Are you looking for simple present tense activities for ESL that are fun and engaging? If so, read on for 4 simple present tense activities that are always a hit in my classroom.
How the Simple Present Tense is Used in English
The simple present verb tense is the first verb tense that we teach beginner ESL students. It is used in the following ways:
- – To express habits or routines (regular activities): I walk to school every morning.
- – To express general truths or facts: The sky is blue.
- – To express feelings or thoughts: They think dogs are dangerous.
How can we get students to use the simple present to convey these meanings, and how can we make it fun and engaging?
4 Simple Present Tense Activities for ESL
- 1. Celebrity Daily Routines
As a whole group, brainstorm a list of celebrities on the board. Have individual students or pairs write a daily routine for one of the celebrities using the simple present. They can write 5-10 sentences.
When they finish, have each individual or pair share their sentences with the class and the other students will guess which celebrity they wrote about.
2. Survey with Adverbs of Frequency
After teaching adverbs of frequency (never, rarely, sometimes, often, always), write 5-6 questions starting with “How often do you…?” Make sure the questions are appropriate and would not make students uncomfortable.
Then put the questions into a survey and have students walk around and ask and answer the questions with their classmates and record their answers.
When they finish, ask the whole group about the responses: “Who always eats breakfast?” “Who rarely goes to the mall?” This could lead to interesting discussions about what is typical/atypical in different cultures.
3. Weekdays Vs. Weekends
First, have students take out a blank sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle, and write “Weekdays” on one side and “Weekends” on the other side.
Then have them write what they usually/sometimes/rarely/never do on weekdays and weekends using the simple present and adverbs of frequency.
When they are finished, they can share with a partner and discuss what they have in common.
4. General Truths about Nouns
First, as a class, brainstorm a list of five nouns on the board. For each noun, they will write two general truths and/or facts about that noun using the simple present. Then they will take turns saying sentences aloud while the other students guess which noun their sentences are about.
Try these simple present tense activities for ESL in your classroom today!
For a no-prep simple present tense lesson plan, click the image below! For a bundle of beginner ESL lessons at a discounted price, check out my bestselling Beginner Grammar Bundle.
