General truths (or facts)

Habitual actions (things that happen regularly, repeatedly or all the time)

▸Subject + verb (base form) + rest of the sentence

» It always rains here in May.

» Many trees lose their leaves in Autumn.

» I take the bus to the office.

» I go to the park every day.

» She runs every morning.

Formation

▸ Affirmative form

Subject + verb + rest of the sentence

Table 01: Affirmative form of the Present Simple

▸ Negative form

Subject + do not/does not + verb + rest of the sentence

Table 02: Negative form of the Present Simple

▸ Interrogative form

Do/Does + subject + verb + rest of the sentence + ?

Table 03: Interrogative form of the Present Simple

▸ Negative question form

Do/Does + subject + not + verb + rest of the sentence + ?

Table 04: Negative question form of the Present Simple

Rules

The verb (base form) of a sentence that uses the Present Simple tense changes for the third person singular forms as below.

Table 05: Third person singular in Present Simple

Usage

▸ Permanent Situations

We use the Present Simple for situations that are more or less permanent.

» I work at a IT company.

» I live in Toronto.

» He has two sisters.

» I don’t like Durian fruit.

▸ Expressing future time

Scheduled events and timetables

Events that happen according to a time table or a schedule. Verbs such as arrive, leave, depart, begin, end, start, finish, open, close are often used to refer to the scheduled events.



» Her school bus arrives at 7.00am.

» The plane arrives at 6.00pm tomorrow.

» The plane leaves in 15 minutes.

» She has a Science class tomorrow morning.

» The Mathematics period starts at 11.00 am.

Events that happen according to a time table or a schedule. Verbs such as arrive, leave, depart, begin, end, start, finish, open, close are often used to refer to the scheduled events. » Her school bus arrives at 7.00am. » The plane arrives at 6.00pm tomorrow. » The plane leaves in 15 minutes. » She has a Science class tomorrow morning. » The Mathematics period starts at 11.00 am. In subordinate clauses with a future meaning

Present Simple is used in subordinate (dependent) clauses with a reference to the future and it is possible only when the verb in the main clause is in the future tense. Subordinate clauses usually start with subordinate conjunctions such as,



after, as soon as, before, if, until, when, where, etc.



» I’ll call you when I get there (not when I’ll get).

» They will not accept the offer until we agree to their conditions.

Present Simple is used in subordinate (dependent) clauses with a reference to the future and it is possible only when the verb in the main clause is in the future tense. Subordinate clauses usually start with subordinate conjunctions such as, after, as soon as, before, if, until, when, where, etc. » I’ll call you when I get there (not when I’ll get). » They will not accept the offer until we agree to their conditions. Asking for and giving instructions with a future meaning

Sometimes Present Simple is used when asking for and giving instructions (suggestions with ‘why don’t you’…?).



» What do we do now? (asking for instructions)

» Why don’t you go to bed early today? (giving an instruction)

» Why don’t you have a rest? (giving an instruction)

▸ With state verbs

State verbs express a state rather than an action. These verbs are usually relate with thoughts, emotions, senses, relationships and possessions, etc. These verbs are not often used in progressive forms or those cannot be used in progressive forms when they have certain meanings.



» I know the answer.

» I feel good today.

» I like cheese.

» She really appreciates her parents for everything they did for her.

» Do you recognize her? She is a famous singer.

» He believes in God.

» I think you’re pretty.

Following table has some common state verbs.

Table 06: State verbs

▸ Series of events

we use the Present Simple when we talk about series of completed actions and events.

Stories

A story is a set of events/actions that happen one after another. We use Present Simple to describe those events/actions.



» Tina is a little girl who lives with her grandmother. Every day she wakes up early morning and walks in her beautiful garden..

A story is a set of events/actions that happen one after another. We use Present Simple to describe those events/actions. » Tina is a little girl who lives with her grandmother. Every day she wakes up early morning and walks in her beautiful garden.. Commentaries

A commentary is a spoken description of an event/situation (ex: football match, cricket match, etc.) that is given while it is happening. The actions of the event/situation are quick and finished before the time of speaking. Therefore Present Simple is used to make the commentary sound more immediate (Present Progressive is used for longer actions and situations in commentaries).



» It comes to Jim Wilkinson, he kicks it high into the stand. The whistle goes and….

A commentary is a spoken description of an event/situation (ex: football match, cricket match, etc.) that is given while it is happening. The actions of the event/situation are quick and finished before the time of speaking. Therefore Present Simple is used to make the commentary sound more immediate (Present Progressive is used for longer actions and situations in commentaries). » It comes to Jim Wilkinson, he kicks it high into the stand. The whistle goes and…. Instructions

We use Present Simple to describe how to do or use something.



» You wait near the counter until they display your appointment number and the counter number in the screen, then go to the counter and hand over all the documents,….

