/does etc.

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

  • Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
  • I usually go away at weekends.
  • The earth goes round the sun.
  • The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.

Remember:
I work ... but He works ...
They teach ... but My sister teaches ...

For spelling ( -s or -es), see Appendix 6.

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:

do
does		I/we/you/they
he/she/ it		work?
drive?
do?
I/we/you/they
he/she/it		don't
doesn't 		work
drive
do
  • I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
  • I don't go away very often.
  • What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)
  • Rice doesn't grow in cold climates.

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn't do etc.):
  • 'What do you do?'  'I work in a shop.'
  • He's always so lazy.  He doesn't do anything to help.

We use the present simple to say how often we do things:

  • I get up at 8 o'clock every morning.
  • How often do you go to the dentist?
  • julie doesn't drink tea very often.
  • Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

I promise / I apologise etc.

Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something, you can say 'I promise ... '; when you suggest something, you can say 'I suggest ... ':
  • I promise I won't be late. (not I'm promising)
  • 'What do you suggest I do?'  'I suggest that you ... '

In the same way we say: I apologise ... / I advise ... / I insist ... / I agree ... / I refuse ... etc.

2.1 Complete the sentences using the following verbs:

  • cause(s)
  • connect(s)
  • drink(s)
  • live(s)
  • open(s)
  • speak(s)
  • take(s)
  1. Tanya German very well.
  2. I don't often __________ coffee.
  3. The swimming pool __________ at 7.3 0 every morning.
  4. Bad driving __________ many accidents.
  5. My parents __________ in a very small flat.
  6. The Olympic Games __________ place every four years.
  7. The Panama Canal __________ the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

2.2 Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. Julie (1) (not / drink) tea very often.
  2. What time (2) __________ (the banks / dose) here?
  3. I've got a car, but I (3) __________ (not / use) it much.
  4. 'Where (4)__________ (Ricardo / come) from?' 'From Cuba.'
  5. ‘What (5)__________ (you / do)?’ ‘I'm an electrician.’
  6. It (6)__________ (take) me an hour to get to work. How long (7)__________ (it / take) you?
  7. Look at this sentence. What (8)__________ (this word / mean)?
  8. David isn't very fit. He (9)__________ (not / do) any sport.

2.3 Use the following verbs to complete the sentences. Sometimes you need the negative:

  • believe
  • eat
  • flow
  • go
  • grow
  • make
  • rise
  • tell
  • translate
  1. The earth round the sun.
  2. Rice in Britain.
  3. The sun __________ in the east.
  4. Bees __________ honey.
  5. Vegetarians __________ meat.
  6. An atheist __________ in God.
  7. An interpreter __________ from one language into another.
  8. Liars are people who __________ the truth.
  9. The River Amazon __________ into the Atlantic Ocean.

2.4 You ask Lisa questions about herself and her family. Write the questions.

  1. You know that Lisa plays tennis. You want to know how often. Ask her.
    ?
  2. Perhaps Lisa's sister plays tennis too. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
    __________ ?
  3. You know that Lisa reads a newspaper every day. You want to know which one. Ask her.
    __________ ?
  4. You know that Lisa's brother works. You want to know what he does. Ask Lisa.
    __________ ?
  5. You know that Lisa goes to the cinema a lot. You want to know how often. Ask her.
    __________ ?
  6. You don't know where Lisa's grandparents live. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
    __________ ?

2.5 Complete using the following:

  • I apologise
  • I insist
  • I promise
  • I recommend
  • I suggest
  1. Mr Evans is not in the office today. you try calling him tomorrow.
  2. I won't tell anybody what you said. __________ .
  3. (in a restaurant) You must let me pay for the meal. __________ .
  4. __________ for what I did. It won't happen again.
  5. The new restaurant in Hill Street is very good. __________ it.

Answer Key
Favorite Books
English Grammar Tests

PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

Read more
Table of Contents