8 Questions
Which type of situations can the present simple tense describe?
Past habits
What form is used for objects and link verbs in the present simple tense?
-ing forms
Which of the following describes a regular activity using the present simple tense?
He walks to work every day.
What does the present simple tense describe in relation to facts?
General truths
In the sentence 'She usually does her homework before dinner', what form should the verb 'does' be in?
Do
Which of the following represents a fact using the present simple tense?
'The sun rises in the east'
'I never am late for work.' - What should replace the blank to make this sentence correct in present simple tense?
Be
'She always has a smile on her face.' - Which word should replace the blank to make this sentence correct in present simple tense?
Has
Study Notes
Forming the Present Simple
The present simple tense is used to describe habits, facts, actions that happen regularly, general truths, and situations that do not have a definite outcome. It is formed by using the base form of verbs (without infinitive 'to') for subjects, and -ing forms (-in, -er, -est) for objects and link verbs like 'have', 'do'. For example:
- Subject: I walk.
- Object: She walks slowly.
- Link verb + subject: He has walked to school every day this week.
When there is a change in vowel quantity within the verb, a final e is removed. For example:
- Subject: I drive.
- Object: She drives carefully.
- Link verb + subject: He has driven safely every time.
Present Simple Usage
The present simple tense is used to talk about past habits, facts, and general truths. Here are different areas where the present simple tense can be applied:
Habits
Habits are regular activities that we follow daily. For example:
- I usually wake up early.
- They don't eat meat.
- We often have dinner together.
Facts
Facts refer to information that can be proven to be true. Present tense is used to describe general truths. For instance:
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- The Earth revolves around the Sun.
- The sun sets in the west.
Regular actions
The present simple tense is used to describe regular actions or everyday routines. For example:
- I read books every night.
- They watch TV programs daily.
- We go shopping weekly.
Negatives and Questions in Present Simple
Negatives and questions in the present simple tense use 'do' or 'does' depending on the subject pronoun. For negatives:
- Subject + 'don't': I don't read books.
- Object + 'doesn't': She doesn't walk slowly.
- Link verb + subject: He doesn't have a dog.
For questions:
- Subject + 'do': What do you do?
- Object + 'does': Does she walk quickly?
- Link verb + subject: Does he enjoy swimming?
Present Simple With Third Person Singular
In the third person singular, the present simple uses the "-s" ending. Examples include:
- Subject: He walks.
- Object: She drives carefully.
- Link verb + subject: He has walked to school every day this week.
Learn how to form the present simple tense with examples for subjects, objects, and link verbs. Explore the usage of present simple for habits, facts, and regular actions. Understand how to structure negatives and questions in the present simple tense, along with rules for third person singular verbs.
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