Shadowing Practice: Day 1: Present Simple | Master all the English Tenses in 12 days - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Do you want to finally understand the present simple tense completely, fully, once and for all?
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Because after this video, you will never be confused about it again.
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We are going to explain everything with simple English, real examples, real conversations, and a lot of fun.
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This is not just a grammar lesson.
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This is a crash course.
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Everything you need to know about the present simple in one video.
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So stay with us because this video is going to change the way you speak English forever.
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Let's go!
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Hello everyone!
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Welcome back to the channel and welcome to something very special today!
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I'm David.
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And I'm Alice. And today?
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Oh, today is a big day.
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Because today we are starting something brand new.
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That's right!
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Today is the very first video in our brand new playlist.
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We are calling it Master Every Tense.
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12 videos, 12 tenses, and by the end of this playlist, you will understand every single English tense.
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Completely, deeply, confidently.
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And we are starting today with the most important tense in the English language.
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The one you use every single day.
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The one you probably already know a little bit.
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But after today, you will know it completely.
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We are talking about the present simple.
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The present simple, yes!
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Now I know what some of you might be thinking.
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Oh, present simple, I already know that.
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That's easy.
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That's what everyone thinks.
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But by the end of this video, I promise you, you will discover things about the present simple that you never knew before.
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Things that will make your English sound much more natural, much more correct, much more confident.
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So even if you think you already know the present simple, stay with us because this is a crash course, a complete crash course.
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We cover everything.
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Everything from the very basics to the more advanced uses all in one video.
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And as always, we speak slowly, we use simple English, we give you real examples, and we make it fun.
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Because learning English should be enjoyable, not stressful.
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Not stressful, exactly.
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Okay, are you ready to begin?
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I am so ready.
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Let's do this.
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Okay, David, let's start from the very beginning, because I want every single person watching,
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even if they are a complete beginner, to understand this perfectly.
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So, David, what is the present simple?
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Great question.
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So, the present simple is a verb tense, and we use it to talk about things that are regular, repeated, always true, or generally true.
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Regular, repeated, always true.
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Okay, can you give me a simple example? Of course.
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I drink coffee every morning.
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That's present simple.
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I drink coffee every morning.
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So, it's something I do every day, a habit.
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Exactly.
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A habit, a routine, something you do again and again.
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Okay, what else?
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The sun rises in the east.
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Present simple.
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A fact, something that is always true.
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The sun rises in the east.
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Yes, that is always true.
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Every day, everywhere in the world.
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Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
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Present simple.
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Another fact, always true.
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So the present simple is for habits, routines, and facts, things that are always true, things you do regularly.
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Yes, that's the big picture.
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And now I want to show you something really important.
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I want to show you when we use the present simple, because there are actually several different situations.
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Oh, so it's not just for habits?
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Not just for habits.
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The present simple has many uses, and today we are going to cover all of them, every single one.
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Okay, I love this.
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Let's go through them one by one.
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Let's do it.
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Okay, so the present simple has six main uses, six situations where we use it.
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Let me go through them, and Alice, you help me with examples, okay?
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Perfect, I'm ready.
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Use number one, habits and routines, things you do regularly, every day, every week, every year.
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Like, I wake up at 7 o'clock every morning.
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Perfect, she goes to the gym three times a week.
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They visit their parents every Sunday.
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He drinks tea in the afternoon.
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All habits, all routines, all present simple.
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Beautiful.
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Use number two.
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Facts and things that are always true.
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Scientific facts, general truths, things that don't change.
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Like the earth goes around the sun.
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Dogs are loyal animals.
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Ice melts in heat.
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Babies cry when they are hungry.
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These are facts.
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They are always true.
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We use present simple.
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Exactly.
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Use number three, your permanent situation.
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Where you live, what you do for work, your family situation.
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Things that are true for a long time.
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Like I live in Morocco.
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She works at a hospital.
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He has two children.
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They own a small restaurant.
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So my permanent situation, where I am, who I am, what I do, that's present simple too.
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Yes, because these things don't change every day.
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They are stable.
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They are your current permanent reality.
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Got it.
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What's use number four?
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Use number four.
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Opinions, feelings, and thoughts.
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What you think, believe, like, dislike, want, or need.
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Like, I love learning English.
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She thinks he is funny.