We use Present Simple to describe how to do or use something. » You wait near the counter until they display your appointment number and the counter number in the screen, then go to the counter and hand over all the documents,…. Directions

Also we use Present Simple to guide someone for something(ex: giving route directions)



» How do I go to the bus station? You go down this street to the bank, then you turn right,…..

Also we use Present Simple to guide someone for something(ex: giving route directions) » How do I go to the bus station? You go down this street to the bank, then you turn right,….. Demonstrations

Present Simple is used to explain how something works or how something should be done.



» First I take a bowl and add sugar and butter, then I beat them until sugar dissolves like this….

▸ Conditional uses

The Present Simple is used in the zero and the first conditionals.

The zero conditional

The zero conditional refers to things that are always true (often used to refer to general truths). Also it is used to make statements about real world situations.



» If you heat ice, it melts.

» If you mix Yellow and Blue, you get Green.



Structure: (if + present simple, … present simple).

Present Simple is used in both clauses. You can replace ‘if’ with ‘when’ and the meaning will not be changed.

The zero conditional refers to things that are always true (often used to refer to general truths). Also it is used to make statements about real world situations. » If you heat ice, it melts. » If you mix Yellow and Blue, you get Green. Structure: (if + present simple, … present simple). Present Simple is used in both clauses. You can replace ‘if’ with ‘when’ and the meaning will not be changed. The first conditional

The first conditional refers to real possibilities in the future.



» If you don’t hurry, you will miss the bus.

» If it rains, I will stay home.



Structure: (if + present simple, … will + infinitive).

It is not important which clause comes first.

▸ Formal letter writing

We use fixed phrases in letter writing and Present Simple make them more formal (and Present Progressive make them less formal).



» I write to advise you ….

» I enclose a stamped copy of the contract ….

» I look forward to hearing from you.

Time Expressions

Let’s discuss how the time expressions are used in the Present Simple.

▸ Adverbs of time

Adverbs of time gives us more information about the time and those which are used in the Present Simple can be categorized as follows.

Indefinite means that the exact times are not important and definite means that the exact times/points of times are specified.

Frequency (indefinite)

Gives how often (general frequency) the action happens.



always, usually, frequently, infrequently, generally, normally, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever, seldom, never, ever, regularly, continually, etc.



» I always check my mails in the morning.

» I usually stay at home in the evenings.

» Lisa frequently visits Singapore.

» She often goes to the library.

» I sometimes watch Japanese movies.

» It occasionally rains here in May.

» He rarely eats vegetarian food.

» I hardly ever calls her.

» She seldom calls her friends.

» She never eats crab.

» They argue continually.

Gives how often (general frequency) the action happens. always, usually, frequently, infrequently, generally, normally, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever, seldom, never, ever, regularly, continually, etc. » I always check my mails in the morning. » I usually stay at home in the evenings. » Lisa frequently visits Singapore. » She often goes to the library. » I sometimes watch Japanese movies. » It occasionally rains here in May. » He rarely eats vegetarian food. » I hardly ever calls her. » She seldom calls her friends. » She never eats crab. » They argue continually. Relationships of time (indefinite)

Emphasizes the relationship of time.



early, first, soon, still, previously, yet, eventually, formerly, etc.



» The best deals go to those who book early in the season.

» Lisa always arrives first to the classes.

» The English period starts soon.

» I still live with my parents.

» The book includes three stories not previously published.

» The theories do not prove it yet. (in negative sentences)

» He hopes eventually to practice more and win the game.

» Many formerly radical concepts now contribute to the improvements of the government.

Emphasizes the relationship of time. early, first, soon, still, previously, yet, eventually, formerly, etc. » The best deals go to those who book early in the season. » Lisa always arrives first to the classes. » The English period starts soon. » I still live with my parents. » The book includes three stories not previously published. » The theories do not prove it yet. (in negative sentences) » He hopes eventually to practice more and win the game. » Many formerly radical concepts now contribute to the improvements of the government. Frequency (definite)

Gives how often (exact frequency) the action happens.



every day (not everyday), every Wednesday, on Mondays, weekly, once, twice, thrice, once a week, twice a year, three times, quarterly, daily, fortnightly, hourly, weekly, yearly, etc.



» He watches the news every day.

» She travels to Canada every year.

» They play Badminton on Mondays.

» We go out for Korean food weekly.

» She visits her sister once a week.

Gives how often (exact frequency) the action happens. every day (not everyday), every Wednesday, on Mondays, weekly, once, twice, thrice, once a week, twice a year, three times, quarterly, daily, fortnightly, hourly, weekly, yearly, etc. » He watches the news every day. » She travels to Canada every year. » They play Badminton on Mondays. » We go out for Korean food weekly. » She visits her sister once a week. Points of time (definite)

Gives definite points in time.



in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night, now, today, tomorrow, next week, etc.



» My mother cleans the rooms in the morning.

» She studies for a test at night.

» My favorite Korean drama starts now.

» We leave at 5pm tomorrow.

» I need the thesis by next week.

» She goes to the school at 8 o’clock.

Additional Usage

▸ Adverbs of time