Elementary Grammar – Present Simple

The simple present or present simple is one of the verb forms associated with the present tense in modern English. 

It is called "simple" because its basic form consists of a single word (like jog or jogs)

Present Simple is a sentence structure that is commonly used to talk about the following things:

A routine or habit:

·         “I get up at 6 o’clock”

·         “she walks to work”.

How often we do something:

·         “I often meet friends for coffee”

·         “she always walks to work”

·          “I go fishing all the time”.

Permanent states:

·         “I am English”.

·         “My family live in Spain”

·         “It rains in winter”

We often assume that Present Simple refers to ‘the present’. 

Sometimes in English it is used more than that. I could say right now I am writing on my computer but if someone asked how I got to work I could say, I ride my bike.

I rode my bike this morning, which is in the past, and I will ride my bike tomorrow and the day after that, both of which are in the future. Likewise, I have always been and always will be English.

Present Simple doesn’t describe any single action or event as occurring right now, rather it describes a regular or permanent routine, habit or state that is generally true now.

Further to this, there are uses of Present Simple to talk about actions that are clearly in the past or the future:

When telling friends about something unbelievable or surprising that happened to us in the past, “So, anyway, she walks right up to our table and throws a glass of water over Peter!”

With actions or events that are scheduled to happen at a specific time in the future, “The meeting starts at 8.00am and concludes at 11am”; “Our flight leaves at nine”.

Is it a verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposistion, determiner, conjuntion or interjection?

Useful quick reference chart for English word catagories

Use this free chart
as a quick reference
to how English words
are categorised.

English Listening Skills (ESL)

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English Listening Skills

Connected Speech

When native speakers are speaking rapidly words become linked together and sometimes sounds change or are missed out so that the words do not sound as the learner would expect from the written form.

Intonation

A great deal of meaning is conveyed through intonation (a change in pitch). The listener will need to interpret the differences in pitch to understand the full meaning of the conversation.

• Rising Intonation means the pitch of the voice rises over time [↗];
• Falling Intonation means that the pitch falls with time [↘];
• Dipping Intonation falls and then rises [↘↗];
• Peaking Intonation rises and then falls [↗↘].

Accents and voices

Languages have regional variations and English is no exception; Americans, Australians, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and people from the north of England can all sound very different.

As a listener you will have to adapt to quite large differences in sound, even within a relatively small area such as a single city. Listeners will also hear male and female, old and young, deep and high-pitched voices.

Listeners hear only once

In real life the listener usually only gets one chance to hear the message. On some occasions it may be possible to ask for clarification or repetition in many circumstances, this is not always possible, especially if listening to the radio or a discourse like a lecture.

The listener has a reason to listen

We often listen for a reason, for example, to find some information, or to find out what someone wants. Because of this we do not need to remember every single word we hear.

The listener understands the situation

In real life the listener almost always has some idea about what is going to be said because they can see the context, they usually know who is speaking and where they are, and they know or can predict the basic topic.  A listener will also use past experience to understand present situations.

The speaker tries to help the listener

Generally the speaker wants the listener to understand. The speaker can usually see the listener and may adapt to the listener and speak more slowly or paraphrase (say the same thing in different words) if they think it necessary.

The listener responds

In English, the listener usually has to show that they are listening by making attention signals, such as nods, or saying yes, mmm, of course, etc. This helps the speaker to see how much the listener understands and lets them know to adapt what they are saying if necessary.

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TEFL - Functions and Exponents

What is a function?

A function is the communicative purpose we have for speaking, the reason why we say or write something.

Functions are sometimes also called situational language because the situation or context in which they are used is very important.

What is an exponent?

An exponent is the language we use to express the function. Sometimes the exponent is a set phrase, for example, sorry, I don’t quite follow that or sometimes it is placed at the beginning of a sentence that could have a variety of different endings.

Consider these examples:

Do you mind if I…?

Please can I…?

If I were you, I would…

You should …

In order to choose the right exponent, you need to think about who is your audience and their relationship to each other.

Table showing examples of English Functions and Exponents

Learning English by Skype

Many feel that the best way to learn a new language is by moving to the country that speaks that language.

This is probably true, surrounded by new words everyday, you will soon pick up phrases, even if you are not sure what they mean!!

It's not just the language you can pick up, but also you immerse yourself in the culture, the flavours and tastes of a new culture.  You soon realise it is a big world out there and there is more than one way of doing something.

It really is amazing to see what makes someone laugh, what is considered offensive and what is expected of you when you meet someone for the first time.

None of this can really be taught in schools or by reading a book, it has to be experienced. 

The trouble is, when it comes to learning this way you have to actually live in a country that speaks that language or at least spend a number of months there.

That’s why the internet is so great, it has shrunk our world and learning a language does not have to be a dry and tedious exercise.  Learning via Skype, speaking to a native speaker is certainly a lot cheaper than an airline ticket!

www.myonlineenglishtutor.co.uk