Category: Beginner

  • Negative Statements in the Simple Present: A Quick Guide

    Negative Statements in the Simple Present: A Quick Guide

    What Are Negative Statements in English?

    When you want to say something is not true in English, you use a negative statement.

    Negative statements are very common. They help us talk about things that don’t happen, things we don’t have, or things that are not true.

    Negative Statements with Be Verbs  

    If the verb is Be (am, is, are), add not after it.

    ✅ Examples

    • I am not tired.
    • He is not from Guatemala.
    • She is not at school.
    • It is not hot today.
    • You are not a teacher.
    • We are not in class right now.
    • They are not friends.
    • Karina is not sad.
    • Regina and I are not in the library.

    Contractions for Negative Statements

    Contractions are very common in spoken English

    There are two types of contractions for negative statements:

    1. Contract the subject pronoun (or a singular noun) and the Be verb.

    ✅ Examples

    • I’m not tired.
    • He’s not from Guatemala.
    • She’s not at school.
    • It’s not hot today.
    • You’re not a teacher.
    • We’re not in class right now.
    • They’re not friends.
    • Karina’s not sad.

    2. Contract the Be verb and not. 

     (Remember! You cannot contract am and not)

    ✅ Examples

    • He isn’t from Guatemala.
    • She isn’t at school.
    • It isn’t hot today.
    • You aren’t a teacher.
    • We aren’t in class right now.
    • They aren’t friends.

    (Remember! You cannot contract a plural noun and the Be verb are)

    Negative Statements in the Simple Present with Other Verbs   

    In negative statements, the verbs do and does are helping (auxiliary) verbs. They do not add meaning. They only help make the sentence correct.

    Do and Does are used with a main verb in negative statements in the simple present.

    ⚠️ Important: After do not or does not, the main verb is always in the base form (no –s).

    Subject-Verb Agreement

    Do and Does have to ‘agree’ with the subject of the sentence.

    1. Use do not (don’t) with the following subjects:

                            I

                            You

                            We

                            They

                            Plural Nouns

    ✅ Examples

    • I don’t like pizza.
    • You don’t speak French.
    • We don’t have class on Monday. It’s a holiday.
    • They don’t drive at night.
    • The dogs don’t play in the mud after it rains.

    2. Use does not (doesn’t) with the following subjects:

                           He

                            She

                            It

                            Singular Nouns

    ✅ Examples 

    •  He doesn’t play soccer.
    • She doesn’t watch TV.
    • It doesn’t snow in July in San Antonio.
    • The teacher doesn’t give a lot of homework.

    Common Mistakes in Negative Sentences

    Remember! After do not (don’t)or does not (doesn’t), the main verb is always in the base form (no –s).

    ❌ He doesn’t plays soccer.
    ✅ He doesn’t play soccer.

    ❌ Regina doesn’t likes sushi.  
    ✅ Regina doesn’t like sushi.

    Quick Review of Negative Statements in the Simple Present

    • With Be: Subject + Be verb + not
    • With Other Verbs: Subject + don’t/doesn’t + base verb

    Let’s Practice!

    A. Affirmative or Negative?

    Look at these sentences. Which are negative statements?

    1. You play soccer very well.
    2. She plays the guitar.
    3. They don’t like coffee.
    4. I live in Texas.
    5. He is the best teacher in the universe! 
    6. We don’t have class on Saturdays.

    B. Fill in the Blank

    Use the verb in (parentheses) to make a negative statement. Use all possible contractions.

    1. I ________ (be) at home.
    2. She ________ (like) chocolate.
    3. Alejandra _____ (be) on vacation. She’s working.
    4. They ________ (be) in the classroom.
    5. He ________ (play) tennis.
    6. We ________ (watch) TV in the morning.
    7. You ________ (be) late. You’re on time!
    8. Maria ________ (speak) Japanese.
    9. The dog ________ (be) hungry.
    10. The students ______ (love) grammar class.
    11. It ______ (rain) much in August.
    Check your Answers

    Scoring and Feedback

    🔵 15 – 17 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉 You are ready to use the simple present in negative statements in  your daily life. Keep using them in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 11 – 14 Correct

    Good effort! ✅ You are on the right track. Review the ones you missed and keep practicing.

    🔴0 – 10 Correct

    No Worries! 🌱 You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Conclusion

    Use the simple present every day when you talk about your life. Practice making negative statements about yourself, your family, and your routine. The more you practice, the easier it becomes! Subscribe for updated content from Beyond English!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice . . . Practice . . . Practice!!!

  • An ESL Guide for Beginners: Affirmative Statements in the Simple Present Tense

    An ESL Guide for Beginners: Affirmative Statements in the Simple Present Tense

    The simple present tense is one of the first things ESL students learn – and for good reason! We use it to talk about everyday life: your habits, routines, facts, and things that never change. For example: The sun rises in the east (always true), I brush my teeth every morning (hopefully true), and My cat sleeps all day (definitely true). The Simple Present might look “simple,” but it’s everywhere in English. Mastering it will help you sound more natural in daily conversations.

