Simple present tense
Simple Present
Introduction
The simple present (also called present simple or present indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show repetition, habit or generalization. Less commonly, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the near future and, in some cases, actions happening now. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and simple present exercises.
Simple Present Forms
S + Verb + O
S + is/am/are + O
The present tense is the base form of the verb:
- I work in London.
- I am a teacher
But with the third person singular (she/he/it), we add an –s or -es:
+ he, she, it: in the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
- he wants
- she needs
- he gives
- she thinks.
+ Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:
- fly => flies
- cry => cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
- play => plays
- pray => prays
+ Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
- he passes
- she catches
- he fixes
- it pushes
Negative/Question
NegativeQuestion:S + is/am/are + not + Object
S + do/does + not + Verb (inf) + Object
Is/Am/Are + S + Object
Do/Does + S + Verb (inf) + Object
- I am not a teacher.
- He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
Negative and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the auxiliary'DO') + the infinitive of the verb with the third person singular.
Examples
- He goes to school every morning.
- She understands English.
- It mixes the sand and the water.
- He tries very hard.
- She enjoys playing the piano.
Example: to think, present simple
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|
I think |
Do I think ? |
I do not think. |
|
You think |
Do you think? |
You don't think. |
|
he, she, it thinks |
Does he, she, it think? |
He, she, it doesn't think. |
|
we think |
Do we think? |
We don't think. |
|
you think |
Do you think? |
You don't think. |
The simple present is used:
+ We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly
- I feel great!
- Pauline loves pie.
- I’m sorry to hear that you’re sick.
+ To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes:
- I smoke (habit)
- I work in London (unchanging situation)
- London is a large city (general truth)
- The train leaves every morning at 8 AM. (repeated action)
Tips: In this case, simple present tense is commonly used with the adverbs always, usually, seldom, never, sometimes, often, frequently, generally, habitually, occasionally, once, twice, thrice etc.
- I drink a cup of coffee every morning. (NOT I am drinking a cup of coffee every morning.)
- My father never tells lies.
- I usually spend my evenings with my children.
- My watch never keeps right time.
+ To give instructions or directions:
- You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.
+ To express fixed arrangements, present or future:
- Your exam starts at 09.00
+To express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until:
- He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.
More Examples
- For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.
- For repeated actions or events
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
- For general truths
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.
- For instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
- For fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March
- With future constructions
She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.
