Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense Simple present tense definition The simple present tense is one of several forms of the present tense in English. The present simple one of the most commonly used tenses in the English language. We use the simple present tense when describing things that are true, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it’s sometimes called present indefinite). The present tense is the base form of the verb. But with the third person singular (she/he/it), we add an –s. The present simple tense uses We often use adverbs of frequency like sometimes, always, and never with the present simple tense He is always late. I never play baseball. She often cooks dinner at 5 p.m. Some other signal words: usually, often, sometimes, seldom every day/week/month/… To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or  unchanging situations, emotions and wishes Habit Unchanging situations: A general truth He rides a bike every day. I work in London.  Beijing is a large city. To give advice, directions or instructions You go straight ahead and then turn right. Please practice English for thirty minutes a day! To express fixed arrangements, present or future Our exam ends at 3 p.m. That soccer match starts at 9 a.m. To express future time, after some conjunctions  such as after, when, before, as soon as, until He’ll give it to you when you come next Saturday. Stative verbs and verbs of thought/memory  (like, love, need, prefer,…) He likes playing football. I prefer to read comics. I need some coffee. Conjugation of English Simple Present Tense In the present simple tense, most regular verbs use the root form, except in the third-person singular (which ends in -s). The third-person singular ends with -es instead of -s. Typically, these are verbs whose root form ends in o, ch, sh, ss, x, or z. Some verbs that end in -y will be changed to -ies. Example: fly –> flies, cry –> cries. There is an exception to this rule when there is a vowel before the -y: play –> plays, pray –> prays The verb to be is irregular: affirmative sentence (because it is in the third person) disappears in the negative sentence. Importantly, contractions should not be used in formal written English such as essays or applications. They are mainly used in spoken and informal written English Examples:  I don’t go to school on Sunday. You don’t go to school on Sunday. We don’t want to swim. They don’t go to work. He doesn’t work hard. She doesn’t work hard. It doesn’t work well. Make the verb to be negative [to be] + not I am not a student. He is not a student = He isn’t a student. They are not late = They aren’t late. Questions in the Simple Present Tense To make a question in English we put Do/Does, Is/Are, or modal verbs (can, must, might,…) at the beginning of the question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we, or they. When the subject is he, she or it, we add Does You speak English → He speaks French. –> Do you speak English? Does he speak French? Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in the third person) disappears in the question. We do not use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can, must, might, should,…) Wh- questions in the Simple Present Tense Wh-questions are questions that require more information in their answers. They are made using Wh- words such as what, where, when, why, which, who, how, how many, how much,… To make a Wh- question, use the same word order as with yes-no questions but put a question word before the verb do or does. Wh- question + do/does + Subject + Verb (infinitive without “to”) + Object? Examples: Where do you live? When does the train arrive? How do you go to school? How much does it cost? Why does he go to the movie theater? Tenses table Look at the present simple tense table below to review the lessons. Statement    Negative Statement Yes/No Question Short Answer I am a doctor.    You have a big room. We are friends They sing a song. He lives in Paris She is a student. It is a dog I am not a doctor. You do not have a big room. We are not friends.    They do not sing a song. He does not live in Paris She is not a student.    It is not a dog    Is    Am I a doctor? Do you have a big room? Are we friends? Do they sing a song? Does he live in Paris? Is she a student? Is it a dog? Yes, I am./ No, I am not. Yes, you do./ No, you do not. Yes, we are./ No, we are not Yes, they do./ No, they do not. Yes, he does./ No, he does not. Yes, she is,/ No, she is not. Yes it is./ No, it is not.