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We believe in hard work.
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I don't like cold weather.
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He wants a new job.
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Yes, all of these are present simple, because they describe your current thoughts and feelings.
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Interesting.
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So it's not just actions, it's also thoughts and feelings.
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Exactly.
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And this is something many learners forget.
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The present simple is not only for physical actions, it's also for mental states.
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How you feel, what you think, what you want.
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That's really important.
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Okay, use number five.
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Use number five.
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Timetables and schedules.
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Things that are planned and fixed.
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Transport, classes, events.
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Oh, like the train leaves at 8.30.
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School starts at 9 o'clock.
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The film begins at 7 in the evening.
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The next bus arrives in 10 minutes.
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Wait, these are future events, but we use Present Simple.
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Yes, and this surprises many learners.
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When something is on a fixed schedule, a timetable, we use Present Simple even if it hasn't happened yet.
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Because the schedule doesn't change, it's fixed, it's certain.
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Exactly, the schedule is like a fact, and we use Present Simple for facts.
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Oh, that makes so much sense.
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I never thought about it that way before.
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And use number six, instructions and directions when you tell someone how to do something step by step.
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Like a recipe?
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First, you mix the eggs and the flour.
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Yes, then you add the milk.
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You put it in the oven for 30 minutes.
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You take it out and let it cool.
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So cooking instructions, directions, how-to guides, they all use present simple.
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Yes, because they describe steps that are always the same.
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They are like facts.
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This is how you do it.
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Wonderful.
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Okay, let's quickly review all six uses.
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Ready, listeners?
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One, habits and routines.
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2. Facts and general truths.
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3. Permanent situations.
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4. Opinions, feelings, and thoughts.
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5. Timetables and schedules.
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6. Instructions and directions.
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Six uses, all present simple.
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And today, we are going to practice all of them.
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With real conversations, real examples, and lots of practice.
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Okay, now that we know when to use the present simple, let's talk about how to form it, how to make these sentences correctly.
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Yes, because knowing when to use it is one thing, but you also need to know how to build the sentence correctly.
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And this is where many learners make mistakes, especially with the third person singular.
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We'll get to that in a moment.
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Let's start with positive sentences, the affirmative form.
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Okay, the basic structure is simple, subject plus the base verb.
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Let me show you.
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I work, you work, we work, they work.
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Easy!
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The verb doesn't change for I, you, we, they.
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But, and this is very important, when we talk about he, she, or it, the verb changes.
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Ah, here it comes, the famous S rule.
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Yes, for he, she, it, we add an S to the verb.
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He works, she works, it works.
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Okay, so I work, but she works, with an S at the end.
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Exactly.
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Let me give you more examples.
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I eat, she eats.
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I drink, he drinks.
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I live, she lives.
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I play, he plays.
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I read, she reads.
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I sleep, he sleeps.
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Perfect.
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And listeners, this is one of the most common mistakes in English.
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People forget to add the S for he, she, it.
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So let's practice this right now.
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I'll say a sentence without the S, and you and everyone watching correct it.
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Ready?
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She eat breakfast every day.
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Is that correct?
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No, it should be she eats breakfast every day.
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He work in an office, correct?
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No, he works in an office.
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My mother cook very well, correct?
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No, my mother cooks very well.
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The dog sleep on the sofa, correct?
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No, the dog sleeps on the sofa.
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Haha, my dog definitely does this.
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Haha, same.
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Okay, so always remember, he, she, it, add the S.
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He, she, it, add the S.
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Say it with us.
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He, she, it, add the S.
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Now, there are some special spelling rules, because it's not always just adding S.
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Sometimes it's a little different.
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Oh yes, tell us about those, David.
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Okay, rule one.
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If the verb ends in S, S-H, C-H, X, or O, we add ES, not just S.
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Like go?
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Yes.
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He go ES, she do ES, he watch ES, she wash ES, he fix ES, she kiss ES.
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Go ES, do ES, watch ES, wash ES.
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So we add ES when it would be hard to say with just S.
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Exactly.
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Try saying he gus.
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It's almost impossible.
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So we say he goes.
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He gus.
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That doesn't work at all.
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So he goes.
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Much better.
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Rule two.
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If the verb ends in a consonant plus y, we change the y to i and add es.
