How is the present simple formed?

The present simple is formed with the infinitive form of the verb. We add - s for the third person singular. Negatives and questions are formed with do/does.

Positive form	I / you/ we/ they work in HR department.
	He/ she works in HR department. It works well.
Negative form	I/ you/ we/ they do not work in financial department.
	He/she does not work in financial department.
Question	Do you work there? Does he work there?
	Where do you work? What does he do?
	What time do banks close here?

 

When is the present simple used?

We use the present simple tense

· for permanent facts, to say that something happens all the time

Light travels at almost 300,000 kilometres per second.

· to say that something is true in general and to talk about things in general.

 Angela doesn’t drive to work. She goes by bus.

· to say that something happens repeatedly, about habits and routines, to say how often we do things (every year, from time to time, once a month, often, normally, occasionally, rarely, never)

Mike usually goes on business trip two or three times a year.

· when we do things by saying something ( with such verbs as advise, agree, apologise, insist, promise, refuse, suggest)

What do you suggest I do?

· with state (or stative) verbs which are not normally used in the present continuous (like love hate want need prefer / know realize suppose mean understand believe remember / belong fit contain consist include possess seem / cost weight depend on measure /see, hear, smell, taste)

Do you understand what I mean?

Analysts expect the positive results from the development of human resources.

Do you see that man over there?

· for something that is fixed in the future.

The school term starts next week.
We fly to Paris next week.

 

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with the following verbs in the correct present simple form.

differ               pay out           hire        have      provide work               define              include            be

 

1. An employer _____ an employee to do a specific job.

2. Employers _____ everything from individuals to governments and businesses.

3. The HR department incorporates new hires and _____ any benefits which the employee may be entitled.

4. An employment contract _____ the terms of employment between an employee and employer.

5. Temps or consultants _______ from permanent employees.

6. Full-time employees _____ a minimum amount of hours specified by their employer.

7. Temps ___ employed only for a specified period of time.

8. The employee ___ rights and responsibilities.

9. Employees ____ different entitlements depending on the type of employment.

10. As an independent contractor he _____ goods and services to a well- known company.

Exercise 2

Put the verb into the correct present simple form. Sometimes you need the negative.

1. Employment status _____ that both parties know what their rights and responsibilities are. (ensure)

2. If you are a worker your employer ___ work for you on a regular basis. (not/provide)

3. When an employer ______ someone it is up to them to assign their new hire with an employment status. (hire)

4. If you are a worker, the employer _____ the right to control when and where work is done. (not/ have)

5. Self-employed individuals ____ for an employer during the day and ____ for their own business in the evenings. (work, work)

6. Employer _____ liable for the majority of employment rights for their employees. (be)

7. Mark is self-employed and ____ his own business. (run)

8. Typically workers _____ casual workers, agency workers, freelancers etc. (include)

9. He is a worker thus he ______ statutory sick pay. (not/ receive)

10. The employer can subject you to a disciplinary procedure if you _____ the rules (not/ follow).

11. The employees ______ more than 48 hours a week. (not/ work)

12. Workers generally ____ the work themselves but have a limited right to sub-contract the work to someone else? (carry out)

 

Exercise 3