SELF- STUDY MATERIALS FOR UNIT I
Verb to be (the Present Simple Tense)
Positive and Negative Forms
I | am | from Russia | I’m—l am |
He/She/It | is | He’s/She’s/It’s = He/ She/It is | |
We You They | are | We’re — We are You’re — You are They’re They are |
I | am | not | from Russia | I’m not — I am not |
He/She/It | is | He/She/It isn’t — He/She/It is not | ||
We You They | are | We aren’t — We are not You aren’t — You are not They aren’t — They are not |
NOTE: Look at the negative forms: She isn’t married. You aren’t British.
BUT: I’m not a schoolboy.
Exercise 1. Write the short form (she’s/we aren’t, etc.).
1. He is 4. I am not
2. They are 5. It is
3. She is not 6. You are not
Exercise 2. Write the full form (she is/we are not, etc.).
- We aren’t 4. They aren’t
- I’m 5. It isn’t
- You’re 6. She’s
Exercise 3. Put in am/am not/is/isn’t/are/aren’t.
- I ____ from Russia.
- Debbie and Mark ____British. They ____ German.
- My friend ____ interested in computers.
- His parents ____ around 40.
- How old ____ you? I____18.
- London____ situated on the river Evans. It ____situated on the river Thames.
- I ____ keen on sports. But I ____rather good at basketball.
- Her name____ Jane. It ____ Helen.
Exercise 4. Write true sentences, positive or negative. Use am/am not/is/isn’t/are/aren’t.
- I/keen on Biology.
- Rome/in Spain.
- We/Russian.
- Football/a popular sport in Britain.
- The “Beatles” and “Deep Purple”/famous British groups.
- American English/different from British English.
7. My hobbies/art and music.
General Questions
Am | I | a student? | — Yes, I am./No, I am not. |
Is | he / she / it | a student? | — Yes, he/she/it is./No, he/she/ it isn’t. |
Are | we you they | students? | — Yes, we are. / No, we aren’t. — Yes, you are. / No, you aren’t. — Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t. |
Exercise 5. Make general questions with these words. Give short answers.
1. your mother/at work?
2. her children/at home?
3. he/from Italy? ______ ____
4. I/good at English?
5. you/interested in books?
6. I/right?
7. this subject/difficult?
Exercise 6. Give short answers (Yes, I am/No, he isn’t, etc.).
1. Are your parents old?
2. Are all your school friends students now?
3. Is English difficult?
4. Is your home town small?
5. Are you interested in music?
6. Is your friend good at languages?
Alternative questions
Am | I | your friend | or | not? | —Yes, you are / No, you aren’t. |
Is | he/ she | Spanish | or | Italian? | — He/She is Italian. |
it | difficult | or | easy? | — It’s difficult. | |
Are | we | in the city centre | or | on the out - skirts? | — You are on the outskirts. |
you | a student | or | a schoolboy? | — I’m a student. | |
they | at home | or | at work? | —They are at work. |
Exercise 7. Ask alternative questions with the following words. Give answers.
Example: You/a student/a schoolboy? — Are you a student or a schoolboy? — I’m a student.
1. He/in Moscow/in Kiev?
2. Alan and Henry/students/teachers?
3. Your new friends/sociable/not?
4. His daughter/17/18?
5. Your parents/old/young?
6. Russia/a big/a small country?
7. They/designers/artists?
Special questions
What Where Who How How old What What kind of( books) Why Whose friend What colour | is are is are is is is are is is | he? you from? John? you? he? your father like? he fond of? you late? Mary? our flag? | - She’s a shop assistant. - from Germany. - He’s their son. - Not bad, thanks. - Eighteen - He’s sociable and very clever - Historical books. - My watch is wrong. - She’s my friend. - It’s white, blue and red. |
How old is he? - Eighteen.
What is your father like? - He’s sociable and very clever.
What kind of ( books) is he fond of? - Historical books.
Why are you late? - My watch is wrong.
Exercise 8.Ask and answer questions.
Example: What colour is a banana? – It’s yellow.
The sun
Ambulances in Moscow?
What colour is/are Roses?
The Christmas tree?
The sky
Exercise 9.Complete the sentences.
Example: Where are my books? – On the table.
1._ _ _ that clock? 2._ _ Paul from? 3._ _ your favourite subject? 4._ _ _music you fond of? | About a hundred years old. Denmark, I think. Mathematics. Rock music. |
Exercise 10.Ask the questions.
