1.1 We like Saturdays (sentence structure)

Reflexiona

The Present Simple tense (positive)

Read what one of Paco's friends says:

Paco y sus amigos
Elaboración propia
 

Whenever we meet we usually have a good time. On Saturdays, for example, we frequently meet at 5 p.m. to have a cup of coffee before the football match. We like football very much. After that, we often go to the burger bar to have a sandwich or a hamburger and a coke. We never drink alcohol. One of our friends, Juan, sometimes tells jokes there and we laugh a lot. Then, we go to the cinema or to a disco. On Sundays, we are always very tired and we usually stay at home. But Saturdays are fantastic!

Can you recognize the Present Simple tenses in the text?

And the adverbs of frequency?

Curiosidad

Do you know where the word sandwich comes from?
4th Earl of Sandwich
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
Imagen de Thomas Gainsborough en wikimedia. Dominio público


This type of food was named after the English aristocrat John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. It is said that he liked playing cards so much that to avoid stopping the game to eat, he ordered his servants to bring his food to the table. The valet would bring some cold beef between two slices of bread. Later the snack became known as sandwich.

 

Importante

In this text, we are told about the things Paco and his friends like doing. As you can see, the main tense used is the Present Simple Tense, both in the affirmative and negative forms. Remember the word order of English sentences:

Subject + Verb + (Indirect Object) + (Direct Object) + (How) + (Where) + (When)

Have a look at the following examples:

Subject + Verb +

Indirect Object

+
 Direct Object + How + Where
 +
 When
We + have +   + a good time.            
We + like +   + football + very much.        
One of our friends + tells +   + jokes +   + there.    
My friends and I + give + Paco + an apple +   + in the cinema + every Saturday.

Comprueba lo aprendido

Read the following sentences and say if the word order in them is correct (true) or incorrect (false):

Pregunta 1

1. Tell jokes Paco and his friends in the cinema on Saturdays

Sugerencia

Subject: Paco and his friends

Verb: tell

Direct Object: jokes

Where: in the cinema

When: on Saturdays.

Pregunta 2

2. Paco's friends like sandwiches and cokes.

Sugerencia

Subject: Paco's friends

Verb: like

Direct Object: sandwiches and cokes.

Pregunta 3

3. Keep us young smiles.

Sugerencia

Subject: Smiles

Verb: keep

Indirect Object: us

How: young.

Ejercicio Resuelto

Paco's favourite films

Imagen de Camila Ulloa en Flickr.

Licencia CC.
  1. likes / hot dogs / and / My father / sandwiches.
  2. gets up / very early / He / in the morning.
  3. Paco and Juan / on Saturdays / tell / often / jokes.
  4. excellent / Paco / an / football player / is.
  5. with his friends / tennis / plays /at weekends / He.
  6. Paco's friends / to the cinema / going / like / on Saturdays.
  7. always / meet / at 5 p.m. / They.
  8. Sofia's friends / like / football / don't / at all.

Write the previous sentences in the correct order.

Para saber más

As you have seen, the structure of positive/affirmative English sentences is more fixed than in Spanish. So, it makes things easier. But, how about the structure of negative English sentences in the Present Simple tense? Let's study them.