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Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe actions that are habitual, general truths, or ongoing at the present time. It is formed with the base form of the verb except for the third person singular, which takes -s. The verb "to be" does not use an auxiliary verb. The simple present tense can describe habitual actions that occur regularly in the past, present and future, as well as general statements that are always true. It can also describe present situations and states.

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57 views3 pages

Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe actions that are habitual, general truths, or ongoing at the present time. It is formed with the base form of the verb except for the third person singular, which takes -s. The verb "to be" does not use an auxiliary verb. The simple present tense can describe habitual actions that occur regularly in the past, present and future, as well as general statements that are always true. It can also describe present situations and states.

Uploaded by

Abad Dua
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Present Tense

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?


subject + auxiliary verb + main verb do base There are three important exceptions: 1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary. 2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary. 3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives. Look at these examples with the main verb like: subject I, you, we, they + He, she, it I, you, we, they do He, she, it Do ? Does he, she, it like coffee? does I, you, we, they not like like coffee. coffee? not likes like coffee. coffee. auxiliary verb main verb like coffee.

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary: subject I + main verb am French. French. French. not not old. old.

You, we, they are He, she, it I is am

You, we, they are

He, she, it Am ? Are Is

is I you, we, they he, she, it

not

old. late? late? late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?


We use the simple present tense when:

the action is general the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future the action is not only happening now the statement is always true John drives a taxi. past present future

It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future. Look at these examples:

I live in New York. The Moon goes round the Earth. John drives a taxi. He does not drive a bus. We meet every Thursday. We do not work at night. Do you play football?

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present tense - some of them are general, some of them are now: Am I right? Tara is not at home. You are happy. past present future

The situation is now.

I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? Ram is tall. past present future

The situation is general. Past, present and future.

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