1.
Lead-in & Recall (1 minute)
Teacher:
Alright everyone! Before we start, let’s quickly remember the tenses we know.
Last week we practised the Present Simple – things that are true now or happen
regularly.
Just now you’ve learnt the Past Simple – actions finished in the past.
And Now we’ll do an exercise that will help you understand more clearly when to use
Present Simple and when to use Past Simple.
2. Model Example (Sentence 1) (2 minutes)
Here is a short text about an only child. Some verbs are missing. Your job is to choose
the correct form – Present Simple or Past Simple – and fill in the blanks.
This will help you practise both tenses and see the difference more clearly. Let’s do the
first one together as an example.
Teacher: Look at number (1): I’m an only child. I (1) ___ (have) any brothers or sisters.
Is this talking about now or about the past?
Students:“Now.”
Teacher: Good. So we need the Present Simple. The correct answer is: I don’t have any
brothers or sisters.
We use Present Simple because the speaker is an only child right now.
If I say I didn’t have any brothers or sisters, that means only in the past, but now
maybe it’s different. That’s not the meaning here.
So the correct answer is: don’t have. Please write this answer in your books.”
3. Students Work Individually (Sentences 2–6) (3 minutes)
Teacher: Now you do numbers (2) to (6) by yourselves. For each blank, first decide: is it
now (Present) or in the past (Past)? Then write the correct verb form. You will also
need to explain why you chose that tense when we check. You have 3 minutes. Start
now.
4. Feedback & Explanation (3 minutes)
Teacher: OK, stop writing. Let’s check together. Remember: when I call on you, say
your answer and why you chose that tense.
Teacher: Number 2. [Student’s name], what’s your answer?
Student: don’t know … Present because now.
Teacher: Excellent. Present Simple because this is what the speaker feels now.
Teacher: Number 3. [Next student], your answer and why?
Student: think … Present because it’s what people believe now.
Teacher: Good. We use Present Simple because it’s a belief now.
Teacher: “Number 4. [Next student], answer and reason?”
Student: “go … Present because it happened many times.”
Teacher:
“Thank you. You said ‘go’ – Present Simple – because it happened many times.
But look carefully: does the sentence say ‘when I was a child’ or ‘now’?”
(point to text)
Students: “In the past.”
Teacher:
“Exactly, in the past. So even though it was many times, it’s a finished period.
We need Past Simple: ‘I went to my friends’ houses a lot.’
We use Past Simple here because it’s a repeated action in the past, during childhood,
not now.
Please correct it in your books.”
Teacher: “Number 5. [Next student], answer and reason?”
Student: “played … Past because past actions.”
Teacher: “Perfect! Past Simple because these were repeated actions in the past but
finished now.”
Teacher: “Number 6. [Next student], answer and reason?”
Student: “gave … Past because parents gave in the past.”
Teacher: “Exactly. Past Simple because the parents gave love during childhood – a
finished period.”
Teacher (closing):
“Great job everyone. Even if you made mistakes, this is how we learn.
Always check the time in the sentence:
– Present Simple = true now or habits now.
– Past Simple = actions or habits finished in the past.
You all did well, even when we had to correct a few answers. Excellent effort today!
👉 And now, Ms. Trinh will continue with the next part of the lesson.”
I’m an only child. (1) I don’t have (have) any brothers or sisters. A lot of people feel sorry for
me when I tell them that, but I (2) __________ (know) why. They believe certain things to be
true about all only children, but they’re wrong. For example, many people (3) __________
(think) that all only children are lonely, but I wasn’t lonely as a child. I (4) __________ (go)
to my friends’ houses and (5) __________ (play) with the kids in my apartment building.
Also, not all only children are spoiled. While I was growing up, my parents (6) __________
(give) me a lot of love and attention.
