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 work seven days a week.
• She goes shopping once a week.

• 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 belong to our local library?
• Does it often rain in Georgia in autumn?

• 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 see each other very often.
• She doesn’t seem to be happy.
Spelling rules:

 The majority of verbs add the suffix –s

 e.g. work - works
 If the verb ends in s, ss, x, z, ch, sh, o the suffix –es is added to the verb
 e.g. wash - washes
 If the verb ends in –y and -y is preceded by a consonant, in the third person
singular –y changes into –i and the suffix –es is added [y i+es]
 e.g. cry - cries
 But if the verb ends in –y and –y is preceded by a vowel, in the third person
singular only the suffix –s is added to the verb
 e.g. play – plays
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 turkey in the oven.
• Pavarotti dies.

• 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