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Hmm.
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That sounds complicated.
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Give me an example.
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Sure.
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Study.
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He studies.
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The y changes to i and we add es.
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Study becomes studies.
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He studies English every day.
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Carry becomes carries.
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She carries a big bag.
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Try becomes tries.
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He tries his best every day.
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Fly becomes flies.
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The bird flies south in winter.
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Okay.
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Y changes to I and add ES.
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Got it.
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But, and this is important, if the verb ends in a vowel plus Y, we just add S.
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No change.
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Like play.
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He plays because A is a vowel.
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Exactly.
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Play becomes plays.
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Stay becomes stays.
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Enjoy becomes enjoys.
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Great!
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So only consonant plus y changes to IES.
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Vowel plus y just gets an S.
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Perfect!
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You said it perfectly.
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Okay!
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Now let's talk about negative sentences, because we need to know how to say what we don't do.
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Yes!
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And for negatives, we use do not or does not, or the short form don't and doesn't.
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For I, you, we, they, we use don't.
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I don't like coffee.
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They don't work on weekends.
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For he, she, it, we use doesn't.
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She doesn't eat meat.
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He doesn't wake up early.
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And notice, when we use doesn't, the main verb goes back to its base form.
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No S.
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This is very important.
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Listen carefully.
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She works.
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Positive.
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The S is on the verb.
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She doesn't work.
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Negative.
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The S is on doesn't, not on the verb.
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So we never say she doesn't works.
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That's wrong.
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Never.
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It's always she doesn't work.
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The S moves to doesn't.
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The S moves to doesn't.
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That's a great way to remember it, David.
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Let me give you more examples.
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He speaks French.
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Positive.
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S on the verb.
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He doesn't speak French.
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Negative.
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No S on the verb.
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She drives to work.
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Positive.
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She doesn't drive to work.
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Negative.
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It costs a lot.
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Positive.
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It doesn't cost a lot.
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Negative.
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Perfect.
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The pattern is so clear.
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I love it.
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Now, questions.
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How do we make questions in the present simple?
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For I, you, we, they, we use do at the beginning.
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Do you like music?
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Do they live here?
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For he, she, it, we use does at the beginning.
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Does she work here?
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Does he have a car?
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And again, when we use does, the main verb has no S.
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Does she work?
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Not does she works.
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Never does she works.
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Always does she work, with does taking the S.
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Beautiful.
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Let me practice making questions.
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Ready, everyone?
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Go.
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Do you speak English?
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Good.
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Yes or no question.
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Does he live near here?
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Perfect.
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Do they have children?
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Excellent.
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Does she like her job?
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Wonderful.
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And we can also make questions with question words, like what, where, when, why, who, how.
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Yes, where do you live?
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What does she do?
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How often do they exercise?
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Why does he wake up so early?
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These are all very natural, real questions, the kind you hear in everyday English conversations.
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And they all follow the same pattern.
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Question word, then do or does, then subject, then base verb.
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Question word, do or does, subject, base verb.
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Perfect structure.
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Okay, now let's talk about something very useful.
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Time expressions.
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These are words and phrases that we often use with the present simple, and they help you know when to use it.
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Oh, yes.
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These are so helpful, because when you hear these words, you know, ah, this is present simple.
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Exactly.
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Let me go through the most common ones.
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Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
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Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
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These are called frequency adverbs.
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They tell you how often something happens.
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I always drink water in the morning.
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Always means 100% of the time.
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I always drink water in the morning.
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Always means 100% of the time.
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She usually walks to work.
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Usually means most of the time.
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He often reads before bed.
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Often means many times.
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They sometimes eat at restaurants.
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Sometimes means a few times.
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Not always.
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I rarely watch TV.
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Rarely means almost never.
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She never eats meat.
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Never means zero times, not ever.
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Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
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Say them with us one more time.
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Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
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Good.
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And where do these words go in the sentence?
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This is important.
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Great question.
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These frequency adverbs go before the main verb.
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I always drink coffee.
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Always comes before drink.
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She usually wakes up early.
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Usually comes before wakes up.
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He never eats breakfast.
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Never comes before eats.
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But there is one exception.
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When the verb is to be, am, is, are, the frequency adverb comes after the verb.
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I am always tired on Mondays.
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Always comes after am.
