Present Simple Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Sentence Structure

• Declarative sentences: Subject + Verb (base form)
• Interrogative sentences: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form)
• Negative sentences: Subject + do/does + not + Verb (base form)

Verb Forms

• Base form (e.g., go, eat, live)
• -s/-es form (e.g., goes, eats, lives) for third person singular (he, she, it)

Usage in Sentences

• To express habits, routines, and general truths
• To describe things that are true in general
• To talk about permanent situations
• To express fixed schedules and timetables

Examples:

• I wake up at 7:00 am every day. (habit)
• The sun rises in the east. (general truth)
• She lives in Paris. (permanent situation)
• The train leaves at 10:00 am. (fixed schedule)

Common Mistakes

• Using the present simple to talk about temporary or changing situations (use present continuous instead)
• Forgetting to add -s/-es to the verb for third person singular (he, she, it)
• Using the present simple to talk about completed actions (use past simple instead)
• Not using the correct verb form for questions and negative sentences (e.g., "Do I go" instead of "Do I go?")

Present Simple

Sentence Structure

• Declarative sentences follow the pattern: Subject + Verb (base form)
• Interrogative sentences follow the pattern: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form)
• Negative sentences follow the pattern: Subject + do/does + not + Verb (base form)

Verb Forms

• Base form is used for most subjects (e.g., I, you, we, they)
• -s/-es form is used for third person singular (he, she, it) subjects (e.g., goes, eats, lives)

Usage

• Express habits and routines (e.g., I wake up at 7:00 am every day)
• Describe general truths (e.g., The sun rises in the east)
• Describe permanent situations (e.g., She lives in Paris)
• Express fixed schedules and timetables (e.g., The train leaves at 10:00 am)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using present simple for temporary or changing situations (use present continuous instead)
• Forgetting to add -s/-es to the verb for third person singular subjects (he, she, it)
• Using present simple for completed actions (use past simple instead)
• Incorrectly forming questions and negative sentences (e.g., using "Do I go" instead of "Do I go?")

Verb Forms

• The affirmative form of a verb is its base form (e.g., go, eat, write)
• The negative form is created by adding 'do' or 'does' and 'not' to the base form (e.g., don't go, doesn't eat)
• The interrogative form is created by using 'do' or 'does' before the subject and then the base form (e.g., do you go, does she eat)

Sentence Structure

• An affirmative sentence consists of a subject followed by a verb (e.g., I go, she eats)
• A negative sentence consists of a subject, 'do' or 'does', 'not', and the base form (e.g., I don't go, she doesn't eat)
• An interrogative sentence consists of 'do' or 'does', a subject, and the base form (e.g., do I go, does she eat)

Present Simple Usage

• The present simple is used to describe daily habits and routines (e.g., I wake up at 7 am, she brushes her teeth twice a day)
• It is used to express general truths, scientific facts, or universal truths (e.g., water boils at 100°C, humans need oxygen to breathe)
• It is used to describe scheduled events or timetabled activities (e.g., the bus arrives at 8 am, the meeting starts at 2 pm)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'I does' instead of 'I do')
• Omitting the auxiliary verb 'do' or 'does' in negative sentences (e.g., 'I not go' instead of 'I don't go')
• Using the present simple for one-time actions instead of the present continuous or simple past (e.g., 'I go to the store' instead of 'I'm going to the store' or 'I went to the store')