the sımple present tense
by Hakan Serim
Why do we use the Simple Present Tense?
The simple present is a verb tense used frequently to express:
-
daily routines
-
timetables
-
headlines
-
stories/fairytales
-
general truths
-
scientific facts
-
habits
-
likes/dislikes
-
if clauses type 0 and 1
Examples
-
Liz knows how to drive a lorry.
-
Do you speak any foreign language?
-
The earth goes around the Sun. The stars don't reflect the sunlight; they give their own inner energy to enlighten their surroundings.
-
My niece Ece and I occasionaly feed our ducks.
-
The prince rushes into the room, gets closer to the princess, kisses her, and all of a sudden, the princess opens her eyes.
-
Shelby smokes and drinks very often.
-
Cathy likes seeing a play at the town hall once a week.
-
The train to Brighton leaves the station at 1pm.
-
MURDERER ESCAPES
-
I generally wake up early. After having my breakfast I leave home for work at 8am. I arrive at office at 8.30 and ...
-
My little sister rarely finishes her meal.
-
Tristan doesn't like watching horror movies. Instead, he watches romantic movies at nights.
-
If you complete the task in time, we may have a break.
-
Does everybody understand what i am talking about?
See Simple Present in a real conversation
How do we form the Simple Present Tense?
FORM:
Affirmative (Positive Sentences):
Subject + Verb + Object + Place + