Present Simple

Formation, usage, examples

Formation:
The Simple Present Tense 

• Affirmative is formed with the base form of the verb. In the third person singular (he, she, it) the suffix –
(e)s is added to the verb
• I attend classes every day.
• She goes for a walk every other day.

• Interrogative is formed with the auxiliary verb –do (-does in the third person singular). The auxiliary
verb stands before the subject and the main verb is in the base form.
• Do you study in this academy ?
• Does it often snow in north part od georgia?

• Negative is formed with do not (don’t) and does not (doesn’t) standing after the subject + the main
verb in the base form. 
• We don’t talk to each other often.
• She doesn’t seem to be enjoying this party.
Usage:
The Simple Present is used
• to express the general truth/scientific facts (Timeless Present)
• The earth goes round the sun.
• to express habitual, repeated actions
• He drinks a litre of milk every day.
• Instead of Present Continuous with non-continuous/non-progressive verbs
• I see this slide on my screen.
• Instead of Future Simple in conditional sentences with if, unless, as soon as,
before, after, when, until, till and so on.
• If I see him, I will tell him about the party.
• With a future meaning when we talk about timetables, programmes etc,
• My train leaves at 9:30 a.m.
• In commentaries (on radio or television), stage directions, demonstrations or
experiments, announcements, headlines, exclamations
• Johnson passes to Roberts, Roberts to Watkins.
• I now place the dough in the oven.
• Instead of Past to express past actions, in order to make a description or narrative seem
present or vivid, to make the past alive again (especially stories and
jokes)(Historical/dramatic Present
• When Hamlet meets his father’s ghost, he learns the truth about his uncle Claudius.
• When you make a suggestion, you can say why don’t you…?
• __ I am tired
• __ Why don’t you go to bed early tonight?
• with adverbs of time and frequency
• Every day (week, month …)
• Usually/normally
• Frequently/often
• Sometimes/occasionally
• Seldom/rarely