What do you do?
Simple Present (Present Simple)
The simple present (also called present simple or present indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show repetition, habit or generalization. Less commonly, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the near future and, in some cases, actions happening now. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and simple present exercises.
Simple Present Forms
The simple present is just the base form of the verb. Questions are made with do and negative forms are made with do not.
- Statement: You speak English.
- Question: Do you speak English?
- Negative: You do not speak English.
In the third person singular, -s or -es is added. Questions are made with does and negative forms are made with does not.
- Statement: He speaks English.
- Question: Does he speak English?
- Negative: He does not speak English.
Simple Present Uses
USE 1 Repeated Actions
Use the simple present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples:
- I play tennis.
- She does not play tennis.
- Does he play tennis?
- The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
- The train does not leave at 9 AM.
USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
The simple present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
Examples:
- Cats like milk.
- Birds do not like milk.
- Do pigs like milk?
- California is in America.
USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Speakers occasionally use simple present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.
Examples:
- The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
- The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
- When do we board the plane?
Activity:
Write the Present Simple form of the verbs:
a. go
I go
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b. study
She
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c. say
Mike
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d. rain
It
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e. watch
She
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f. play
The dog
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g. ring
The phone
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h. have
She
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i. go
He
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j. finish
The movie
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k. work
I
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l. fly
The birdVIDEO
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