Example: What is your name? – My name’s Mark.
| Her name’s Pam. No my mother isn’t very young. Yes, it is Frank Ellis. Jane. My shoes are black. Olga is very kind. |
Tag questions
I | am | a genius | aren’t | I? | - Yes, I am./No, I am not. |
He | a teenager | he? | - Yes, he is./No, he isn’t | ||
She | is | a Londoner | isn’t | she? | - Yes, she is./No, she isn’t |
It | far from here | it? | Yes, it is./No, it isn’t. | ||
We | we? | -Yes, we are./ No, we aren’t. | |||
You | are | in the city centre | aren’t | you? | - Yes, you are./No, you aren’t. |
They | they? | - Yes, they are./ No, they aren’t. | |||
I | am not | a schoolboy | am | I? | - No, I’m not./ Yes, I am. |
He | isn’t | married | is | he? | - No, he isn’t./ Yes, he is. |
She | isn’t | at home | is | she? | - No, she isn’t./Yes, she is. |
It isn't easy, is. it? - No, it isn't. / Yes, it is. | ||
We You They | Aren't old, are | We? — No, we aren't. / Yes, we are. |
you? - No you aren’t / Yes, you are. | ||
they? -No, they aren't / Yes, they are. |
Exercise 11. Give the correct tag to these sentences.
1. Your mother is thirty-seven years old, ___?
2. It's her birthday today, ___?
3. I'm not in class now, ___?
4. You aren't married, ___?
5. They are Russian, ___?
6. I'm fond of hard rock, ___?
7. Alice isn't very friendly, ___?
Exercise 12. Ask questions about the information in italics. Example: My mother is 50. — How old is your mother?
1. I'm from a small town in the South of Russia.
2. Yes, Linda is a first-year student.
3. Tom and Sue are sociable and very intelligent.
4. My sister is fond of classical music.
5. I am a bank clerk.
6. Today Tony is at home because it's Sunday.
7. His home telephone number is 678-8996.
8. It's 4 o'clock and you are at work.
E. Bazanova, Moscow, Drofa.
Revision test
– Put in am, is or are.
- The weather _is_ very nice today.
- I ___ not tired.
- This case ___ very heavy.
- These cases ___ very heavy.
- The dog ___ asleep.
- Look! There ___ Carol.
- I ___ hot. Can you open the window, please?
- This castle ___ one thousand years old.
- My brother and I ___ good tennis players.
- Ann ___ at home but her children ___ at school.
- I ___ a student. My sister ___ an architect.
– Write full sentences. Use am/is/are each time
- (my shoes very dirty) ___My shoes are very dirty
- (my bed very comfortable) My ______
- (your cigarettes in your bag) ______
- (I not very happy today) ______
- (this restaurant very expensive) ______
- (the shops not open today) ______
- (Mr. Kelly's daughter six gars old) ______
- (the houses in this street' Very old) ______
- (the examination not difficult) ______
- (those flowers very beautiful) ______
– Write positive or negative sentences. Use am/am not/is/isn't/are/aren't.
1. (Paris/the capital of France) Paris is the capital of France.
2. (I/interested in football) _I’m interested in football.
3. (I /hungry) I ______
4. (it/warm today) It ____________ today.
5. (Rome/in Spain) Rome ______
6. (I/afraid of dogs) I ______
7. (my hands/cold) My ______
8. (Canada/a very big country) ______
9. (the Amazon/in Africa) ______
10. (diamonds/cheap) ______
– Write questions from these words. Use am/Is/are.
- (your mother at home?) _Is your mother at home?
- (your parents at home?) __________at home?
- (this hotel expensive?) __________?
- (you interested in art?) __________?
- (the shops open today?) __________?
- (the park open today?) __________?
– Write questions with What/Who/How/Where/Why ...? Use am/is/are.
- (what colour your car?) What colour is your car?
- (where my key?) Where ______?
- (where my socks?) __________?
- (how old your father?) How __________?
- (what colour his eyes?) __________?
- (why John angry with me?) __________?
- (how much these shoes?) __________?
- (who your favourite actor?) __________?
- (why you always late?) __________?
– Write positive or negative short answers (Yes, I am/No, he isn't etc.).
- Are you married? _No, I’m not.
- Are you tall? _Yes, I’m._
- Is it cold today? __________
- Are you a teacher? __________
- Are you tired? __________
- Is it dark now? __________
- Are your hands cold? __________
- Are you hungry? __________
- Is your father tall? __________
- Is it sunny? __________
Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use.
The Present Simple Tense
is used to talk about:
- repeated actions or habits
Every evening my parents stay at home and watch TV.
- permanent situations
Mr and Mrs Smith live in Bristol.
- general truth
The river Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Positive forms
I
You
We live in Moscow.
They
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He plays the guitar.
She studies Computer Science.
It goes very well.
