Section 1: Understanding the Simple Present Tense
Definitions
• Simple present tense: when it is used to describe an action that is happening at
present and does not indicate when the action is the expected to end.
• The simple present tense is one of several forms of present tense in English. It is
used to describe habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed
arrangements, action daily activities, facts, fixed arrangement the simple present
tense is simple to form. Just use the base form of the verb.
• The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular,
true or normal.
• Simple present tense is used to talk about habitual or usual actions in the present
and it also talks about daily event or universal fact. The action can be a habit, a
hobby, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
• BE CAREFUL! THE SIMPLE PRESENT IS NOT USED TO EXPRESS ACTIONS
HAPPENING NOW.
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• Just remember, when you're using a simple present tense verb, you're
describing something that continues to repeat itself in the present.
• Use simple present tense verbs in the base form of the verb. Do not
add any kind of suffix, like ''-ed'' or ''-ing.'' Just
Usage
• Common uses include:
o Habits
o Unchanging Situations
o General Truths
o Fixed Arrangements
o Action Daily Activities
o Facts Information
o Fixed Arrangement
o regular, true or normal
o daily event or universal fact.
o a scheduled event
Continue.. Plus examples
1. Habits
• Definition: Actions that are done regularly.
• Example: "I do exercise every morning."
2. Unchanging Situations
• Definition: Situations that remain constant over time.
• Example: "He lives in New York."
• 3. General Truths
• Definition: Statements that are always true.
• Example: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."
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• 4. Fixed Arrangements
• Definition: Scheduled events in the near future.
• Example: "The train leaves at 6 PM.“
• 5. Daily Activities
• Definition: Actions performed as part of a daily routine.
• Example: "She studies for two hours each evening."
• 6. Facts and Information
• Definition: Statements accepted as true.
• Example: "The Earth orbits the Sun."
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• 7. Regular, True, or Normal Actions
• Definition: Actions that are typical or habitual.
• Example: "He often reads before bed."
• 8. Daily Events or Universal Facts
• Definition: Actions or truths that apply broadly.
• Example: "The sun rises in the east.“
• 9. Scheduled Events
• Definition: Fixed plans or arrangements.
• Example: "We have a meeting tomorrow at noon."
FORMULA OF SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE:
• STATEMENT SENTENCES : Subject+ present verb+ (s,es)+object+ time expression
• INTERROGATIVE (QUESTION): Do/does+ subject+V1+ OBJECT+ time
expression?
• NEGATIVE STATEMENT: Subject+ do/does +present verb+ object+ time
expression
• NEGATIVE AND QUESTION: do/does + subject + not +V1+ OBJECT+ time
expression
•
• Contraction or short : He doesn’t or They don’t
1. Statement Sentences
• Structure: Subject + Present Verb + (s, es) + Object + Time Expression
• Examples:
• "She reads a book every night."
• "They play soccer on weekends."
• "He watches TV in the evening.
2. Interrogative (Question)
• Structure: Do/Does + Subject + V1 + Object + Time Expression?
• Examples:
• "Do you like pizza on Fridays?"
• "Does she go to the gym every day?"
• "Do they visit their grandparents often?"
3. Negative Statements
• Structure: Subject + Do/Does + Present Verb + Object + Time
Expression
• Examples:
• "I do not (don’t) eat breakfast in the morning."
• "He does not (doesn’t) play video games."
• "They do not (don’t) watch movies on weekdays."
4. Negative and Question
• Structure: Do/Does + Not + Subject + V1 + Object + Time Expression?
• Examples:
• "Do you not (don’t) eat lunch at noon?"
• "Does he not (doesn’t) like coffee?"
• "Do they not (don’t) study on Sundays?"
Frequency adverbs
• Always: meaning all times 100% are used in the sentences.
• Almost always: most all times 95-99% are used in the sentences.
• Often: meaning many times 60-80% are used in the sentences.
• Usually: meaning is generally 90-99 used in the sentences.
• Frequently : are used in the sentences 80-90% meaning regularly or habitually often.
• Sometimes : are used in the sentences 50% meaning rather than all of the times.
• Occasionally: are used in the sentences 30-40% meaning at infrequent or irregular
intervals; now and then.
• Seldom : are used in the sentences not often; rarely
• Rarely : are used in the sentences 1-10% not often; seldom.
• Almost never: are used in the sentences 1-5% Almost never
• Never: are used in the sentences 0% at no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not
ever.
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• 1. Always (100%)
• Meaning: All times; every time.
• Example: "She always drinks coffee in the morning.“
• 2. Almost Always (95-99%)
• Meaning: Most times; very frequently.
• Example: "He almost always arrives on time.“
• 3. Often (60-80%)
• Meaning: Many times; frequently.
• Example: "They often go hiking on weekends."
• 4. Usually (90-99%)
• Meaning: Generally; most of the time.
• Example: "I usually buy groceries on Fridays.
• 5. Frequently (80-90%)
• Meaning: Regularly or habitually; often.
• Example: "She frequently visits her grandparents."
• 6. Sometimes (50%)
• Meaning: Occasionally; not always.
• Example: "We sometimes eat out for dinner."
• 7. Occasionally (30-40%)
• Meaning: At infrequent or irregular intervals; now and then.
• Example: "He occasionally plays tennis."
• 8. Seldom (Not often; rarely)
• Meaning: Not often; infrequently.
• Example: "They seldom watch television."
• 9. Rarely (1-10%)
• Meaning: Not often; seldom.
• Example: "I rarely eat dessert.
• 10. Almost Never (1-5%)
• Meaning: Very rarely; almost no times.
• Example: "She almost never goes to parties."
• 11. Never (0%)
• Meaning: At no time; not at all.
• Example: "He never eats meat."
Rules in the sentences frequency adverbs
• Adverbs frequency tells how often something happens.
1. Adverbs of frequency come before the main verb if the main is not “verb to
verb be”
EXAMPLE: Our dad never gets off work before 6:00. OR we usually eat breakfast
at 7:00am
2. Adverbs of frequency come after the to be ( am, is, are, was, were)
EXAMPLES: I’m always happy to see you.
NB:
• Main verb is the meaning original verb or basic verb and present verb.
• Verb to be is the meaning main help verb or help verb (is,are, am, was, were, has,
have, had, shall, should, will, would).
Time expressions of simple
present tenses:
• Every day, every years , every month, every a week, twice a week,
every Sundays, and so on.
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the
ending of that verb:
• 1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the
third person.
• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses
• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes
Continee…
• For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.
• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries
• NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says