LESSON 3: THE

THOMASITES
TO A NEW
LAND
IDENTIFYING
VERB TENSES
THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Note the following sentences:

On the farm, people get up early every morning.

The birds sing merrily as they hop from branch to
branch.
The girl feeds the chickens daily.
The boy helps Father on the farm every weekend.
He, She, helps Father
It

I, We, You, help Father

They
The simple present form is
used to indicate the following:
1. General truth
The sun gives light and heat; the earth absorbs heat.
2. Permanent location
Down in the southernmost part of the Philippines lies
the Sulu Archipelago.
3. Habitual Action
Every afternoon we listen to the birds sing.
Father works hard on the farm every day.
Adverbials such as daily, every day, frequently, and
usually are often used in expressing habitual action.
4. Present Action
As a dutiful daughter, she comes to visit her
parents.
Nurses work overtime because there are very many
patients.
5. Commands or requests
Please come on time.
Always submit your homework.
6. Future action
We leave for the city tomorrow.
The train arrives at five oclock this afternoon.
Exercise 1. Using Present Tense Correctly. Decide
when to use the s form of the verb in the present
tense. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the
verb in the parentheses.

1. Shady trees _______(look) inviting on a hot afternoon.

2. Living in the country _______ (seem) more healthful than living in
the city.
3. Your health largely _______ (depend) on your surroundings.
4. Working on the farm _______ (develop) ones muscles.
5. In the country, people _______ (feel) closer to nature.
6. Watching birds and listening to them sing _______ (uplift) the
soul.
7. The river _______ (tell) its secrets to youngsters willing to learn
them.
8. The beauty and serenity of nature _______ (soothe) the soul and
_______ (comfort) the heart.
9. Bright and beautiful, nature _______ (raise) our spirits, _______
(inspire) us, and _______(make) us see Gods face in everything.
10. Nature _______(repay) those who love her.
11. Environment _______(affect) people.
12. Different climates _______(dictate) the clothing we wear.
13. On cold days many _______(wear) sweaters.
14. On warm days everyone _______(perspire) a lot.
15. So, on these days people _______(put on) light clothes.
16. Then, everyone really _______(need) much water to drink.
17. Our natural environment _______(consist) of location,
climate, soil, and topography.
18. Urban environments _______(differ) from rural
environments.
19. Students in the city often _______(ride) to school.
20. On the other hand, a student in the province usually
_______(walk) to a nearby school.
THE
PRESENT
PROGRESSIV
Study the sentences below:

I am staying with my Uncle on his farm.

We are staying with Uncle on his farm.
He is staying with Uncle on his farm now.
The present progressive tense is used to express action going
on at the moment of speaking. The present progressive tense
makes use of a form of the verb be (is, am, are) added to the
ing form of the verb.

I am (not) working now.

We, You, They Are (not) working on the project now.
He, She, It is (not) working now.

Am I (not) working now?

Are You, We, They (not) working on the project now?
Is He, She, It (not) working now?
Exercise 3. Using Present Progressive Tense
Correctly. Using the given cues, fill in the blanks
with the verbs in the present progressive tense

Cue: Everyone _______(show) great cooperation.

Answer: Everyone is showing great cooperation.
1. Everybody _______(work) on assigned projects.
2. Some men _______(put) up fences around newly planted trees.
3. Some students _______(help) with signs.
4. Parent volunteers _______(supervise) the students.
5. Mario _______(paint) the fences before they will be used.
6. Some high school students _______(plant) flowering plants.
7. They _______ all (do) the work with earnest.
8. Some homeowners _______(trim) their own hedges.
9. Some girls _______(arrange) flowerpots on the school grounds.
10. Everybody _______(enjoy) beautifying the area in and around
the school