Present Simple Verb Form

Present Simple

Form

• The present simple is formed using the base form of the verb:
  • Positive sentences: subject + verb (e.g., I go, you eat, she studies)
  • Negative sentences: subject + do/does not + verb (e.g., I don't go, she doesn't eat)
  • Question sentences: do/does + subject + verb (e.g., Do I go?, Does she eat?)

Uses

• Habits and routines: to describe actions that are part of a daily routine or habit (e.g., I wake up at 7:00 am, She brushes her teeth twice a day)
• General truths: to express facts that are always true (e.g., The sun rises in the east, Water boils at 100°C)
• Fixed schedules: to describe timetables or schedules that are fixed or regular (e.g., The bus leaves at 8:00 am, The store opens at 9:00 am)
• Universal truths: to express general truths that are universally accepted (e.g., Humans need water to survive, Gravity pulls objects towards each other)

Time expressions

• Common time expressions used with the present simple include:
  • always
  • usually
  • often
  • sometimes
  • rarely
  • never
  • every morning/afternoon/evening
  • on Mondays/Tuesdays/etc.

Exceptions

• The present simple is not used to describe:
  • Completed actions in the past (use the past simple instead)
  • Actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking (use the present continuous instead)
  • Future actions (use the future simple or future continuous instead)

Present Simple

Form

• The present simple is formed using the base form of the verb
• Positive sentences: subject + verb (e.g., I go, you eat, she studies)
• Negative sentences: subject + do/does not + verb (e.g., I don't go, she doesn't eat)
• Question sentences: do/does + subject + verb (e.g., Do I go?, Does she eat?)

Uses

• Habits and routines: to describe actions that are part of a daily routine or habit
• General truths: to express facts that are always true
• Fixed schedules: to describe timetables or schedules that are fixed or regular
• Universal truths: to express general truths that are universally accepted

Time expressions

• Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never are common time expressions used with the present simple
• Every morning/afternoon/evening, and on Mondays/Tuesdays/etc. are also common time expressions

Exceptions

• The present simple is not used to describe completed actions in the past
• The present simple is not used to describe actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking
• The present simple is not used to describe future actions