Use the present simple to describe routines or things that are generally true. With I, you, we and they, use the base verb. With he, she or one named person, the verb often takes s or es. Time phrases such as every day make the routine clear. “She reads every evening” describes a habit, not necessarily an action happening at this exact moment.
Read the first model carefully: “I walk to school every day.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, “Maya washes her hands before lunch.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
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Put am / is / are before the subject to ask a question.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
I am reading.
Moderate / Add a little
She is reading a story now.
Challenge / Try when ready
Are they reading while the teacher writes?
More detail for teachers and confident learners
The present continuous describes an action in progress now. Use am, is or are plus the ing form of the main verb. Both parts are needed. “The children playing” is incomplete as a normal sentence, while “The children are playing” is complete. Look at who is doing the action to choose be. Some spellings change when ing is added, such as run becoming running.
Read the first model carefully: “I am drawing a tree.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, “The children are singing.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
Many verbs take ed, but others change in a different way.
Walk becomes walked; go becomes went.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
Yesterday, we visited our aunt.
Moderate / Add a little
Last night, I ate rice and vegetables.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
We often use the past simple for finished events. Many verbs take ed, but others change in a different way. Walk becomes walked; go becomes went. A time expression such as yesterday tells the reader when the event happened. Keep the event in the past when telling a short recount. Learn common irregular verbs in a meaningful sentence rather than as an unrelated list.
Read the first model carefully: “Yesterday, we visited our aunt.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, “Last night, I ate rice and vegetables.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
The paid worksheet brings together all the lessons in this unit. A separate answer or model guide is included. Page count depends on the skills and activities.
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