Simple Present Tense

Read the following sentences :

1. I go to college everyday.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. The most of trains run irregularly.

Above three sentences are example of Simple Present Tense.Let`s we learn about it.

(A) Form :  

 1. Affirmative Sentence : Sub + Base Form of Verb/ 's-es' Form


If subject is Third person singular…like (He, She, It, Ramu, Rekha, Lawyer)

Sub +( Verb + s/es) (He reads, Manish writes, She plays, Student runs, Boy goes)

If subject is not Third person singular…like(I, We, You, They, Students, Boys)

Sub + Verb (without s/es)   (They read, We write, You play, Students run, Boys go)

Verb : - To play

                                    Singular                         Plural

First person            I play cricket              We play cricket

Second Person       You play cricket          you play cricket.

Third Person          He plays cricket.          They play cricket

                                She plays cricket.

                                It plays cricket.            

                                Ramesh plays cricket

2. Negative Sentence : Sub + do/does + not + base form of verb

Example

1. I do not know that lawyer.
2. She does not live there.
3. You do not know him.
   

Note : 

1. "Do " & "Does" are Auxiliary Verbs for simple present Tense.
2. "Do " & "Does" are used in negative or Interrogative sentences of simple present tense.
3. "Do " & "Does" are not used in affirmative sentence of simple present tense.
4. "Do" is used with (I,We,You,They,or any plural name or plural pronoun.)
5. "Does" is used with Third person singular.(He/She/It/Manish does)

3. Interrogative Sentence :  Do/Does + Sub + base form of verb 

 Example :

• Do you know him?
• Does she come in time?
• What do you do? (Wh-question)
• Why does she hate you? (Wh-question)

 (B)  Keywords that are always used with simple present tense.

• Always
• generally
• daily
• regularly
• All the time,
• Once/twice a day/week, etc.
• At night/the weekend, etc
• Every day/week/month/year, etc.
• In the morning/afternoon/evening, etc
• On Mondays/Tuesday, etc.,

Examples:

• He picks his nose all the time.
• Tom often goes to the library in the evening.
• My father never works at weekends.
• The flight to Timbuktu goes twice a week.

 (C) Uses of the simple present tense:

1.      To show a fact or something that is always true.

Examples:

• The heart pumps blood through the body.
• A dentist treats people's teeth.
• He does not speak a word of English. Dogs bark.
• Some birds sleep by day and hunt by night.

2.       For daily routines or something done regularly or habitually.

Examples:

• I never work on weekends.
• We brush our teeth in the morning.
• He smokes two packets of cigarettes a day.
• She goes to church on Sundays.

3.       For an action that is planned to happen in the future.

Examples:  

• The train for Birmingham departs at seven o'clock.
• The meeting begins in an hour's time.
• The new supermarket opens next week.
• The match starts in exactly ten minutes.

4.       To express thoughts, feelings and states.

Examples:  

• It matters a great deal to him to win the championship.
• They feel a lot of loyalty to the company.
• Jill doubts the truth of his statement.
• She deeply regrets saying those nasty things about him

5.       For timetable, schedule, plan, and programs.

Examples: 

• The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The first flight for London leaves at 6.30 a.m.
• There is a television program at six o'clock about cooking.
• The weekly meeting is held in the conference room on Monday at 2.00 p.m.

6.       For sports commentaries, reviews (book, film, play, etc.) and narration.

Examples:

• John passes the ball to Johnny. But Johnny misses it.
• She plays her role marvelously.
• The witch suddenly appears out of nowhere and whacks him with the broom.

7.       In newspaper headlines.

Examples:   POLICE DISCOVERS MORE DEAD BODIES.

8.     For instructions, directions.

Examples:

• Mix the flour and water together, then add sugar.
• Go straight on and when you come to the first traffic lights, turn left.

9.      In "I declare, I promise, I assure, etc.

Examples:

• I declare this pet show open.
• I promise you, I won't do anything stupid.
• I assure you everything will be all right.

Go to learn Continuous Present Tense.