    ✅ Affirmative Statements

    The Simple Present tense often starts with the basics: affirmative (positive) sentences. These are the sentences that tell us something is true, simple, and clear. For example: I like pizza. She plays soccer. The Earth is round. Easy, right? Affirmative sentences are the building blocks of English communication—without them, we couldn’t share even the simplest facts about our lives.

    ✨ Every sentence you make is a step toward telling your story in English.

    Affirmative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense: Rules and Examples

    Subject-Verb Agreement

    There are two forms for affirmative statements in the simple present.

    1. For the following subjects we use the base form of the verb:

    I

    You

    We

    They

    Plural Nouns

    Remember!

    Plural = 2 or more

    ✅ Examples

    • I play soccer.
    • You like pizza.
    • We study English on Mondays.
    • They live in San Antonio.
    • Dogs bark at cats.

    2. For the following subjects we use the -s form of the verb: 

    He

    She

    It

    Singular Nouns

    Remember!

    Singular = 1

    ✅ Examples

    • He plays soccer.
    • She likes pizza.
    • It rains a lot in April.
    • The teacher speaks really fast!

    Spelling Guide: Adding -s in the Simple Present

    1. Most verbs → Add –s to the end of the verb

    • work → works
    • play → plays
    • read → reads

    2. Verbs ending in –s, –ch, –x, or –o → Add –es to the end of the verb

    • pass → passes
    • wash → washes
    • watch → watches
    • fix → fixes
    • go → goes

    3. Verbs ending in consonant + y → Change y to i + add –es

    • study → studies
    • carry → carries
    • try → tries

    ⚠️ But if the verb ends in a vowel + y, just add -s.

    • play → plays
    • enjoy → enjoys

    4. Be careful with irregular forms

    Some verbs are irregular (special). The most common one is:

    • have → has

    Common Verbs in the Simple Present

    Here are some verbs you will see often:

    • work
    • study
    • eat
    • play
    • live
    • like
    • have

    Don’t forget the –s with he, she, it, and singular nouns!

    ✅ He drives to the gym.  
    ❌ He drive to the gym.

    ✅ She works at a school.
    ❌ She work at a school.

    ✅ It plays at the park.
    ❌ It play at the park.

    ✅ The cat sleeps on the couch.
    ❌ The cat sleep on the couch.

    Let’s Practice!

    A. Choose the correct option for each sentence.

    1. I ___ to school every day.
    a) go
    b) goes

    2. She ___ English on Monday.
    a) study
    b) studies

    3. They ___ in a big house.
    a) live
    b) lives

    4. He ___ pizza on Fridays.
    a) eat
    b) eats

    5. We ___ the guitar.
    a) play
    b) plays

    B. Write the correct form of the verb in (parentheses).

    1. He ___ (study) English every day. → He studies English every day.

    2. She ___ (wash) the dishes. → She washes the dishes.

    3. It ___ (rain) a lot in May. → It rains a lot in May.

    4. They ___ (work) at the coffee shop.

    5. Lucia ___ (have) two dogs and one cat.

    Check Your Answers

    Scoring & Feedback

    🔵 8 – 10 Correct
    Excellent work! 🎉 You are ready to use the simple present in affirmative statements in   your daily life. Keep using them in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 6 – 7  Correct
    Good effort! ✅ You are on the right track. Review the ones you missed and keep practicing.

    🔴0 – 5 Correct
    No Worries! 🌱 You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Conclusion

    Use the simple present every day when you talk about your life. Practice making affirmative statements about yourself, your family, and your routine. The more you practice, the easier it becomes! Subscribe for updated content from Beyond English!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • New ESL Books on Amazon

    The Essential English series builds a strong foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills for everyday life. Clear explanations, real-world examples, practical activities, and online resources help learners improve reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills — preparing them for confident, real-world communication.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 1

    Cover of Essential English – Level 1 Book 1, ESL textbook for beginners, teaching prepositions of place, be verbs, and simple sentences.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 1 introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe the location of people and object using prepositions of place (on, in, next to, between, above, under), form simple sentences using subject pronouns and Be verbs, and make both positive and negative statements. This book also has links to online resources which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 2

    Cover of Essential English – Level 1 Book 1, ESL textbook for beginners, teaching prepositions of place, be verbs, and simple sentences.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 2 introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe the location of people and object using prepositions of place (in front of, behind, across from, near, far from, in, at) and ask and answer Yes/No questions using Be verbs. This book also has links to online resources which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 3

    Cover of Essential English – Level 1 Book 3, ESL textbook for beginners, focusing on meeting new people, asking questions using Wh- words.

    Essential English: Level 1 * Book 3 introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe locations using prepositions of place (on, at, in, from) and ask and answer Wh- questions using Wh- words (What, Where, When, Why, Who, and How). This book also has links which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    Check out our blog posts on Prepositions of Place and Subject Pronouns