2. The Simple Present Tense

Learning Outcomes

After completing Chapter 2, students will know how to:

  • use the functions of the Simple Present Tense.
  • form the Simple Present Tense in affirmative statements, negative statements and questions.
  • apply the Simple Present Tense in various situations.
  • use the correct spelling rules for 3rd person singular verbs in the Simple Present Tense.

Functions of The Simple Present Tense

Simple present tense is used for

  1. general truths
  2. actions happening at the moment (stative verbs)
  3. routines, habits, and schedules
  4. future appointments or future schedules

Let us discuss all these points in detail.

General Truths:

This is a timeline. There is a black line horizontal across the page with an arrow pointing to the right with the word future underneath. On the opposite side, there is an arrow pointing left with the word past underneath. In the centre of the time line is an arrow pointing down indicating with the word now written above it. There is a blue line parallel to the horizontal black line.
“General Truths” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

General truths can include facts or something that exists and is always true. These can be scientific facts, preferences, likes, dislikes, descriptions, or general states, for instance. Some examples are:

  • I like pizza.
  • I don’t like coffee.
  • Erin works really hard.
  • The sun rises in the east.
  • That store doesn’t open early in the morning.
  • He has brown hair and brown eyes.
  • She owns a car.

Actions Happening at the Moment:

This is a timeline. There is a black line horizontal across the page with an arrow pointing to the right with the word future underneath. On the opposite side, there is an arrow pointing left with the word past underneath. In the centre of the time line is a blue arrow pointing down indicating with the word now written above it.
“Actions happening at the moment” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

We usually use the Present Continuous Tense when we want to express actions happening at the moment. However, some verbs cannot be put in a continuous tense, so they are called stative verbs. Stative verbs include verbs like feel, understand, have, etc. This is when we use The Simple Present Tense. Some examples are:

  • I have a headache at the moment.
  • I see my teacher at the water fountain.
  • He feels jealous.
  • I don’t understand this lesson.
  • She doesn’t appear happy right now.

Below are some examples of stative verbs:

Senses / Perception: feel, hear, see, smell taste. Opinion: assume, believe, consider, doubt, feel (=think), find (=consider). Mental states: forget, imagine, know, mean, notice, recognize, remember, understand. Emotions/Desires: envy, fear, dislike, hate, hope, like, love, mind, prefer, regret, want, wish. Measurement: contain, cost, hold, measure, weigh. Others: to look (=resemble), seem, to be (in most cases), to have (when it means to possess).
“Stative Verbs” by Annapurna Madhuri, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Routines, Habits, and Schedules:

This is a timeline. There is a black line horizontal across the page with an arrow pointing to the right with the word future underneath. On the opposite side, there is an arrow pointing left with the word past underneath. In the centre of the time line is an arrow pointing down indicating with the word now written above it. All along the black line there are Xs spread out evenly on the timeline.
“Routines, Habits and Schedules” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

The Simple Present Tense is used to express regular habits, routines, schedules, and repeated actions. Some examples are:

  • I take a shower every morning.
  • I turn off all the lights before I leave the house.
  • Samir plays basketball on Saturday afternoons.
  • We visit the dentist twice a year.
  • The class doesn’t meet on Wednesdays.
  • I don’t watch TV in the evening.

With this function, frequency adverbs can be used, including always, never, sometimes, usually, often, rarely, hardly ever, etc. These adverbs come before the main verb, or after the verb “to be”. Some examples are:

  • I usually wake up at 7am.
  • I don’t often have a cup of coffee in the afternoon.
  • They rarely visit us in the winter.
  • He is never late to class in the mornings.

Future Appointments or Schedules:

This is a timeline. There is a black line horizontal across the page with an arrow pointing to the right with the word future underneath. On the opposite side, there is an arrow pointing left with the word past underneath. In the centre of the time line is an arrow pointing down indicating with the word now written above it. There is a blue X on the horizontal black line between the now arrow and the future arrow.
“Future Appointments or Schedules” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

We sometimes use The Simple Present Tense for future appointments or meetings. This is especially true for public transportation and formal appointments with a scheduled time. Some examples are:

  • We have a test next Friday.
  • She sees the doctor in 2 days.
  • The bus leaves at 7am tomorrow.
  • The train leaves in one hour.

