SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The **simple present tense** is one of the most commonly used verb tenses in English. It is mainly used
to describe habitual actions, general truths, and regular occurrences. It is also used for facts, routines,
and in some cases, for future events that are scheduled. This tense is important for both beginners and
advanced learners of English, as it serves as the foundation for expressing actions in the present time.

1. Structure of Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is formed by using the base form of the verb for most subjects (I, you, we,
they), and by adding an -s or -es to the base form for the third person singular (he, she, it).

- Positive Statements:

- Subject + base verb (or base verb + s/es for third person singular)

- Example: She plays tennis every Sunday.

- Negative Statements:

- Subject + do not (don’t) / does not (doesn’t)+ base verb

- Example: They don’t like coffee.

- Questions:

-Do / Does + subject + base verb?

- Example: Do you speak French?

Conjugation of Regular Verbs in the Simple Present

| Subject | Verb: "play" | Verb: "watch" | Verb: "study" |

|----------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

|I | play | watch | study |

| You | play | watch | study |

| He/She/It| plays | watches | studies |

| We | play | watch | study |

| They | play | watch | study |

2. Uses of Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense has several primary uses. Let’s look at these in detail.

A. Habitual Actions & Routines

The simple present is commonly used to describe actions that happen regularly or habitually. This
includes actions that are repeated over time, such as daily routines or activities that are part of one’s
lifestyle.

- Examples:

- I wake up at 7 AM every day.

- She reads books in the evening.

- We go to the gym three times a week.

B. General Truths & Facts

It is used to state facts, truths, or things that are universally known to be true. This includes scientific
facts, historical truths, or general knowledge.

- Examples:

- Water boils at 100°C.

- The Earth orbits the Sun.

- Birds fly south for the winter.

C. Instructions or Directions

The simple present is often used to give instructions or directions, especially in written or spoken
formats like recipes, guides, and manuals.

- Examples:
 - First, heat the oven to 350°F.

- Mix the ingredients and bake for 30 minutes.

D. Scheduled Events (in the Future)

Sometimes the simple present tense is used to describe events that are scheduled to happen in the
future, especially when it involves a timetable or fixed plan.

- Examples:

- The train leaves at 5 PM.

- The concert starts at 8 o’clock tonight.

E. State of Being or Existence

The simple present tense is also used with the verb “to be” to express states of being, feelings, or
permanent situations.

- Examples:

- She is a teacher.

- I am happy.

- They are friends.

F. Non-Continuous Verbs

Certain verbs, especially those related to mental states, emotions, senses, and possession, do not
usually appear in continuous tenses and are thus used in the simple present. These include verbs like
*know*, *believe*, *like*, *want*, *need*, *own*, *belong*, etc.

- **Examples:**

- I like pizza.
 - She believes in ghosts.

- They own a new car.

3. Key Points to Remember

The simple present tense is characterized by several important rules and points:

A. Third Person Singular

For subjects like he, she, or it, you must add -s or -es to the verb.

- **Examples:**

- She (play ) soccer every weekend. (not play)

- He *watches* TV in the evening. (not watch)

There are specific spelling rules when adding **-es**:

- Add **-es** after verbs ending in **-ch**, **-s**, **-sh**, **-x**, or **-z**.

- Example: *He watches TV.*

- For verbs ending in **-y**, change the **-y** to **-ies** if the letter before it is a consonant.

- Example: *She studies every day.*

- If the letter before **-y** is a vowel, just add **-s**.

- Example: *He plays the piano.*

#### B. Negative Forms with “Do” and “Does”

To form the negative, use **do not (don’t)** for **I**, **you**, **we**, and **they**, and **does
not (doesn’t)** for the third person singular.

- **Examples:**

- I do not like coffee. (I don’t like coffee.)

 - She does not understand the question. (She doesn’t understand the question.)

#### C. Questions with “Do” and “Does”

For yes/no questions, we invert the subject and the auxiliary verb **do** or **does**.

- **Examples:**

- Do you play tennis?

- Does he like ice cream?

#### D. Adverbs of Frequency

The simple present is often used with adverbs of frequency to indicate how often something happens.
These include words like **always**, **usually**, **often**, **sometimes**, **rarely**, and
**never**.

- **Examples:**

- I always eat breakfast at 8 AM.

- She rarely goes to the movies.

- We sometimes go hiking on weekends.

#### E. Spelling Variations

There are some spelling changes when conjugating regular verbs, especially for the third person
singular:

- **Examples:**

- *study* → *studies* (after adding **-es**)

- *go* → *goes* (after adding **-es**)

- *try* → *tries* (change **y** to **-ies**)

4. Common Mistakes in the Simple Present Tense

- **Using the wrong verb form for third person singular**: This is the most common error. Remember
that the verb changes to **-s** or **-es** in third person singular (he, she, it).

- Incorrect: *She go to the gym.*

- Correct: *She goes to the gym.*

- **Confusing “do” and “does”**: Don’t forget that **does** is used for third person singular and
**do** is used for others.

- Incorrect: *Do he like it?*

- Correct: *Does he like it?*

5. Examples of Simple Present Tense in Different Contexts

**A. Habitual Actions:**

- I wake up at 6 AM every day.

- They always take the bus to work.

**B. General Truths:**

- The Earth revolves around the Sun.

- Water freezes at 0°C.

**C. Scheduled Events:**

- The flight departs at 10:00 AM tomorrow.

- My classes start next week.

**D. Instructions/Commands:**

- Turn left at the intersection.

- Mix the ingredients well.

**E. State of Being:**

- He is a great teacher.

- I am tired today.

Conclusion

The simple present tense is essential in English grammar for describing regular activities, facts, and
events. Understanding when and how to use it correctly will improve fluency in both written and spoken
communication. Keep practicing with a variety of examples and you’ll quickly master this fundamental
tense!
Leul abowork

Ehab Nurayni

Girum abel

Bemnet legesse

Akrem kibrachew

Michel netsanet