Extra English Practice [EEP]
Larissa: Hi, everyone, and welcome back to EEP.
Today, we will talk about one of the most common verb tenses in English: the simple present.
Misha: The simple present is used for a lot of things in English. It's very common.
Some of the things it's used for are facts or true things, schedules or habits.
Larissa: And the name is simple present because it's very simple..
....sometimes. Misha: Sometimes.
Larissa: If you're talking about "I", it is very simple.
You just take the BASE form of the verb, and that's it.
So, for example, I go, I dance, I eat, I like.
And it's the same with YOU, WE or THEY.
I go, you go, we go, they go.
Simple!
Misha: But, it starts to get a little more difficult when we're talking about HE, SHE or IT.
These ones are a little hard.
So with those words, those pronouns, you have to add an S to the end of the verb.
For example, I would say, "She likes", "He likes" vs. "I like".
Larissa: this is something that learners of English often forget.
You don't think of it, usually.
Misha: Okay, so, we're going to practice this in our usual favourite way...Larissa: Game!
Misha: Larissa and I both have a handful of cards, and we're each going to choose a card
and hold it up, and then we'll read what we have and see if
it makes a sentence.
So we're going to think about two things.
First, is the grammar correct.
So is the sentence correct.
And then second, does it make any sense?
Okay?
Larissa: Ready?
Misha: Here we go....choose a good one.
Larissa: A rabbit live in my home.
So, first of all, a rabbit is IT.
IT lives, it lives...so it's not grammatically accurate, but does it make sense?
A rabbit lives in my home?
Misha: Well, some people have pet rabbits!
Larissa: Yep, it could be.
I don't have a pet rabbit.
Misha: Me neither.
Let's try another.
Larissa: Misha and Larissa live in Seoul.
Seoul is a city in South Korea.
Grammatically accurate? Misha: I think so!
Larissa: Misha and Larissa are THEY... they live -- yeah, absolutely!
Do we live in Seoul? Misha: Unfortunately, not!
Larissa: Unfortunately no.
Misha: So grammatically accurate, but not..not true.
Larissa: About ten million people lives in a palace.
Misha: Lives in a palace! Do you know what a palace is?
It's like a giant, beautiful home.
Well, what do we have here?
10 million people .. this is THEY..
Larissa: They liveS? No.
And also, a palace is big, but not big enough for 10 million people!
Misha: That would be... a challenge.
Larissa: Okay, how about this one?
A king live in Canada..Okay, first of all, we don't have a king in Canada!
Misha: We don't!
Larissa: But how's the grammar?
A king is HE... HE live....S. Misha: No good.
Larissa: We're not doing very well! Misha: No, we aren't.
Larissa: Okay, I have one card left, do you?
Misha: Alright, one card, let's see it.
Larissa: Four people lives in my yard...Misha: So four people ...
Larissa: THEY... THEY lives? No, no good.
Wow, we lost!
Okay, let's make some real sentences now.
Misha: It was a cooperative game. If we had won, we would have both won.
Larissa: Instead we both lost!
Larissa: Ok, whaddaya got?
Misha: I have Misha and Larissa... do you have something that matches that?
Larissa: I do!
Misha and Larissa live in Canada. THEY live.
We could say WE live. Misha: We could say WE live.
Larissa: But Misha and Larissa is THEY.
Misha: So correct and true!
Larissa: Next, I have "lives in my yard". Can you match it?
Misha: A king? [laughter] Larissa: No. Misha: No, what about this?
Larissa: A rabbit lives in my yard! This is true! I have a bunny outside.
He comes and goes as he pleases. Misha: Well, as they do.
Larissa: It might be SHE, I don't know... Misha: Yeah, I don't know either. I don't know how you would tell.
So a rabbit, this is IT, or maybe HE or SHE.
Some people refer to animals like people, and then we have "lives".
So that's correct. And true!
Larissa: Okay, you start.
Misha: Okay, I have "four people".. Larissa: Four people...no...
four people live in my home. Misha: Ohhh, four people. That one works.
This is THEY, and live.
Larissa: And, it is true for me. Misha: Is it true?
Larissa: There are four people who live in my home!
Misha: Nice! Correct and true. Larissa: Correct and true and awesome.
Larissa: Alright, here we go. Misha: Whaddaya got?
Larissa: Lives in Seoul... LIVE in Seoul!
Misha: Ooo, I've got one that I think is right. Larissa: Yes.
Misha: About 10 million people..Larissa: That's a lot of people! Misha: That IS a lot of people!
We'll have to visit someday. Larissa: Someday.. and meet 10 million people. [laughter]
Misha: Meet them all! Larissa: We'll have a big event for that.
Misha: Okay, last one! It must match.
Larissa: A king lives in a palace... Or a prince, or a queen.. or a princess..
Larissa: Okay! Misha: Great! So, remember -- present simple is formed with
the subject and the BASE form of the verb IF you are using I or YOU or WE or THEY.
Larissa: But, if you're unlucky enough to be using HE or SHE or IT,
you have to add an S to the end. Just because. Misha: Just because.
Larissa: Okay, let's play another game. We just love games!
Misha: We do love games. Larissa: All the time.
Okay, in this game, I'm going to say three sentences about an object, true sentences,
and Misha has to try to guess what they are describing. You'll see.
Are you ready? Misha: I'm ready. Larissa: Okay.
Number one. My city recycles it.
Misha: Hmm, our city recycles a lot of things. Pop cans?
Larissa: Pop cans! Good guess! You're not right.
Number two! Children make airplanes out of it. Misha: Hmmmm.
Larissa: Do you know? Misha: Maybe! Larissa: Ok, let me tell you number 3: I write on it.
Misha: I know. I think I know. Is it paper? Larissa: It's paper.
So my city is IT, my city recycleS it.
Children are THEY, children make airplanes out of it, and I write on it.
Good job! Misha: Thanks. Nice game. Larissa: Yeah, let's see if you can get my second one.
Number one -- oh! I think you can get this.
This is pretty easy. My son bounces it.
Misha: Okay. Do you want to read the rest and then I'll guess?
Larissa: Because you already know?
Athletes kick it. And I throw it.
Misha: A ball. Larissa: A ball.
I throw it. Athletes kick a ball -- athleteS -- kick a ball,
and my son bounces it, bounces a ball.
Okay, now I'll give you a hard one, because that was easy. Misha: Okay, a hard one.
Larissa: Alright, number one...my friend plays music with it.
Misha: A piano? Larissa: Hmm, nope!
Children shoot it. Misha: Children shoot it.
Uhhhh..I don't know.
Larissa: I hold things together with it.
Misha: Um! What was the first sentence? Larissa: My friend plays music with it.
Misha: A rubber band. Larissa: A rubber band! I have one here.
Misha: Do you.. can you play music with it?
Larissa: I don't think so.. maybe together?
[they try... and are not successful at all]
Misha: We're not musicians, clearly. Although, that's a strange instrument.
Larissa: If you know how to play music on an elastic band,
please, send us a video link to that or write in the comments.. tell us how do you do that!
Misha: You can play this game with us, too.
Write 3 sentences in the simple present in the comments below
about an object. And we'll see if we can guess what the object is.
Larissa: We can keep playing! Misha: Yep, that's right, the games continue!
Extra English Practice [EEP]
Misha: Some people can... they do something.. Larissa: Oh! With their mouths? Misha: Maybe.