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. I ________ to bed at 11.00 p.m. (go)
2. Jack ________ fluent French. (speak)
3. Her children _________ game shows and cartoons. (enjoy)
4. She _______ always funny jokes. (tell)
5. My sister and I often _______ to read newspapers in English. (try)
6. People_______ personal computers at home. (use)
7. It _______ him about half an hour to get home from college. (take)
Negative forms
I
You
We do not study at school. (do not = don't)
They
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He
She does not work on Sundays (does not = doesn't)
It
Exercise 2. Write positive sentences with the verb in the correct form.
Example: Idon't go to school. — I go to school.
- My mother doesn't come from Russia.
- My friends don't live in Moscow.
- Paul Simon doesn't study at Trinity College.
- My father doesn't work as an engineer.
- My friends and I don't go to the cinema at weekends.
- My friend doesn't wear jeans and a T-shirt to the institute.
Exercise 3. Write negative sentences with the verb in the correct form.
Example: I ____to the radio in the morning. (listen) — I don't listen to the radio in the morning.
- I ___ the dog for a walk every day. (take)
- She ___ all the food in the nearest supermarket. (buy)
- We ___ to football matches every Sunday. (go)
- This car ___ much money — it's rather old. (cost)
- My friends ___ in a bank. (work)
- Pete ___ early at weekends. (get up)
Exercise 4. Write true sentences with the given words.
Example: A child/need love, food, care and toys. — A child needs love, food, care and toys.
A child/need a driver's license. — A child doesn't need a driver’s license.
- A restaurant / sell shoes.
- A restaurant / serve food.
- An architect / design buildings.
- Doctors / take care of sick people.
- The river Amazon / flow into the Pacific Ocean.
- Glass / break easily.
- Scientists / have all the answers to the mysteries of the universe.
Exercise 5. Write positive or negative sentences with the verb in brackets in the correct form.
Example: Children ___ lot of questions. (ask) — Children ask a lot of questions.
I ___ Turkish. (not/speak) — I don't speak Turkish.
1.I ___ hard rock. (love)
2.He ___ to work when the weather is good. (not / drive)
3.You usually ___ my birthday. (forget)
4.The village shop ___ at 10 o'clock in the morning. (not / open)
5.We seldom ____ letters to our old school friends. (write)
6.The planets ___ around the Sun. (go)
7.My father and I ___ television most evenings. (not / watch)
General questions
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
I I I
you you you
Do we come from Russia? Yes, we do. / No, we don’t.
they they they
Does (he / she) go to university? Yes, (he / she) does. / No, (he / she) doesn't.
Does it cost_ much ? Yes, it does./No, it doesn’t.
Exercise 6. Add do or does to make general questions and do, don't, does or doesn't to give short answers.
Example: --------- she live with her parents? — Yes, she-----.
Does she live with her parents? — Yes, she does.
------- you like your job? — No, I ------.___
Do you like your job? — No, I don't.
1. ___I speak good Italian? — Yes, you ___.
2. ___You drive to work? — No, I ___.
3. ___they work hard at university? — Yes, they ___.
4. ___Alan smoke? — No, he ___.
5. ___Patrick like computer games and cartoons? Yes, he ___.
6. ___children usually eat much ice-cream? — Yes, they ___.
7. ___ you take exams every month? - No, we ___.
Exercise 7. Make these sentences into general questions.
- The shop closes at 5 o'clock.
- They have parties every weekend.
- She speaks good English.
- You drink a lot of tea.
- They go shopping on Saturdays.
Exercise 8. Rewrite each sentence as positive, negative, or a general question, according to the instructions.
Example: I visit my parents very often. (negative) — I don't visit my parents very often.
Does he go to school every day? (positive) — He goes to school every day.
She comes from Italy. (question) — Does she come from Italy?
- Helen's husband drives her to work. (question)
- They watch television every night. (negative)
- He doesn't walk to work every day. (positive)
- Does he live in this street? (positive)
- Denny and his cousin go to the cinema on Fridays. (question)
6. His elder brother works in a fast food restaurant. (negative)
Alternative questions
I
Do we like tea or coffee? — Coffee.
you
they
Does he / she get up late or early? — (He gets up) early.
Does it travel fast or slowly? — (It travels) fast.
Exercise 9. Ask alternative questions with the following words. Give answers.
Example: She (get up) early/late? — Does she get up late or early? — She gets up early.
- He (go) to work by bus/by train?
- Classes (start) in the morning/in the afternoon?
- His mother (work) as a bank manager/as an economist?
- Jacky (like) classical music/jazz?
- The shop (close) at 5/at 6 p.m.?
- His friends (watch) television/go out in the evenings?
7. You (play) the guitar/the piano?
Tag questions
I I? — Yes, I do./ No, I don't.
