English Tenses : Simple Present Tense

Definition Of The Simple Present Tense

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. The simple present tense is simple to form. Just use the base form of the verb: (I take, you take, we take, they take) The 3rd person singular takes an -s at the end. (he takes, she takes).

        

The above story is an example of the simple present tense.

Use Of The Simple Present

·      Habits

            Examples :

·      I always drink coffee at work

·      She gets up at 7 a.m every day

·      They usually eat dinner at home

·      True in the present

Examples :

·      He works on wall street

·      She is sixty years old

·      We live in New York

·      General facts/truths

Examples :

·      The earth is not flat

·      The sun rises in the east

·      Water boils at 100 degrees c

·      Future timetables/schedules

Examples :

·      My train arrives tomorrow

·      We fly to Paris on Monday

·      Classes begin next week

Signal Words

·         Always

·         Every day

·         Usually

·         Often

·         Sometimes

·         Rarely

·         Seldom

·         Never

Form

infinitive (3rd person singular he, she, it: infinitive + -s)

Examples

·      Affirmative sentences in the Simple Present

·      Negative sentences in the Simple Present

You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary do for negations and the infinitive of the verb.

·      Questions in the Simple Present

     You need the auxiliary do/does and the infinitive of the verb.

References :

Hanafi, Tommy. 2011. Pasti Cepat Bisa 16 Tenses. Jogjakarta : Javalitera.

https://americanenglish.state.gov/

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/sim_pres.htm

http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/simple-present-tense/