Exceptions when adding 's' :

For can, may, might, must, do not add s.

Example: he can, she may, it must

After o, ch, sh or s, add es.

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worries

but: play - he plays

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: come - coming

but: agree - agreeing

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.

Example: sit - sitting

After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English .

Example: travel - travelling (British English)

Final ie becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.

1. Sue (be) a student from South Korea.

2. She (live) in Seoul and (study) medicine.

3. At the moment, however, Sue (live) in London.

4. She (do) a six-months practical course in a London hospital.

5. In five days, Sue (go) back to South Korea because the next term at

university (start) in ten days.

6. Her mother (worry) ____________ alot.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).

1. Look! He (leave) the house.

2. Quiet please! I (write) a test.

3. She usually (walk) to school.

4. But look! Today she (go) by bike.

5. Every Sunday we (go) to see my grandparents.

6. He often (go) to the cinema.

7. We (play) Monopoly at the moment.

8. The child seldom (cry) .

9. I (not / do) anything at the moment.

10. (watch / he) the news regularly?

11. Whey ___________(travel) you home to China this year?

Exercise 2

Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).

1. This (be) Marc.

2. He (wear) a t-shirt and shorts today.

3. He (eat) an apple at the moment.

4. Marc (like) fruits and vegetables.

5. He (eat) some every day.

6. Marc (know) that apples (be) good for his health.

Mark

1. We (rebuild) our house.

2. They usually (have) dinner at 7 o'clock.

3. The waiter (bring) the dessert.

4. The shop (open) at 8.

5. The lesson (begin) at 8 every morning.

6. She (not work) very hard. She was better last year.

7. She (look) for a new house to live in.

8. Look! The children (drink) beer!

9. It (rain) very often in the south of England.

10. I usually (do) my homework after dinner.

11. I never (go) out on Friday evening.

12. I (not listen) to the radio very often.

13. How often (cook you) lunch?

14. Hello! Where (you go) ?

15. He usually (watch) TV on Sundays.

16. He sometimes (go) to the pub.

17. He (study) Spanish this year.

18. He (come) to visit my mother every day.

19. Can you hear that? Somebody (sing) .

20. At present Lucy (work) on her project.

Articles: A, An, The – definite and indefinite Read the following description

I am from Seattle, Washington. Seattle is a city in the United States. It is near the border of Canada in the northwest corner of the USA. I live in a town called Olympia which is on the Puget Sound. I live in a house in a street in the countryside. The street is called "Bear Street" and the house is old - more than 100 years old! I am an English teacher at a school in the center of the town. I like books and taking photographs. I usually have lunch at school. I usually go home by car. We have all kinds of food in Olympia. I like Italian food very much. Sometimes, I go to an Italian restaurant in Seattle. The restaurant is called "Luigi's". Italian food is great!

Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or The":

a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants

She has a dog. I work in a factory.

an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels & when “h” is not pronounced e.g. an hour but a holiday Can I have an apple?

She is an English teacher. the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the

listener know) The car over there is fast. The teacher is very good, isn't he?

The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that

object use "the". I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms. I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".

He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier. They live in northern British Columbia.

Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas - My country borders on the Pacific Ocean

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general

I like Russian tea. She likes reading books.

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport

He has breakfast at home. I go to university. He comes to work by taxi.

Ex. 1 Insert A or An

Example: We read __ book. Answer: We read a book.

1) We listen to English CD.

2) Emily needs new desk in her room.

3) The speed of this car was 160 miles hour.

4) She has exercise book in her school bag.

5) They finished unit.

6) Ben has old bike.

7) Let's sing song.

8) I need blue pen.

9) Peter has aunt in Berlin.

10) Lucy has dog.

Ex. 2. Decide whether to use the definite article >the< or not. If you do not need the article >the<, use x.

1) My grandmother likes flowers very much.

2) I love flowers in your garden.

3) See you on Wednesday.

4) I always listen to radio in the morning.

5) Alex goes to work by bus.

6) Don't be late for school.

7) Listen! Dennis is playing trumpet.

8) We often see our cousins over Easter.

9) She has never been to Alps before.

10) What about going to Australia in February?

Ex. 3. Decide whether to use the definite article >the< or not. If you do not need the article >the<, use x.

1) Last year we visited St. Paul's Cathedral and Tower.

2) Mount Everest is highest mountain on earth.

3) Loch Ness is most famous lake in Scotland.

4) most children like sweets.

5) summer of 1996 was hot and dry.

6) Plaza Hotel is on the corner of 59th Street and 5th Avenue.

7) My sister often stays at Uncle Tim's in Detroit.

8) Our friends Millers moved to Florida last August.

9) smog is a problem in big cities.

10) Our children go to school by bus.

Ex. 4 Fill the gaps. I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is _____ city in ____ United Kingdom. I live in ___ town called ___ Taunton which is on ____ River Tone. I live in ____ house in ____ quiet street in the countryside. ____ street is called “Hudson Street” and _____ house is old – more than 100 years old! I am ____ English lecturer at ___ college near ___ centre of ___ town. I like books, music and taking ____ photographs. I usually have ___ lunch at college. I usually go home by ____ car. We have all kinds of food in ___ England. I like ___ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to ___ Polish restaurant in Bath. ___ restaurant is called "Magda's". ____ Polish food is delicious!