**Time Markers Used with The Simple Present Tense

Some common time markers used with The Simple Present Tense are:

  • every day/night/week/month/year
  • in the morning/afternoon/evening
  • once a day/week/month/year
  • on Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays etc…

Form of The Simple Present Tense

Let us now explore how the Simple Present Tense is formed:

Affirmative Sentences: Subject + base verb(s) .
Subject + base verb (s) + every day.
I swim every day.
He swims every day.
She swims every day.
They swim every day.
Negative Sentences: Subject + do/does+ not + base verb.
Subject + do/does+ not + base verb
I do not  (don’t) swim.
He does not (doesn’t) swim.
Yes/No Questions: Do/Does + subject + base verb? 
Do/Does + subject+ base verb? Short Answer
Do  you swim? Yes, I do./ No, I don’t.
Does  he swim? Yes, he does./ No, he doesn’t.
Information Questions: Wh ? + do/does + subject + base verb?
Wh ? + do/does+ subject + base verb? Answer
Where  do you swim? I swim in my friend’s pool.
When  does he swim? He swims every Saturday.
There is a chart for spelling rules. There are two columns. The First Column is titled rule for third person. The second column is named example. Under the rule for third person column the first row says for most verbs just add s. In the first row under the example column play Arrow plays help Arrow helps think Arrow thinks. In the second row under rule for third person, it says for verbs that end in consonant plus y change the Y to I and add es. In the second row under example cry Arrow cries copy Arrow copies Mary Arrow marries. under the third row for rule for third person it states for verbs that end in voiceless sounds s z etc. add E S. Example teach Arrow teaches fix arrow fixes kiss Arrow kisses. In the last row under rule for third person it says exceptions. Example B arrow is have Arrow has
“Spelling Rules for Simple Present Tense” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

 

Watch It!

Watch the video: Forming the Present Simple tense in English (5 minutes)

Video Source: GoEnglish. (2014, November 07). Forming the present simple tense in English [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/BNv44tAt9PA

Simple Present Functions Practice

Read each sentence and guess the function. Click ‘turn’ to see the answer.

Simple Present Tense Functions (Text Versions)

Read each simple present sentence and guess the function.  The functions are:  General truth (preference); General truth (fact); General truth (states); actions happening at the time of speaking (stative verbs); routines/habits; and future schedules.

  1. She earns a lot of money.
  2. The bus leaves at 3:00pm.
  3. The moon revolves around the earth.
  4. The baby drinks a glass of milk every morning.
  5. Neelu likes chocolate.
  6. Wood always floats on water.
  7. Lions hunt at night.
  8. She leaves for Mexico in two days.
  9. I have a really bad stomachache.
  10. I feel nervous.
  11. I own a car and a bicycle.
  12. He occasionally drinks coffee in the morning.
  13. Richard does not take care of his pets.
  14. The students do not have a test tomorrow.
  15. The flowers do not bloom until late spring.
  16. I play the piano.
  17. I do not like broccoli.
  18. He works out on the weekends mostly.
  19. I don’t understand what he’s saying.

Check your Answers: [1]

Activity source: “Simple Present Tense Functions” by Sari Martin, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0.

Simple Present Form Practice – Affirmative

Simple Present form quiz (Text version)

Fill in the given blanks with the correct form of verb listed below each question

  1. She ________[Blank 1] a lot of money.
    1. earns
    2. earn
  2. Mona’s dress ________[Blank 1] beautiful.
    1. to be
    2. is
  3. The bus ________[Blank 1] at 3.00 pm.
    1. leave
    2. leaves
  4. The moon ________[Blank 1] round the earth.
    1. revolve
    2. revolves
  5. The baby ________[Blank 1] a glass of milk every morning.
    1. drink
    2. drinks
  6.  Aurora ________[Blank 1] chocolates.
    1. like
    2. likes
  7. Wood always ________[Blank 1] on water.
    1. float
    2. floats
  8. Lions ________[Blank 1] at night.
    1. hunt
    2. hunts
  9. There ________[Blank 1] many books in the library.
    1. is
    2. are
  10. She  ________[Blank 1] for Mexico in two days .
    1. leave
    2. leaves

Check your answers: [2]

Activity source: “Simple Present form quiz” by Annapurna Madhuri, edited by Sari Martin, from “2 Simple present” In Effective English for Teachers by Annapurna Madhuri, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0. / Converted to Text and some examples edited and added.

