English Grammar: Present Simple

Form

• The present simple is formed using the base form of the verb:
  • I/you/we/they + base form (e.g. I go, you eat, we live, they study)
  • he/she/it + base form + -s (e.g. he goes, she eats, it lives)

Uses

• Habits: to describe regular or habitual actions
  • I get up at 7am every day.
  • She always walks to work.
• General truths: to describe universal truths or facts
  • The sun rises in the east.
  • Water boils at 100°C.
• Scheduled events: to describe planned or scheduled events
  • The train leaves at 5pm.
  • The meeting starts at 2pm.
• Permanent situations: to describe permanent or long-term situations
  • I live in Paris.
  • They are married.

Time expressions

• always: to emphasize that something happens at all times
  • I always eat breakfast.
• usually: to describe a regular or habitual action
  • I usually go to the gym on Fridays.
• often: to describe a frequent action
  • I often travel to London.
• sometimes: to describe an occasional action
  • I sometimes go to the cinema.
• never: to describe an action that never happens
  • I never eat breakfast.
• rarely: to describe an infrequent action
  • I rarely watch TV.

Negations and questions

• Negations: formed using "do not" or "does not" + base form
  • I do not eat meat.
  • She does not live here.
• Questions: formed using "do" or "does" + subject + base form
  • Do you speak English?
  • Does she live in Paris?

Forming the Present Simple

• The present simple is formed using the base form of the verb:
  • For I/you/we/they, use the base form (e.g. I go, you eat, we live, they study)
  • For he/she/it, add -s to the base form (e.g. he goes, she eats, it lives)

Uses of the Present Simple

Habits

• Describe regular or habitual actions
  • Examples: I get up at 7am every day, She always walks to work

General Truths

• Describe universal truths or facts
  • Examples: The sun rises in the east, Water boils at 100°C

Scheduled Events

• Describe planned or scheduled events
  • Examples: The train leaves at 5pm, The meeting starts at 2pm

Permanent Situations

• Describe permanent or long-term situations
  • Examples: I live in Paris, They are married

Time Expressions

• Use the following adverbs to describe frequencies:
  • Always: to emphasize that something happens at all times
    • Examples: I always eat breakfast
  • Usually: to describe a regular or habitual action
    • Examples: I usually go to the gym on Fridays
  • Often: to describe a frequent action
    • Examples: I often travel to London
  • Sometimes: to describe an occasional action
    • Examples: I sometimes go to the cinema
  • Never: to describe an action that never happens
    • Examples: I never eat breakfast
  • Rarely: to describe an infrequent action
    • Examples: I rarely watch TV

Negations and Questions

• Form negations using "do not" or "does not" + base form
  • Examples: I do not eat meat, She does not live here
• Form questions using "do" or "does" + subject + base form
  • Examples: Do you speak English?, Does she live in Paris?

Test your knowledge of the present simple tense, its formation, and uses in describing habits, general truths, and scheduled events.