Present Simple Tense

Present Simple Tense

English Grammar >>> Present Simple Tense

Structure Present Simple Tense Sfa2_b00

Examples Present Simple Tense Sfa2_b00

We use the Present Simple Tense:

To form the Present Simple Tense we use the verb's base form (go, work, speak, study). In 3^rd person singular (he, she, it), the base form of the verb takes -s/es. (Auxiliary verbs "be," "do," "have", which can also be used as main verbs, are exceptions.) Affirmative form I you work we they he/she/it works /-s/ go - goes /-es/ watch - watches /-es/ play - plays /-s/ study - studies /-es/ ! Remember: to be I/you/we/they are he/she/it is to do I/you/we/they do he/she/it does to have I/you/we/they have he/she/it has Negative form I you DO NOT /don't/ we WORK they he/she/it DOES NOT /doesn't / WORK 1. She doesn't often go to the cinema. 2. I don't get up early at the weekend. 3. They don't speak English very well. Interrogative form I DO you WORK? we they DOES he/she/it WORK? 1. Do they speak foreign languages? 2. Do you want a banana? 3. Does your sister play the piano? Questions and short answers: Do you like spaghetti? Yes, I do. No, I don't. Does she know Bulgarian? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.	1. Philip gets up at 6 o'clock every morning. 2. I go to school every day. 3. She sometimes goes out on Friday night. 4. I usually sleep late on Sunday morning. 5. Peter works for 8 hours every day. 6. We usually start work at 8 o'clock. 7. My children often watch TV in the afternoon. 8. He always forgets his keys.	when we talk about things that happen repeatedly or habitually With Present Simple Tense we often use time expressions such as always, often, sometimes, usually, seldom, on Saturdays, rarely, never, every day, etc.
	1. I work in a bank. 2. Kate speaks English very well. 3. Tom lives in London.	when we talk about permanent or long-lasting situations
	1. People make choices because they can't have everything they want. 2. Nurses work in clinics and hospitals. 3. Football is a very popular sport in Bulgaria.	when we talk about people or things in general
	1. The Earth is spherical. 2. My birthday is in May. 3. California is in the Unated States. 4. The sun rises in the east. 5. Water freezes at 0°C (32°F).	to indicate general truths, facts and scientific laws
	1. We arrive in Rome at 6 p.m. 2. The train leaves in five minutes. 3. The course starts next Thursday.	when we talk about travel plans and timetables (mainly with verbs such as go, leave, arrive, start, come, return etc.)
	1. She loves jazz music. 2. My aunt hates travelling by train. 3. I like ice cream. I don't like spinach. 4. I think she is a wonderful person. 5. Do you believe in God? 6. I have no money at the moment. 7. My brother has a new car. 8. That bicycle belongs to me.	with state (or stative) verbs such as like, dislike, love, think, seem, look, know, feel, understand, want, need, hate, remember, forget, prefer, believe, mean, taste, hear, see, have (when the meaning is "possess"), own, belong, etc. These verbs are not normally used in the Continuous Tense (but there are exceptions).
	1. Pour all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. 2. Walk down the street to the corner and then turn right.	to give instructions/directions
	The Present Simple Tense is also used in : sentences after "when", "after", "while", "till" / "until", "before", "as soon as" - When the rain stops, we'll go out. I'll call you back as soon as I return home. zero conditional sentences (when the result of the condition is always true) - If you heat water to 100°C (212°F), it boils. first conditional sentences (Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real (or possible) situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.) - If you finish your homework I'll bring you to the zoo.
Notes about formation of the 3rd person singular (he, she, it): If the verb ends in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x or -o, add -es to the base form: kiss - kisses, finish - finishes, watch - watches, mix - mixes, go - goes If the verb ends in consonant + y change y to i and add -es: study - studies, copy - copies, try - tries, carry - carries