Present Simple
The Present Simple tense is used to express habitual actions, general truths, and facts. It is often used with adverbs of frequency like 'always', 'usually', and 'never'. The third-person singular requires an 's' or 'es' at the end of the verb.
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Present simple with the verb 'be'
We need to use the Present Simple a lot in English, so it's really important to understand it well. Many students have problems with the form (or how to make it).
The verb 'be' is different from the other verbs in this tense. Let's look at 'be' first:
Here's the positive form (positive means a normal sentence, not a negative or a question. This is sometimes called 'affirmative')
| Positive | Contracted Positive |
|---|---|
| I am | I'm |
| you are | you're |
| he is | he's |
| she is | she's |
| it is | it's |
| we are | we're |
| they are | they're |
Next, here's the negative. It's very easy. You only add 'not'.
| Negative | Contracted Negative |
|---|---|
| I am not | I'm not |
| you are not | you aren't |
| he is not | he isn't |
| she is | she isn't |
| it is | it isn't |
| we are | we aren't |
| they are | they aren't |
And finally let's talk about the question form of the present simple with 'be'.
Firstly, here's the 'yes / no' question form:
| Yes/No Questions |
|---|
| am I? |
| are you? |
| is he? |
| is she? |
| is it? |
| are we? |
| are they? |
If you'd like to make a 'wh' question, you just put the question word at the front:
| Wh Questions | |
|---|---|
| where | am I? |
| what | are you? |
| why | is he? |
| who | is she? |
| when | is it? |
| where | are we? |
| how | are they? |
Present simple with other verbs
With all other verbs, we make the present simple in the same way.
The positive is really easy. It's just the verb with an extra 's' if the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it'. Let's take the verb 'make' as an example:
| Positive (of 'make') |
|---|
| I make |
| you make |
| he makes |
| she makes |
| it makes |
| we make |
| they make |
Don't forget the 's'! Even really advanced students do this!
For a few verbs, there is a spelling change before the 's'. For example, 'study' becomes 'studies'.
To make the negative form, you need to use 'do not' (don't) or ' does not' (doesn't).
| Negative of Make | |
|---|---|
| I do not make | I don't make |
| you do not make | you don't make |
| he does not make | he doesn't make |
| she does not make | she doesn't make |
| it does not make | it doesn't make |
| we do not make | we don't make |
| they do not make | they don't make |
How about the question form of the present simple tense?
We use 'do' or 'does' before the subject to make the 'yes / no' question:
| Yes / No Questions |
|---|
| do I make? |
| do you make? |
| does he make? |
| does she make? |
| does it make? |
| do we make? |
| do they make? |
Just like with 'be', if you'd like to make a 'wh' question, you just put the question word at the front:
| Wh Questions | |
|---|---|
| where | do I make? |
| what | do you make? |
| why | does he make? |
| who | does she make? |
| when | does it make? |
| where | do we make? |
| how | do they make? |
When Should I Use The Present Simple Tense?
1. We use the present simple when something is generally or always true.
- People need food.
- It snows in winter here.
- Two and two make four.
2. Similarly, we need to use this tense for a situation that we think is more or less permanent. (See the present continuous for temporary situations.)
- Where do you live?
- She works in a bank.
- I don't like mushrooms.
3. The next use is for habits or things that we do regularly. We often use adverbs of frequency (such as 'often', 'always' and 'sometimes') in this case, as well as expressions like 'every Sunday' or 'twice a month'. (See the present continuous for new, temporary or annoying habits).
- Do you smoke?
- I play tennis every Tuesday.
- I don't travel very often.
4. We can also use the present simple for short actions that are happening now. The actions are so short that they are finished almost as soon as you've said the sentence. This is often used with sports commentary.
- He takes the ball, he runs down the wing, and he scores!
5. We use the present simple to talk about the future when we are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organisation, not by us.
- School begins at nine tomorrow.
- What time does the film start?
- The plane doesn't arrive at seven. It arrives at seven thirty.
6. We also use the present simple to talk about the future after words like ' 'when', 'until', 'after', 'before' and 'as soon as'. These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time.
- I will call you when I have time. (Not 'will have'.)
- I won't go out until it stops raining.
- I'm going to make dinner after I watch the news.
7. We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals.
- If it rains, we won't come.
- If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.