We live in Russia, don’t we? — Yes, we do./ No, we don't.
You you? — Yes, you do./ No, you don't.
They they? — Yes, they do./ No, they don't.
He / She likes poetry, doesn’t he/ she? — Yes, he/she does. / No, he/she doesn’t.
It costs much, doesn’t it? — Yes, it does./ No, it doesn't.
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I I? — No, I don’t. / Yes, I do.
You you? — No, you don't./ Yes, you do.
We don’t speak Italian, do we? — No, we don't Yes, we do.
They they? — No, they don't. / Yes, they do.
He/she doesn’t work in an office, does he/she? — No, he/she doesn't. / Yes, he/she does.
It doesn’t rain in winter, does it? — No, it doesn't. / Yes, it does.
Exercise 10. Give the correct tag to these sentences.
- She doesn't live in London, ___?
- I don't write to my penfriend very often, ___?
- Emma works in a sports shop, ___?
- Her elder brother doesn't play the violin, ___?
- They go dancing on Saturdays, ___?
- It snows a lot in this part of the country, ___?
- They don't stay at home most evenings, ___?
Special questions
What | do | you | do? | — I am a student. | |
Where | do | you | live? | — (I live) in Moscow. | |
When | does | he | get up | in the morning? | — At about 7 o'clock. |
How long | does | it | take | you to get here? | — Half an hour. |
How often | do | you | go | shopping? | — Every other day. |
How well | does | she | know | English? | — Rather well. |
Why | do | you | study | Physics? | — I like it. |
Which (drink) | does | she | prefer? | — Juice. | |
What kind of (books) | do | they | read? | — Different books. | |
How much | does | it | cost? | — 20$. | |
Who | does | she | teach? | — Foreign students. | |
Who | lives | In Moscow? | — Mary and Kate do. |
Exercise 11. Complete the sentences.
Example: Whendo yougetup every morning? — I normally get up at 7 o'clock.
- ___ to the radio? — I listen to it in the morning.
- ___ live? — They live in Newcastle.
- ____ swimming? — I go swimming once a week.
- _____ like? — My sister likes rock-and-roll.
5. ___ work so much? — I have a lot to do.
6. ___ most evenings? — They go to the theatre.
- ___ play chess? — I play it very well.
- ___ take you to get to the city centre? — About an hour by bus.
- ___ in that flat? — My parents do.
- ___cost? — These shoes cost about 50$.
Exercise 12. Ask questions about the information in italics.
Example: I always sleep eight hours every night – How many hours do you sleep every night?
- It snows quite often in Britain during the winter.
- She comes from Germany.
- Children always ask a lot of questions.
- It takes me an hour and a half to get ready for my English class.
- No, my grandparents don’t live in the country.
- Our new car costs a lot of money.
- I don't like Tom because he always makes fun of me.
- Her husband often reads newspapers when he comes home from work.
E. Bazanova, Moscow, “Drofa”
Revision test
– Complete the sentences. Use the correct form of these verbs:
boil close cost cost go have
like meet open smoke speak teach wash
- She's very clever. She _speaks _ four languages.
- Steve _____ ten cigarettes a day. ,
- We usually _____ dinner at 7 o'clock.
- I _____ films. I often _____ to the cinema.
- Water _____ at 100 degrees Celsius.
- In Britain the banks _____ at 9.30 in the morning.
- The City Museum _____ at 5 o'clock every evening.
- Food is expensive. It _____ a lot of money.
- Shoes are expensive. They _____ a lot of money.
- Tina is a teacher. She _____ mathematics to young children.
- Your job is very interesting. You _____ a lot of people.
- Peter _____ his hair twice a week.
– II. Study this information:
How often do you ___? 1. drink coffee in the morning? 2. read newspapers? 3. get up before 7 o'clock? | Bob and Ann | George | You |
never often sometimes | usually never always | ? ? ? |
Now write sentences about Bob and Ann, George and yourself. Use always/usually/often/ sometimes/never.
1. Bob and Ann never drink coffee in the morning.
George ____________________ in the morning.
I _________________________
2. Bob and Ann _________ newspaper.
George _________
I ________
3. _____________________________________________
– III. Write the negative.
1. I play the piano very well. ___________.
2. Jack plays the piano very well. Jack ___________very well.
3. You know the answer ___________.
4. She works very hard ___________.
5. They do the same thing every day ___________.
– IV. Write the opposite (positive or negative).
- I understand. _I don’t understand._
- He doesn't smoke. _He smokes._
- They know. They _______
- She loves him ______
- They speak English ______
- I don't want it _____
- She doesn't want them _____
- He lives in Rome _____
– Complete the sentences. All of them are negative. Use don't / doesn't + one of these verbs: