We use simple present to talk about things in general, we are not thinking only about the present. We use it to say that some thing happens all the time or repeatedly, or that some thing is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking.

Simple Present Tense

1. I sing

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

subject + main verb + Object base

Examples

He drives a busNurses take care of patients in hospitalsShe peels potatoes.

subject auxiliary verb

 main verb

 

+I, you, we, they   like coffee.

He, she, it   likes coffee.

-I, you, we, they

do not like coffee.

He, she, it does not like coffee.

DoI, you, we, they   like coffee?

Does he, she, it   like coffee?

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. In interrogative and negative we remove s or es to the main verb in 3rd person singular.

Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future

1.The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.2.The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives

at 11 PM.3.The party starts at 8 o'clock.4.When does class begin tomorrow?

The Present Simple Tenseis used to describe:

Actions that happen regularly (Habitual actions). A frequency adverb is often used.

1. They usually take a walk with their son

The Present Simple Tenseis used to describe: Opinions, likes and feelings.

• She likes making snowmen

The Present Simple Tenseis used to describe:1. Facts which are always true – general

truths, e.g. facts in science and geographical descriptions.

• Water freezes at 0 degrees.

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences.

He doesn’t work as a doctor, he works as a taxi driver

Do you work in a departmental store?He does not fly kitesDo they play cricket?

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.

I

YOUDO NOT

DON’T

WORK

SHE

HE

IT

DOES NOT

DOESN’T

WORK

WE

YOU

THEY

DO NOT

DON’T

WORK

Put the verbs into the correct form

The swimming pool _______ (open) at 9:00 and_______ (close) at 6:30 every day.

How many cigarettes________ (you/smoke) in a day?

It _______(take) me an hour to get to work. How long _________ (it/take) you?

Examples: water boils (boil) at 100 degree Celsius

How many languages do you speak (you/speak)?

Read the sentences and correct them

1. The sun rises in the west______________ __________________________________

2. Mice catch cats_____________________ __________________________________

3. Carpenters make thing from metal______ __________________________________

For Example: The sun goes around the earth.

The sun doesn’t go around the earth, the earth goes around the Sun