Countable and uncountable nouns.

What are countable nouns?

Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places, etc. which can be counted.

books, Italians, pictures, stations, men, etc.

A countable noun can be both singular - a friend, a house, etc. - or plural - a few apples, lots of trees, etc.

Use the singular form of the verb with a singular countable noun:

There is a book on the table. That student is excellent!

Use the plural form of the verb with a countable noun in the plural:

There are some students in the classroom. Those houses are very big, aren't they?

What are uncountable nouns?

Uncountable nouns are materials, concepts, information, etc. which are not individual objects and can not be counted.

information, water, understanding, wood, cheese, etc.

Uncountable nouns are always singular. Use the singular form of the verb with uncountable nouns:

There is some water in that pitcher. That is the equipment we use for the project.

Articles with Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

Use a/an with countable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

Tom is a very intelligent young man. I have a beautiful grey cat.

Do not use a/an with uncountable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

That is very useful information. There is some cold beer in the fridge.

Some uncountable nouns in English are countable in other languages. This can be confusing! Here is a list of some of the most common, easy to confuse uncountable nouns.

accommodation advice baggage bread equipment furniture garbage information knowledge luggage money news pasta progress research travel

work

1. It is faster to send an email than ____ letter.

2. _____ Information can be transmitted all over the world.

3. _____ Control of access to the Internet will be a major project.

4. Everyone who owns ____ computer can transmit a message.

Ex. 2 Insert a/an/ the or nothing

. 1__ Communication is 2__ activity in which 3__ information is transferred from 4__ sender to 5__ receiver via 6__ medium. 7__ Technology has greatly revolutionised 8__ communication process. For example, 9__ computer and 10__ Internet allow for 11__ instant response over 12__ great distances.

Homework

Ex. 1 Look at the picture below and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).

1. These (be) Linda and Jeff.

2. Linda (be) Jeff's little sister.

3. At the moment, the two kids (sit) on the floor.

4. Jeff (hold) a book right now, he (read) a story to Linda.

5. Look! Linda (listen) carefully and she (look) at the beautiful pictures.

6. Linda (love) Jeff's stories.

7. He (read) a story to her every day.

8. Jeff sometimes even (write) his own stories.

9.

Linda and Jeff

Ex. 2. Put the verb in brackets into Present Simple or Present Continuous. (do or is doing) Example: We (go) _____ out a lot in winter. (key = go)

1. He usually (work) with paints and brushes.

2. I'm looking at that girl. She (wear) a nice jackets.

3. This animal (eat) meat.

4. Most of my friends (not like) visiting their relatives.

5. At the moment he (stand) inside a telephone box.

6. He usually sits down and (use) a computer.

7. Ornithologists (study) birds.

8. Temperature usually (rise) in the afternoon.

9. (you go) to the meeting next Friday?

10. He (spend) all his pocket money on sweets.

11. She can't talk to you right now. She (have) a shower.

12. I wonder what's with Ann. She (look) very unhappy.

13. Do you know anyone who (speak) German?

14. What's the noise? Tim (practise) the piano.

15. We (go) on holiday in summer.

16. It (get) cold now.

17. I never (drink) alcohol at lunch time.

18. What are you doing? I (read) a very interesting magazine.

19. Look! He (drink) beer.

20. Jane often (talk) to herself.

Ex. 3. Use >a< or >an<. Write the correct forms of the indefinite articles into the gaps. Example: We read __ book. Answer: We read a book.

1) There is new English book on the desk.

2) She's reading old comic.

3) They've got idea.

4) He is drinking cup of coffee.

5) The girl is pilot.

6) Leipzig has airport.

7) This is expensive bike.

8) Look! There's bird flying.

9) My father is honest person.

10) My friend likes to be astronaut.

Ex. 4. Decide whether to use the definite article >the< or not. If you do not need the article >the<, type an x.

Hi John,

I arrived in USA last Monday. We left Rome, flew over Alps and made a

quick stop in London. There we went shopping in Harrods, visited Tower

and enjoyed a sunny afternoon in Hyde Park. On the following day we left for

New York. time on board wasn't boring as there were two films to watch on

monitor. people on plane were all Italian. Before we landed at

JFK airport, we saw Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Empire State

Building. hotel I stayed in was on corner of 42nd Street and 5th

Avenue. I don't like hotels very much, but I didn't have time to rent an apartment. Please say hello to Peter and Mandy. Yours, Peter

Ex. 5. Fill the gaps: a/an/ the

1. Robert and Jessica went to ___ party last night. 2. Can you tell me how to get to ___ cinema from here?

3. ___ college is closed today.

4. Gregory is one of ___ strangest people I know.

5. I recommend you try ___ tomato soup at this restaurant.

6. ___ beer is good for you. 7. Would you like to see ___ film? 8. ___ apple a day keeps ___ doctor away. 9. I can't believe I failed ___ yesterday's test!

10. Do you have ___ dictionary that I can borrow?

Ex. 6. Write a text about your favourite photograph: when and where did you take it? Describe it, etc.