Dialogues and Stories in the Present Simple
Read the following stories and dialogues; pay attention to the Present Simple in italics.◊ For Simple (Indefinite) Present rules and tables (affirmative and negative sentences, questions and key examples see here).
Texts
Grammar: Present Simple (Present Indefinite).Vocabulary: seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) and weather.
Spring
In spring the ground gets warmer and warmer. All kinds of plants come out. Snowdrops and primroses appear first; then other flowers, such as tulips, daffodils, lilac.The sky is blue, the sun is bright and the air is fragrant with the sweet scent of jasmine.
The trees break into blossom, the busy bees are at work.
The first birds, rooks and starlings build their nests, and every morning there is loud singing in the trees and bushes.
Summer
In summer the sun is burning and sky is cloudless.The air is full of insects with their soft hum. A sweet smell rises from the wild roses, camomiles, dasies and green grass. A warm soft breeze stirs the leaves of the limes, birches and aspen trees.
There are many fields around. The wheat is golden, the grass is green. There is a small river nearby. What a pleasure it is to lie on the sandy bank or splash in the water and swim.
Autumn
In autumn the weather is changeable. After the rain we can see a rainbow in the sky. The sun appears. There is a fine day again with the golden trees changing their colour from green to dark brown and bright yellow. It is Indian summer.In late autumn the landscape becomes grey and dull. There is seldom sun to give nature warmth and colour.
The sky is grey. Low clouds hang in the sky. It often rains. Birds fly away to warm countries.
Winter
It is a large, lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the ground stand beautiful flowers like stars, and there are twelve peach trees. In the spring-time they break into delicate blossoms and in autumn they bear rich fruit.Birds sit in the trees and sing so sweetly that the children stop their games and listen to them.
When spring comes there are little blossoms and little birds all over the country. Only in the garden of the selfish Giant it is still winter. The birds do not sing in it as there are no children and the trees do not blossom. The Snow covers up the grass with a great white cloak, and the Frost paints all the trees silver. Then the North wind comes. It roars all day about the garden and blows the chimney pots down. Then the Hail comes. Every day for three hours it rattles on the roof of the castle till it breaks most of the slates. He is in white and grey and his breath is like ice.
The North wind and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow dance about through the trees.
(After 'The Happy Prince' by O. Wilde)
Dialogues
1
- Do you speak French?
- Yes, I do.
2
- Does your mother live with you?
- No, she doesn’t.
3
- You come from France, don’t you?
- No, I don’t. I’m from Italy.
4
- Does your brother live in Scotland or does he live in Wales?
- He lives in Wales now, but he often goes to Scotland to see our parents.
5
- Does it often rain here in autumn?
- No, it doesn’t, but this year it sometimes rains in the morning.
6
- Where do you live?
- I live in London.
7
- Where do you usually have your lunch?
- I usually have lunch at home, but sometimes I go to a café near here.
8
- When does your wife finish her work?
- She always finishes it at 5.30 p.m.
9
- How often do you play volleyball in summer?
- I usually play it twice a week.
10
- What does your son usually do on Sunday?
- He usually reads or plays football with his friends.
11
- Who usually comes to see you at the weekend?
- My parents do.