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She is usually happy.
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Usually comes after is.
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They are never late.
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Never comes after are.
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So, before the main verb, but after to be.
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That's the rule.
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Before the main verb, after to be.
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Got it.
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What other time expressions go with present simple?
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Every day.
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Every week.
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Every month.
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Every year.
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Every day.
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Every week.
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Every month.
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Every year.
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I go to the gym every day.
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We visit them every week.
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She cleans the house every Saturday. On Mondays. On weekends.
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On Sunday mornings.
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He plays football on Saturdays.
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They go to church on Sundays.
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I do my shopping on Friday easenings.
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In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night.
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I drink tea in the morning.
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She takes a walk in the afternoon.
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He reads at night.
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Once a week, twice a month, three times a year.
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I call my mother twice a week.
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We go on holiday once a year.
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She visits the dentist twice a year.
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These time expressions are your best friends in Present Simple.
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When you use them, your sentences sound completely natural and correct.
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And when a native English speaker hears these words, they immediately understand.
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This person is talking about a habit, a routine, something they do regularly.
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Exactly.
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So use them as much as possible.
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Okay, now it's time for something really fun.
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Real conversations, real-life situations, using everything we've learned so far.
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Yes, and our first conversation is about morning routines, because everyone has a morning routine,
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and it's one of the most common topics in English conversation.
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And it's almost completely in present simple, so it's perfect practice.
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Let's go.
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I'll start.
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Alice, I have a question for you.
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Of course, David.
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What is it?
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What time do you usually wake up in the morning?
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Hmm.
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I usually wake up at 6.30, but on weekends I sleep until 8 or 9.
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6.30?
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That's early.
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Do you set an alarm?
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Yes, I always set an alarm.
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Two alarms, actually, because I sometimes turn off the first one and go back to sleep.
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I do that too.
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What do you do first when you wake up?
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First, I drink a big glass of water.
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Then I make coffee.
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I never skip my morning coffee.
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It's very important to me.
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I understand that completely.
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Coffee is life.
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Exactly.
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Then I take a shower.
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I always take a shower in the morning, not at night.
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Interesting.
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I prefer a shower at night.
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It helps me relax.
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Oh, really?
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Do you eat breakfast in the morning?
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Yes, I always eat breakfast.
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I usually have eggs and toast.
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Sometimes I have cereal if I'm in a hurry.
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I rarely eat breakfast, honestly.
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I just don't feel hungry in the morning.
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Really?
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My doctor says breakfast is very important.
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He says it gives you energy for the whole day.
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I know, I know.
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He's probably right.
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What time do you usually leave the house?
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I usually leave at 8 o'clock.
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I take the bus to work.
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The bus comes every 15 minutes.
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Do you ever drive to work?
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Sometimes, but I prefer the bus.
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I can read on the bus.
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I always read on my way to work.
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Oh, that's nice.
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I drive to work.
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It takes about 20 minutes.
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What time does your work start?
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It starts at 9, but I usually arrive 10 minutes early.
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I don't like being late.
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Me neither.
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I hate being late.
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Okay, end of conversation one.
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Did you catch all the present simple?
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Let's count some of the verbs.
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Wake up, set, drink, make, take, eat, leave, take, read, drive, start, arrive.
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All present simple.
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All talking about habits and routines.
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Things that happen every day.
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And notice how natural the conversation sounds.
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It's a real conversation about real daily life.
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And it's almost entirely in present simple.
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Because our daily routines are the most common topic for present simple.
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This is the tense of real everyday life.
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Okay, our second conversation is about jobs and work.
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Because when you meet someone new in English, one of the first questions is always, what do you do?
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What do you do?
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Four simple words, present simple.
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And yet it opens up a whole conversation.
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Let's practice.
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David, I just met your friend Paul at the party.
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What does he do?
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He's a doctor.
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He works at the main hospital in the city.
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Oh, interesting.
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Does he like it?
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He loves it.
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He says it's hard work, but very rewarding.
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He works long hours, though.
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Sometimes he starts at 6 in the morning and doesn't finish until 8 at night.
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That's a very long day.
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Does he work on weekends?
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Yes, he works every other weekend, but he gets extra days off during the week.
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I see.
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And what about his wife?
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What does she do?
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She's a teacher.
