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The Simple Present

The document discusses the simple present tense in English. It explains that the simple present is used: 1) To express information that is always true or general scientific facts. 2) To describe factual information or things that are happening now. 3) To talk about repetitive actions or habits, often signaled by adverbs of frequency. 4) To discuss planned future events from schedules, timetables, or calendars.

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Sousou Khalili
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70 views

The Simple Present

The document discusses the simple present tense in English. It explains that the simple present is used: 1) To express information that is always true or general scientific facts. 2) To describe factual information or things that are happening now. 3) To talk about repetitive actions or habits, often signaled by adverbs of frequency. 4) To discuss planned future events from schedules, timetables, or calendars.

Uploaded by

Sousou Khalili
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Simple Present

FORM : the verb keeps its base form,


however, a final « s » is added to verbs
different from the verb « to be » with 3rd
person of the singular (he, she, it).

* I work in a school, and my wife works in an


office.
a.1 Conjugation of « to be » :

 The verb « to be » is quite unique. It’s most irregular verb in the


English language, yet the most frequently used one. Here’s how it is
conjugated in the Simple Present :

 Affirmative form: Contraction:


 I am I’m a teacher.
 You are you’re a student.
 He she it is he’s she’s it’s in the classroom.
 We are we’re at work.
 They are They’re at the stadium.


a.2 Other verbs:

 Conjugated verbs in the Simple Present keep their base form, and a
final « s » is added with 3rd person of the singular .

 Affirmative form :
 I, you, we , they He, she , it ( the rules of plurals apply here)
 Work Works
 Play Plays ( « y » is preceded by a vowel)
 Study Studies ( « y » is preceded by a consonant)
 Read Reads
Exceptions
 Do Does /dʌz/
 Go Goes /ɡəʊz/
 Have Has /hæz/
b.1 Negative and interrogative forms :

 « To be »:
 Negative form: Contraction: Interrogative form :
 I’m I’m not Am I late?
 you’re You aren’t Are you a student?
 he’s she’s it’s + not He she it isn’t Is he she it in the classroom?
 we’re (where) ( Am.E)* We aren’t Are we in April?
 They’re (there) They aren’t Are they at the station?
( Br.E)**

 Remark : in order to make questions in English, invert the subject and the
auxialiary . The operation is called [subject-Auxialiary inversion]

*Am.E = American English


**Br.E= British English
b.2 Other verbs

 Unlike the verb « to be » , other verbs of the English language require


the auxiliary « to do » in order to make their negative and
interrogative forms :
 Affirmative form: Negative form: Interrogative form
 I work Don’t Do I
 You work Don’t Do you
 He she it works Doesn’t work Does he she it work ?
 We work Don’t Do we
 They work Don’t Do they
Note : Only the auxiliary « to do » is conjugated in
both negative and interrogative forms, the main
verb remains in its base form.
c. Uses :

1- To express information that are always true, including general scientific truths.

Example : - Water boils at 100°C.


- I’m allergic to strawberries. (Always)
- She doesn’t like chocolate. (Always)

2- Factual information or information that are true at the moment of speech.

Example : - It is sunny today. (tomorrow, the weather might change)


- She studies English online. (next year, things may change)
- Nowadays, a lot of people wear facemasks to avoid getting
contaminated.
3- To express repetitive actions or habits, which are signaled by the presence of
the following parts :
a. Adverbs of frequency :
Always, almost always, usually, frequently, generally, often , sometimes, hardly
ever, almost never, rarely, seldom, never…etc
Example : - He always takes his computer when he travels.
- I never watch television.
b. Adverbial phrases that indicate repetition :
Once/twice/ three times + a + [day, week, month…etc]
Every + [ day, Monday, week…etc]
On + [ days in plurals : Sundays, weekends*…etc]
Example : - She studies English once a week/ on Sunday afternoons/ every
Sunday.
* On weekends (Am.E), At the weekend (Br.E)
 4- To express planned future events in schedules, time tables, calendars…etc.
Example :
-I have an appointment with the dentist next month.
-The next train to Oxford departs in 30 minutes.
-Curfew begins at 3:00 pm and ends at 7:00 am.

Summary : Use the Simple Present to express the following :

1- Information that are always true and general scientific truths.


2- Factual information or information that are true at the moment of speech.
3- Repetitive actions and habits.
4- Planned future events.

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