VERB TENSES
PRESENT SIMPLE
The present simple tense is used to express repeated actions, habits or generalization. Less commonly the present simple is used to talk about scheduled events in the near future.
It is formed with the base form (V1) of the verb. In the third person singular -s or -es is added.
Time adverbs and adverbial phrases often used with present simple are as follows:
always, often,
usually, sometimes
rarely, seldom, hardly ever, occasionally, never
EVERY day/week/summer,
once/twice a month etc.
FORMS OF PRESENT SIMPLE
Most Verbs
Affirmative
I swim.
You swim.
He/she/it swims.
We swim.
They swim.
Negative
I don’t swim.
You don’t swim.
He/she/it doesn’t swim.
We don’t swim.
They don’t swim.
Question
Do I swim?
Do you swim?
Does he/she/it swim?
Do we swim?
Do they swim?
Spelling rules
- Verbs that end in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o take the -es suffix in the third person singular.
Do/does, mix/mixes, watch/watches, pass/passes - Verbs that end in -y take the -ies fly/flies, cry/cries. BUT! buy/buys, stay/stays
Verb ‘BE’
Affirmative
I am happy.
You are happy.
He/she/it is happy.
We are happy.
They are happy.
Negative
I am not happy.
You are not happy.
He/she/it is not happy.
We are not happy.
They are not happy.
Question
Am I happy?
Are you happy?
Is he/she/it happy?
Are we happy?
Are they happy?
In everyday speech contracted forms are preferred. are not = aren’t, is not = isn’t, what is = what’s.
Verb ‘HAVE’
Affirmative
I have a car.
You have a car.
He/she/it has a car.
We have a car.
They have a car.
Negative
I don’t have a car.
You don’t have a car.
He/she/it doesn’t have a car.
We don’t have a car.
They don’t have a car.
Question
Do I have a car?
Do you have a car?
Does he/she/it have a car?
Do we have a car?
Do they have a car?
ADVERB PLACEMENT
adverbs of frequency usually come before the main verb:
She often invites people for Thanksgiving. She hardly ever goes out with her friends.
Verb ‘BE’ precedes the adverb:
He is rarely happy these days. Jamie is usually late for the lesson but the other students are always on time.
‘sometimes’ and ‘usually’ can also be at the beginning of the sentence:
Sometimes it’s better not to say anything. Usually the annual meetings are tedious but this year it’s fabulous.
adverbial phrases normally come to the end of the sentence:
She works hard for living every single day. Cynthia goes for running once in a blue moon.
USE OF PRESENT SIMPLE
1
for repeated actions/habits
Cathy usually gets up before 9AM.
I hardly ever play football.
Sometimes we should forgive each other.
Jack often visits his grandma.
She never forgets my birthday.
2
for general truths/permanent situations
Vegetarians don’t eat meat.
The Sun rises in the east.
Children like chocolate.
I live in Brighton.
She works as a maths teacher.
3
to talk about now (with stative verbs)
more on stative and action verbs in the chapter ‘VERBS’
I don’t need your help now.
She looks tired.
Who does this bag belong to?
This house costs a fortune.
4
to talk about scheduled events
Flight No. SA252 takes off at 12:15PM.
The train leaves the station at 6 PM.
The English class starts at 8AM and finishes at 8:50AM
5
in giving instructions/imperatives
Believe in yourself!
Stop shouting!
Wash your hands before eating.
Take this letter to my office.
Come in and be quiet.
6
in subordinate time clauses (if they refer to the future)
As soon as I get the information, I will give you a call.
I’ll finish it when I get back home.
Before you hand in your application, make sure you’ve signed your name.
If you finish your homework, you can go out to play football.
7
in news headlines (to talk about past events)
Prisoners escape from a well-protected cell.
A private plane crashes near Ipswich. Only the co-pilot survives.
Real Madrid wins the trophy for the third time.
8
to tell jokes
Sherlock Holmes and dr Watson go camping. In the morning, as they are lying in their sleeping bags, Holmes says, ‘Watson, look up at the sky. What can you deduce?’
So Watson says, ‘Well, the sky is reddish, we’re going to have a clear day. The Sun is about to rise, so it must be about 5 am. There are no clouds, so it probably won’t rain.’
Holmes bursts out, ‘Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent.’
The differences between the present simple and the present continuous
A: What do you do? B: I’m a dentist. (what’s your profession?)
A: What are you doing? B: Cooking lunch. (at the moment)
Greg comes from Wales. (He is Welsh)
Greg is coming from Wales. (He is returning from Wales.)
The train leaves at 8AM. (…according to the timetable)
The train is leaving in a moment. (let’s run, we’ll miss it.)
He always tells jokes. (He is a funny guy; it’s good to listen to him)
He is constantly telling corny jokes. (He is annoying; I wish he would stop)
Use ’DO’ and ’DOES’ in positive sentences for emphasis to give an extra stress to your words.
He does work very hard for living.
You do look pretty in that red dress.
It does cost a lot of money, but I am sure it is a good investment.
Yes, I do believe that she will pass her final exam.
Take the QUICK TEST and check your knowledge on present simple and present continuous. Once it’s done, you’ll receive an instant score that will give you a good idea how well you have mastered this particular part of grammar.
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