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Simple Present tense
 
 
 
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Simple Present Tense in English Grammar

What is Simple Present tense?

"Simple Present tense represent the habitual action or a general truth of anything."

In the English language, Simple Present tense is used when, the action is simply mentioned and there is nothing being said about its completeness. It is used to talk about an action which happens on a regular basis.

Basic Structure of Simple Present tense:

• Structure for Simple Present •

Subject Auxiliary verb Main verb
subject (do) base form
I (do) go to college.

• Structure for Negative sentence •

Subject Auxiliary verb Main verb
subject do + not base form
I do not go to college.

• Structure for interrogative sentence •

Auxiliary verb Subject Main verb
Do subject base form
Do you go to college?

We normally use the simple present tense when:

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

There are three important exceptions:

• For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
• For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
• For the 3rd person singular (he/she/it), we add 's' to the main verb or 'es' to the auxiliary.

USES OF SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
To express a habitual action:
Examples:
  • • My watch keeps right time.
  • • I get up every day at, six O’clock.
  • • He drinks coffee/tea every morning.
To express general/universal truth:
Examples:
  • • Fortune favors the brave.
  • • The sun rises in the east.
  • • They speak English at work.
To express what is actually taking place in the present:

In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there, to express what is actually taking place in the present:

Examples:
  • • I am here now.
  • • There she goes!
  • • Here comes the bus!
In vivid narratives, as a substitute for the Simple Past:
Examples:
  • • Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital.
  • • Sohrab now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustom.
To indicate a future event that is part of a plan or arrangement:
Examples:
  • • The train leaves tonight at 8 PM.
  • • We go to Bombay in the next week.
  • • They leave for Bombay by the next train / express /mail.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
The Simple Present tense is used to introduce quotations:
Example:
  • • Keats says, 'A thing of beauty is a joy for ever'.
  • • I go to Mr. Smith and say "I deserve a better job in this office".
The Simple Present tense is used, instead of the Simple Future Tense, in clauses of time and of condition:
Examples:
  • • If it rains we shall / will get wet.
  • • I shall/will wait till you finish (your) lunch.
The Simple Present tense is used, instead of the present Continuous, with the type of verbs referred to Present Continuous Tense:
Example:
  • • I see an aeroplane.
  • Note: not ‘I am seeing an aeroplane’.
  • • I own many books.
  • Note: not ‘I am owning many books’.
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE TABLE
Simple Present Tense Table
AFFIRMATIVE
  • I (do)go.
  • You (do)go.
  • We (do)go.
  • He/She (does) goes/go.
  • They (do)go.
NEGATIVE
  • I do not go.
  • You do not go.
  • We do not go.
  • He/She dose not go.
  • They do not go.
INTERROGATIVE
  • Do I go?
  • Do you go?
  • Do we go?
  • Does he/she go?
  • Do they go?

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