English - First Year of Study

UNIT 1

Objectives:

a. Students will be albe to recognize and use the present tenses, both simple and continuous.

b. Students will be able to read and speak on a given subject (level elementary).

c. Students will be able to write simple, informal lettes.

GRAMMAR

Present Tense

A. Present Tense Simple

Pattern

Affirmative: Subject + Verb (Short Infinitive/+ -s/-es for third person singular)

Interrogative: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (Short Infinitive)?

Negative: Subject + do/does + not +Verb (Short Infinitive).

Use

1. habitual actions: I go to work every day.

2. repeated actions: He often goes to the cinema.

3. general truths: The sun rises in the east.

4. istantaneous present: The goal-keeper misses the ball.

5. exclamations: Hee comes the train!

6. planned actions: We leave London at eight.

7. the date: Tomorrow is Friday.

B. Present Continuous

Pattern

Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + Verb+ing.

Interrogative: Am/is/are + Subject + Verb+ing?

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb+ing.

Use

1. an action in the moment of speaking: He is reading a book right now.

2. a progressive action which was not finished in the moment of speaking: He is doing his

work.

3. a repeated action in the moment of speaking: He is knocking at the door.

4. a temporary action: Tom is attending the Poly.

5. a planned action: We are leaving tomorrow.

Pactice: Put the verbs in brackets into the correct present tense (simple or continuous):

1. This book is about a man who (desert) his family and (go) to live on a Pacific island.

2. Why you (walk) so fast today? You usually (walk) quite slowly.

3. I (hurry) because I (meet) my mother at four o’clock and she (not like) to be kept waiting.

4. When the curtain (rise) we (see) a group of workers. They (picket) a factory gate.

5. He never (listen) to what you say. He always (think) about something else.

6. You (hear) the wind? It (blow) very strongly tonight.

7. You (see) my car keys? I (look) for them but I (not see) them.

8. In most countries a child (start) school at six and (stay) for about five ears in a primary

school. Then he (move) to a secondary school. At 18 he (take) an exam.

9. Where he (come) from? He (come) from Japan.

10. Mr. Brown often (go) to the theatre but his wife (not go) very often. He (like) all sorts of

plays but she (prefer) comedies.

READING AND LISTENING

Paola is an Italian student of English at a school in London. Read and listen to her letter to

David, her pen friend.

72 Newton Drive

London SW 6

3rd October

Dear David

How are you? I’m fine. I’m in London, at the International School of English. I’m in a class 3

with eight other students. They’re all from different countries- Spain, France, Japan,

Argentina, Switzerland, and Thailand. Our teacher’s name is Peter Briscall. He’s very nice.

He’s funny and he’s a very good teacher.

My new address is at the top of the letter. I’m with an English family, the Browns. Mrs.and

Mr. Brown have three children. Thomas is fourteen, Catherine is twelve, and Andrew is

seven. They are all very friendly, but it isn’t easy to understand them!

London is very big and very interesting. The weather is good - cold but sunny - and the parks

are beautiful! Hyde Park, Green Park, and St. James` Park are all in the centre. It isn’t easy to

use the Underground, but I understand it now. It’s very expensive!

English food is OK, but the coffee is horrible!

Write to me soon.

Love, Paola

P.S. Is my English OK?

Questions:

1. Who is Paola?

2. Where is she studying?

3. What is she studying?

4. What is the teacher’s name?

5. Where is she staying?

6. How old is Thomas? But Catherine?

7. Is English coffee OK?