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She teaches primary school.
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She works from 8 to 3, which is great for their children.
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Oh, do they have children?
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Yes, they have two, a boy and a girl.
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The boy goes to primary school actually in the same school where his mother teaches.
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Oh, how funny.
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Does the boy like having his mother at his school?
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He says he doesn't like it.
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He says his friends tease him.
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But secretly, I think he loves it.
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I think so too.
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And what about you, David?
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What do you do?
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I know we work together, but tell me again.
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I work in a marketing company.
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I manage a team of 10 people.
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I spend most of my day in meetings and answering emails.
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Do you enjoy it?
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I enjoy the people.
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I love my team, but honestly, I don't always enjoy the meetings.
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Sometimes we have five meetings in one day.
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Five meetings.
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That sounds exhausting.
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It really does.
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But the work is interesting.
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We help companies grow.
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We create campaigns and strategies.
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I like that part a lot.
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That's great.
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I think it's so important to like your work.
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I completely agree.
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What about you, Alice?
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Do you still love your job?
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I do.
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I work in education.
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I help people learn languages.
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And every day I see people improve.
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I see them go from knowing nothing to having real conversations.
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That makes me so happy.
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That's beautiful, Alice.
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It really is.
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It's the best job in the world.
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End of conversation two.
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Again, full of present simple.
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Works, teaches, goes, manages, spends, enjoys, helps, creates.
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All present simple.
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All talking about permanent situations and regular work activities.
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And notice, we also used does he like it, does she work, do they have children?
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Lots of questions in Present Simple.
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Because when we ask about someone's life, their job, their family, we use Present Simple.
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It's the tense of who we are and what we do.
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Okay, conversation number three.
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And this one is about facts and opinions.
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Remember, Present Simple is used for both things that are always true and what you think and believe.
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Let's have a fun discussion.
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Imagine we are at a coffee shop talking about life.
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Let's go.
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Alice, can I ask you something?
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Do you think learning a language is hard?
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Hmm, that's a good question.
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I think it depends on the person.
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Some people learn very quickly.
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Others need more time.
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But I believe everyone can learn a new language.
579
I agree.
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I think motivation is the most important thing.
581
When you really want to learn, you find the time.
582
Exactly.
583
Exactly.
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And I think the best way to learn a language is to use it every day, even just 10 minutes.
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It really makes a difference.
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That's true.
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Do you know what's interesting?
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Studies show that people who speak two languages have better memory.
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Really?
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I didn't know that.
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That's fascinating.
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Yes.
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And apparently, learning a language also reduces stress.
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It keeps your brain active and healthy.
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Wow.
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So learning English doesn't just help you communicate.
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It also makes your brain healthier.
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Exactly.
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Science proves it.
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And you know what else I believe?
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I believe that English opens doors.
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It gives you more opportunities in life.
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100%.
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I see it with my students all the time.
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When they improve their English, they get better jobs.
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They travel more.
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They meet more people.
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Their whole world becomes bigger.
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That's a beautiful way to put it.
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Their world becomes bigger.
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It really does.
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English connects people from every country, every culture, every background.
613
And that's why we love making these videos.
614
Because we believe in you.
615
All of you watching right now.
616
We know you can do this.
617
End of conversation three.
618
And this one showed us the opinion and fact use of present simple.
619
I think, I believe, study show, science proves, I see, all present simple.
620
All expressing thoughts, facts, and beliefs.
621
Whenever you share your opinion in English, you almost always use present simple.
622
I think, I believe, I feel, I know, I agree.
623
These are your opinion starters, and they are all present simple.
624
Use them often.
625
They make your English sound natural and fluent.
626
Okay, now let's talk about the most common mistakes that English learners make with the present simple, because knowing the mistakes helps you avoid them.
627
And I have made all of these mistakes myself at some point, so don't feel bad if you make them too.
628
Mistake number one, forgetting the S for he, she, it.
629
We talked about this before, but he is so common.
630
Let me give examples of the mistake.
631
Wrong.
632
She work every day.
633
Right?
634
She works every day.
635
Wrong.
636
He go to school by bus.
637
Right?
638
He goes to school by bus.
639
Wrong.
640
My sister live in London.
641
Right?
642
My sister lives in London.
643
Always remember, he, she, it, add the S, or ES, or IES, but always something at the end.
644
Mistake number two, using do instead of does in questions and negatives.
645
Wrong.
646
Do she like coffee?
647
Right.
648
Does she like coffee?
649
Wrong.
650
He don't understand.
651
Right.
652
He doesn't understand.
653
Wrong.
654
Do it work?
655
Right.
656
Does it work?
657
For he, she, it always does and doesn't.
658
Never do and don't.
659
Mistake number three, adding S to the main verb after does or doesn't.
660
Wrong.
661
She doesn't works here.
662
Right.
663
She doesn't work here.
664
Wrong.
665
Does he eats meat?
666
Right.
667
Does he eat meat?
668
The S belongs to does or doesn't.
669
Never to the main verb.
670
Never both at the same time.
671
Mistake number four.
672
Using present continuous instead of present simple for habits.
673
This is very common.
674
Many learners say, I am going to school every day.
675
Right.
676
I go to school every day.
677
Wrong.
678
She is drinking coffee every morning.
679
Right?
680
She drinks coffee every morning.
681
If it's a habit, something you do every day, every week, regularly, use present simple, not present continuous.
682
Present continuous is for things happening right now.
683
Present simple is for habits and routines.
684
We'll talk more about this difference in video two, the present continuous video, so make sure you watch that one too.
685
Mistake number five.
686
Forgetting to use do in questions.
687
Wrong.
688
You like English?
689
Right.
690
Do you like English?
691
Wrong.
692
She work here?
693
Right.
694
Does she work here?
695
In English, questions need the helping verb do or does.
696
You can't just make your voice go up and expect it to sound like a question in formal or written English.
697
Well, actually, in very informal spoken English, sometimes people do use just intonation.
698
You like English?
699
Spoken with a rising voice.
700
But in proper English, always use do or does.
701
Good point, David.
702
For learning purposes, always include do or does in your questions.
703
It will never be wrong, and it always sounds correct and natural.
704
Mistake number six.
705
Using present simple for things happening right now.
706
Wrong.
707
Look, the bird flies.
708
If you mean right now, this second.
709
Right.
710
Look, the bird is flying.
711
If something is happening at this exact moment, right now as you speak, you need present continuous, not present simple.
712
But if the bird flies every morning, that's a habit, then you use present simple.
713
The bird flies south every winter.
714
Context is everything.
715
Are you talking about a habit or right now?
716
That changes the tense.
717
We'll explore this more in video too.
718
But for now, remember that present simple is not for things happening right now.
719
Okay, we have covered a lot today, but I want to make sure this is a complete crash course.
720
So let's talk about a few extra special points, the things that other English videos often miss.
721
Yes, because we said this video covers everything, and we mean it.
722
Point number one, stativerbs.
723
These are verbs that we almost always use in present simple, even when we're talking about right now.
724
These are verbs for thoughts, feelings, senses, and states, not physical actions.
725
For example, I love you, not I am loving you.
726
I know the answer, not I am knowing the answer.
727
She wants a new car, not she is wanting a new car.
728
He believes in God, not he is believing in God.
729
I understand, not I am understanding.
730
These verbs, love, know, want, believe, understand, need, like, hate,
731
think opinion, see, hear, smell, taste, feel emotion.
732
They describe states, not actions, and states use present simple, even for right now.
733
So if someone asks, do you love this music?
734
You say, yes, I love it, not yes, I am loving it.
735
Although there are some exceptions.
736
Some verbs can be both stative and active with different meanings.
737
For example, I think you're right, opinion, stative, present simple.
738
But I'm thinking about it, mental process, active, present continuous.
739
We will go deeper into this in video too.
740
Right.
741
For now, the key point is verbs of feeling, thinking, sensing, and wanting generally use present simple.
742
Point number two, the present simple with if and when in conditional sentences and time clauses.
743
This is a grammar point that many learners don't know until advanced level, but we're teaching it today.
744
When we talk about something that always happens in a certain condition, we use present simple in both parts of the sentence, not future tense.
745
For example, if you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
746
Both parts are present simple.
747
Not if you heat water to 100 degrees, it will boil.
748
That's possible too.
749
But it boils, present simple, shows it's always true, a fact.
750
When I'm tired, I drink coffee, present simple, talking about a habit.
751
If it rains, I take the bus, present simple, a personal rule, a habit.
752
When the baby cries, she picks him up, present simple, a regular response.
753
So in first conditional sentences that describe habits or general truths, both the if clause and the result clause use present simple.
754
This is a more advanced point, but now you know it, and knowing it makes your English sound much more native.
755
Point number three, using the present simple in stories and jokes.
756
Ah, yes, this is a fun one.
757
Sometimes in storytelling, especially in jokes or when you're telling a story in a very lively, engaging way, you use present simple even for past events.
758
This is called the narrative present or historic present.
759
For example, telling a joke.
760
So a man walks into a cafe.
761
He sits down.
762
He looks at the menu.
763
He calls the waiter.
764
He says, I want the most expensive thing on the menu.
765
The waiter smiles and says, that's our Wi-Fi password.
766
That's funny.
767
Ha ha.
768
But notice, walks, sits, looks, calls, says, all present simple.
769
But the story happened in the past.
770
Or rather, it's a fictional story.
771
Using present simple makes it feel alive, dynamic, like it's happening right now.
772
So native English speakers sometimes use present simple to tell stories in a more dramatic, lively way.
773
It brings the story to life.
774
Interesting, right?
775
The present simple is even more versatile than people think.
776
Okay, it's practice time.
777
This is one of the most important parts of the video, because understanding grammar is one thing, but using it is what makes you fluent.
778
So we are going to do several exercises together right now, and I want everyone watching to actually do these exercises.
779
Don't just listen.
780
Participate.
781
Your English will improve so much faster.
782
Exercise 1.
783
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
784
Ready?
785
Ready.
786
My brother blank work in a bank.
787
He works.
788
My brother works in a bank.
789
Add S because it's he.
790
I blank not like spicy food.
791
I don't like spicy food.
792
Don't because it's I.
793
Blank she speak French.
794
Does she speak French?
795
Does because it's she.
796
No S on speak.
797
The sun blank set in the west.
798
The sun sets in the west.
799
Fact.
800
Add S because it's it.
801
They blank not eat meat.
802
They don't eat meat.
803
Don't because it's they.
804
What time blank the train leave.
805
What time does the train leave?
806
Does because it's the train.
807
Third person.
808
No S on leave.
809
Perfect.
810
Exercise two.
811
Put the words in the correct order to make a sentence.
812
I love this exercise.
813
Always I coffee morning in the drink.
814
I always drink coffee in the morning.
815
Frequency adverb comes before the verb.
816
Does where she live?
817
Where does she live?
818
Question word, then does, then subject, then verb.
819
Not does he understand English.
820
He does not understand English.
821
Or he doesn't understand English.
822
Twice goes she a week to the gym.
823
She goes to the gym twice a week.
824
Beautiful.
825
Your, does, like, brother, cooking.
826
Does your brother like cooking?
827
Does comes first in a yes-no question.
828
Excellent.
829
Exercise three, make your own sentences.
830
I'll give you the situation, you make the sentence, out loud or in your mind or write it down.
831
This is the most important exercise because here you create, you produce, you use the language.
832
Situation one, tell me one thing you do every morning.
833
I brush my teeth every morning.
834
Your turn, listener.
835
Situation two, tell me one fact about your country.
836
Morocco has beautiful mountains.
837
Your turn.
838
Situation three.
839
Tell me what your mother or father does for work.
840
My mother teaches at a university.
841
Your turn.
842
Situation four.
843
Tell me something you don't like.
844
I don't like loud noises.
845
Your turn.
846
Situation five.
847
Ask me a question about my daily routine.
848
Do you exercise every day, David?
849
Your turn, listeners.
850
Ask me something.
851
Great practice, everyone.
852
And if you want to share your sentences, please write them in the comments below.
853
We would love to read them.
854
Oh my goodness, we have covered so much today.
855
I am genuinely impressed with everyone who stayed until this point.
856
Seriously, if you are still here, you are dedicated and you deserve to feel proud of yourself.
857
So let's do a final review.
858
The most important points from today's crash course on the present simple.
859
Point one.
860
The present simple has six uses.
861
Habits and routines.
862
Facts and general truths.
863
Permanent situations.
864
Opinions, feelings, and thoughts.
865
timetables and schedules, instructions and directions.
866
Point two, the form, subject plus base verb.
867
For he, she, it, add s, e-s or i-e-s.
868
Point three, negatives use don't or doesn't.
869
Questions use do or does.
870
And the main verb always stays in its base form after do and does.
871
Point four, frequency adverbs, always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, go before the main verb, but after to be.
872
Point five, state of verbs like love, know, want, understand, believe, almost always use present simple, even for right now.
873
Point six, the most common mistakes are forgetting the S for he, she, it, using do instead of does,
874
adding S after does, and using present continuous instead of present simple for habits.
875
And point seven, the present simple is the foundation of English grammar.
876
If you master this tense, everything else becomes easier.
877
Everything else becomes easier.
878
Please remember that.
879
The present simple is your foundation.
880
Build it strong.
881
Now, before we go, a quick word about what's coming in video two.
882
Yes, video two is the present continuous, and you are going to discover the difference between these two tenses because many learners confuse them, and once you understand the difference,
883
your English will improve dramatically.
884
I eat breakfast, present simple, habit.
885
I am eating breakfast, present continuous, right now.
886
Same action, different meaning, different tense.
887
And video two will make it completely clear.
888
So make sure you watch video two.
889
It's already waiting for you in the playlist.
890
And don't forget, all 12 videos in this series are connected.
891
Each one builds on the one before.
892
So watch them in order for the best results.
893
And if you enjoyed today's video, if you learned something new, if you feel more confident about the present simple right now, please hit the like button.
894
It really helps us reach more English learners around the world.
895
And subscribe if you haven't already.
896
Every video in this playlist is a complete crash course.
897
You don't want to miss a single one.
898
Okay, wonderful people.
899
We are at the end of video one of our Master Every Tenth series.
900
And we want to hear from you.
901
So here is our comment question for this video.
902
Tell us in the comments.
903
Write three sentences about your daily routine using the present simple.
904
Tell us what you do every day.
905
For example, I wake up at 7.
906
I drink coffee every morning.
907
I study English for 30 minutes every day.
908
Simple, clear, present simple, and completely wonderful.
909
We read every comment.
910
We love every comment.
911
And our community responds to each other.
912
So you are not alone.
913
You are part of a global English learning family.
914
A global English learning family.
915
I love that so much.
916
Take care, everyone.
917
Keep practicing.
918
Keep speaking.
919
Keep learning.
920
And remember, the present simple is not just a tense.
921
It's the story of your life.
922
Your habits, your routines, your facts, your feelings.
923
Every day, every moment, every routine that makes you, you.
924
See you in video too.
925
Bye for now.
926
Bye bye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Day 1: Present Simple”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: present, simple, English, verb. This video has 924 sentences and 6105 words to shadow. The speech runs for 36:15. The speaker talks at a natural 168 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| tense noun | /tɛns/ | The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists. |
| continuous adjective | /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/ | Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption. |
| rarely adverb | /ˈɹɛəɹli/ | Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. |
| blank noun | /ˈblæŋk/ | The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim. |
| frequency noun | /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/ | The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period. |
| grammar noun | /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ | A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general. |
| instruction noun | /ɪnˈstɹʌkʃən/ | The act of instructing, teaching, or providing with information or knowledge. |
| boil verb | /bɔɪ(ə)l/ | To heat to the point where it begins to turn into a gas. |
| playlist noun | /ˈpleɪˌlɪst/ | A list of recorded songs scheduled to be played on a radio station. |
| listener noun | /ˈlɪs(ə)nɚ/ | Someone who listens, especially to a speech or a broadcast. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| go around verb | To move or spread from person to person. | |
| go up verb | To move upwards. | |
| open up verb | To open. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- My mother cook very well, correct?
- How do we make questions in the present simple?
- Yes, where do you live?
- Do you set an alarm?
- Do you know what's interesting?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | hasn't happened · we've learned · have made |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are planned · are called · is called |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who speak · everyone who stayed |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most important · the most common · his best |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 74 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: instruction /ɪnˈstɹʌkʃən/, exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/, conditional /kənˈdɪʃ.ə.nəl/, brush /bɹʌʃ/, motivation /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, conditional /kənˈdɪʃ.ə.nəl/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/, participate /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/, motivation /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like verb, habit, routine.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.