Simple Present Tense Form Practice – Negative and Interrogative

Simple Present Tense Functions (Text Version)

Fill in the blanks with the words in correct boxes using: do, does, do not :

  1. Neelu  ________[Blank 1] walk to school in the morning.
  2. ________[Blank 1] Sheela paint?
  3. The students ________[Blank 1] have a test tomorrow.
  4. ________[Blank 1] Mr. and Mrs. Murty work in the same school?
  5. ________[Blank 1] the woman work at the college?
  6. The boy ________[Blank 1] does not study hard for his exams.
  7. The flowers ________[Blank 1] bloom until late spring.
  8. ________[Blank 1] the play begin at 9 O’ clock?
  9. ________[Blank 1] the children play in the park every evening?
  10. They ________[Blank 1] earn a lot of money.
  11. Richard ________[Blank 1] take care of his pets.

Check your Answers: [3]

Activity source: “Simple Present – Negative and Interrogative form practice” by Annapurna Madhuri, edited by Sari Martin, from “2 Simple present” In Effective English for Teachers by Annapurna Madhuri, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0. / Converted to Text and some examples edited.

       Activity source: Fill in the Blanks with the Simple Present Tense by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0.

Verb Tenses in Music

For a fun activity, search the web and find the following songs:

  • You Belong with Me (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
  • Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

Can you hear the Simple Present Tense in the lyrics?

 

Lisa: I have the perfect son. Sari: Does he drink beer? Lisa: No, he doesn't. Sari: Does he smoke? Lisa: No, he doesn't. Sari: Does he come home late? Lisa: No, he doesn't. Sari: Oh, you really have a perfect son. How old is he? Lisa: He is six months old.
“The Simple Present Tense Joke” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Attribution & References

Except where otherwise noted, “The Simple Present Tense” by Sari Martin & Virginia McHardy is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

    1. general truth (fact)
    2. general truth (state or preference)
    3. future schedule
    4. general truth (fact)
    5. routine/habit
    6. general truth (preference)
    7. general truth (fact)
    8. general truth (fact)
    9. general truth (fact)
    10. future schedule
    11. actions happening at the time of speaking (stative verbs)
    12. actions happening at the time of speaking (stative verbs)
    13. general truth (state)
    14. routine/habit
    15. general truth (fact)
    16. future schedule
    17. general truth (fact)
    18. general truth (state)
    19. general truth (preference)
    20. routine/habit
    21. actions happening at the time of speaking (stative verbs)
    ↵
    1. She earns a lot of money.
    2. Mona's dress is beautiful.
    3. The bus leaves at 3.00 pm.
    4. The moon revolves round the earth.
    5. The baby drinks a glass of milk every morning.
    6. Neelu linkes chocolates.
    7. Wood always floats on water.
    8. Lions hunt at night.
    9. There are many books in the library.
    10. She leaves for Mexico in two days.
    ↵
    1. Neelu does not walk to school in the morning.
    2. Does Sheela paint?
    3. The students do not have a test tomorrow.
    4. Do Mr. and Mrs. Murty work in the same school?
    5. Does the woman work at the college?
    6. The boy does not study hard for his exams.
    7. The flowers do not bloom until late spring.
    8. Does the play begin at 9 O' clock?
    9. Do the children play in the park every evening?
    10. They do not earn a lot of money.
    11. Richard does not take care of his pets.
    ↵

License

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Verb Tenses for English for Academic Purposes Copyright © 2019 by Sari Martin and Virginia McHardy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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https://doi.org/Effective English for Teachers

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