Unit 2 — Safety First › Language form
The present simple — review
- استعمال المضارع البسيط لوصف حالة قائمة، وعادة متكرّرة، وحقيقة عامّة، وبعد if في شرط يخصّ المستقبل
- تصريف المضارع البسيط مع ضمير الغائب المفرد (-s · -es)، ونفيه وسؤاله بـ do · does
- تجنّب صيغة الاستمرار مع أفعال الحالة (know · like · want · belong)
- التمييز بين المضارع البسيط والمصدر بصيغة -ing (the gerund)
- ضمائر الفاعل (I · you · he · she · it · we · they)
- المضارع المستمرّ (present progressive)
- المصدر بصيغة -ing فاعلا أو بعد حرف جرّ (gerund)
1. Why the present simple?
The present simple describes what is true now and in general: • a present state or a general truth: « When we eat enough food for the exercise we take, we call this energy balance. » • a habit, often with an adverb of frequency: « I always listen to music. » · « People eat a lot of fast food and don't take enough exercise. » • a condition about the future, after if: « If they eat too much food, they will put on weight. » A reminder of the form: I, you, we, they eat — he, she, it eats (a study shows, the world population counts). Negative: don't or doesn't + infinitive. Question: do or does + subject + infinitive.
It is important for people to eat as much food as they need to make sure they have the right amount of energy. If they eat too little food or the wrong kind of food they won't have enough energy. If they eat too much food, they will put on weight. When we eat enough food for the exercise we take, we call this energy balance. In many parts of the modern world today, people eat a lot of fast food and don't take enough exercise. They also eat a lot of sweets between meals. Although most people know that fatty and sugary foods can cause a loss of their energy balance, they find it difficult to refrain from eating them.
| Sentence of the text | Use of the present simple |
|---|---|
| When we eat enough food for the exercise we take, we call this energy balance. | a general truth |
| People eat a lot of fast food and don't take enough exercise. | a habit, a present state of things |
| If they eat too much food, they will put on weight. | a condition about the future, after if |
| Most people know that fatty and sugary foods can cause a loss of their energy balance. | a state: know is a stative verb |
Task 1 — The tense which is mostly used in the text is the present simple. Why?Task 1 — The tense which is mostly used in the text is the present simple. Why?لماذا يغلب المضارع البسيط على النصّ؟
Because the text describes a present state of things — our eating habits today and their consequences — and it states general truths: what energy balance is, and what happens when people eat too much or too little. What is true now and in general is said in the present simple.
Task 2 — In what other situations do we use this tense? Give sentences of your own to illustrate your answers.Task 2 — In what other situations do we use this tense? Give sentences of your own to illustrate your answers.في أيّ حالات أخرى نستعمل المضارع البسيط؟ مثّل لكلّ حالة بجملة.
- A habit: My brother drinks a soda every day. · I always read the labels.
- A general truth: The sun rises in the east.
- A state, with a stative verb: I know English. · This bag belongs to me.
- A condition about the future, after if: If you eat rotten food, you will have serious indigestion.
2. Stative verbs: no progressive form
Action verbs describe events which happen in a limited period of time, with a beginning and an end. They have both simple and progressive forms: « I always listen to music. » (present simple) · « I am listening to a record. » (present progressive) Stative verbs describe states which continue over a period of time. They cannot usually have a progressive form: « I know English », never ✗ « I am knowing English ». Some of them can be progressive when they describe an action: « I see (= understand) what you mean », but « I am seeing (= meeting) the headmaster tomorrow ». And verbs of perception are often preceded by can: « On a clear day, we can see Algiers from here. »
| Verbs referring to … | Examples |
|---|---|
| feelings | like · love · hate · detest |
| thinking and believing | think · understand · remember · know |
| perception | see · hear · smell · touch · taste |
| wants | want · prefer |
| being and having | seem · own · belong · appear · possess |
Task 3 — Correct the verbs that should not be in the progressive. A. I am knowing English. B. Many children are preferring junk food. C. Look! My sister is eating an apple. D. This bag is belonging to me. E. I am seeing what you mean.Task 3 — Correct the verbs that should not be in the progressive. A. I am knowing English. B. Many children are preferring junk food. C. Look! My sister is eating an apple. D. This bag is belonging to me. E. I am seeing what you mean.صحّح الأفعال التي لا تصلح لها صيغة الاستمرار.
- A. I know English. — know: thinking.
- B. Many children prefer junk food. — prefer: wants.
- C. Correct: eat is an action verb, and it is happening now.
- D. This bag belongs to me. — belong: being and having.
- E. I see what you mean. — see means understand here: no progressive.
3. Present simple or gerund?
A verb can also work as a noun: then it takes -ing — it is the gerund. It is the subject of the sentence (« Smoking is bad for you »), or it follows a preposition (« the art of cooking »). When the verb has its own subject and tells what happens, it is in the present simple: « Cooking requires garlic » — cooking is the subject (a gerund), requires is the verb (present simple, -s).
The art of (cook) (require) the use of garlic. Of course, the (eat) or consumption of garlic (be) generally not approved of. (Work) beside someone who has eaten garlic is as bad as (sit) beside someone who (smoke). But while (smoke) is definitely bad for you, there is no doubt that (eat) garlic (be) good for your health and particularly your blood pressure. We are likely to see more 'No (smoke)' signs than we have so far; yet we won't see any 'No (breathe)' signs for garlic eaters. (Cultivate) and (export) garlic has become big business now that so many people use it for (flavour) meat and for (make) medicine that reduces cholesterol. People often buy it when they do their (shop). (Be) a garlic eater is something to be proud of; and this (show) that you enjoy healthy (live).
Task 4 — the text, correctedTask 4 — the text, correctedالنصّ مصحّحا : المصدر بصيغة -ing والمضارع البسيط بالخطّ الغليظ.
The art of cooking requires the use of garlic. Of course, the eating or consumption of garlic is generally not approved of. Working beside someone who has eaten garlic is as bad as sitting beside someone who smokes. But while smoking is definitely bad for you, there is no doubt that eating garlic is good for your health and particularly your blood pressure. We are likely to see more 'No smoking' signs than we have so far; yet we won't see any 'No breathing' signs for garlic eaters. Cultivating and exporting garlic has become big business now that so many people use it for flavouring meat and for making medicine that reduces cholesterol. People often buy it when they do their shopping. Being a garlic eater is something to be proud of; and this shows that you enjoy healthy living.
Two questions each time. Is the verb used as a noun — a subject, after a preposition (of, for), after No? Then it is a gerund: cooking, eating, smoking, being. Does it have its own subject and tell what happens? Then it is a present simple, with -s after he, she, it: requires, smokes, shows — and is for be.
A model answerA model answer
How to prevent home accident fatalities Rule one: Fire is a useful servant; it may also become a ferocious enemy. Explosions are often caused by gas leaks. So you check the gas cooker before you leave the kitchen. Rule two: Medicines look like sweets to young children. If you keep them in a high cupboard, children cannot reach them. Rule three: Water and electricity never go together: you dry your hands before you touch a plug. Rule four: A wet floor causes falls, so everybody wipes it at once.
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