
I) An Introduction
A sentence is presented in simple present tense when it is used to describe an action that's happening at present and does not indicate when the action is expected to end. Simple present tense is used when:
- The action that is taking place in general.
- The action is not only occurring now; it repeats after regular intervals of time.
- To indicate facts those are generally true.
- The action for relating habits and routines that happen all the time, be it in the future, past or present.
- I play tennis.
- She does not play tennis.
- Does he play tennis?
- The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
- The train does not leave at 9 AM.
- When does the train usually leave?
- She always forgets her purse.
- He never forgets his wallet.
- Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
- Does the Sun circle the Earth?
Structure
[VERB] + s/es in third person-
If subject is 3rd person singular.
The verb is used in its original form; - If subject is 1st and/or 2nd person singular.
- If subject is 1st and/or 2nd person plural.
- If subject is 3rd person plural.
II) Description
Common mistakes
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
---|---|---|
I working in London. | I work in London. | The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple. |
He work in London. | He works in London. | The third person he, she, it adds the letter s. |
He work in London? | Does he work in London? | Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. All other persons: do + subject + infinitive. |
Work he in London? | Does he work in London? | Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. All other persons: do + subject + infinitive. |
He not work in London. | He doesn't work in London. | Negatives - third person: subject + doesn't + infinitive. All other persons: subject + don't + infinitive. |
Most verbs conjugate like the verb "run" below. Notice how you add an "s" to third-person forms. Third-person negative forms and third-person questions are made using "does."
Positive | Negative | Question |
---|---|---|
I work in a bank. | I don't (do not) work in a bank. | Do you work in a bank? |
He works in a bank. | He doesn't (does not) work in a bank. | Does he work in a bank? |
I run | I do not run. | Do I run? |
You run. | You do not run. | Do you run? |
We run. | We do not run. | Do we run? |
They run. | They do not run. | Do they run? |
He runs. | He does not run. | Does he run? |
She runs. | She does not run. | Does she run? |
It runs | It does not run. | Does it run? |
Instead of "s," "es" is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z, sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special "es"-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*.
Positive | Negative | Question |
---|---|---|
I rush | I do not rush. | DoI rush? |
You rush | You do not rush. | Do you rush? |
We rush | We do not rush | Do we rush? |
They rush. | They do not rush | Do they rush? |
He rushes. * | He does not rush | Does he rush? |
She rushes. * | She does not rush. | Does she rush? |
It rushes. * | It does not rush | Does it rush? |
To Have
The verb "have" is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with an asterisk*.
Positive | Negative | Question |
---|---|---|
I have | I do not have. | Do I have? |
You have | You do not have. | Do you have? |
We have | We do not have. | Do we have? |
They have | They do not have. | Do they have? |
He has | He does not have. | Does he have? |
She has | She does not have. | Does she have? |
It has | It does not have. | Does it have? |
To Be
The verb "be" is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms.
Positive | Negative | Question |
---|---|---|
I am | I am not | Am I? |
You are | You are not. | Are you? |
We are | We are not. | Are we? |
They are | They are not. | Are they? |
He is | He is not. | Is he? |
She is | She is not. | Is she? |
It is | It is not. | Is it? |
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take "s" in the third person - there is no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb "be" described above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in Simple Present.
Positive | Negative | Question |
---|---|---|
I should go | I should not go | Should I go? |
You should go | You should not go. | Should you go? |
We should go | We should not go. | |
They should go | They should not go. | Should they go? |
He should go | He should not go. | Should he go? |
She should go | She should not go. | Should she go? |
It should go | It should not go. | Should it go? |
III) Usages
Repeated Actions
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
- I play tennis.
- She does not play tennis.
- Does he play tennis?
- The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
- The train does not leave at 9 AM.
- When does the train usually leave?
- She always forgets her purse.
- He never forgets his wallet.
- Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
- Does the Sun circle the Earth?
Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
- Cats like milk.
- Birds do not like milk.
- Do pigs like milk?
- California is in America.
- California is not in the United Kingdom.
- Windows are made of glass.
- Windows are not made of wood.
- New York is a small city.
Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.
- The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
- The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
- When do we board the plane?
- The party starts at 8 o'clock.
- When does class begin tomorrow?
Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
- I am here now.
- She is not here now.
- He needs help right now.
- He does not need help now.
- He has his passport in his hand.
- Do you have your passport with you?
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
- You only speak English.
- Do you only speak English?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
- Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
- Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom.
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