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The Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, facts that are generally true, and scheduled events in the near future. It is formed by using the base form of verbs except for third person singular, which takes -s. The simple present can describe habits, schedules, and generalizations, as well as events happening now in some cases using certain verbs. Questions are formed with do/does and negatives with do/does not.

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1K views2 pages

The Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, facts that are generally true, and scheduled events in the near future. It is formed by using the base form of verbs except for third person singular, which takes -s. The simple present can describe habits, schedules, and generalizations, as well as events happening now in some cases using certain verbs. Questions are formed with do/does and negatives with do/does not.

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Anastasia Gonzalez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

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

The simple present is just the base form of the verb. Questions are made with do and
negative forms are made with do not.

• Statement: You speak English.


• Question: Do you speak English?
• Negative: You do not speak English.

In the third person singular, -s or -es is added. Questions are made with does and
negative forms are made with does not.

• Statement: He speaks English.


• Question: Does he speak English?
• Negative: He does not speak English.

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.

Examples:

• 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?
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.

Examples:

• 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. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

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.

Examples:

• 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?

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.

Examples:

• 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

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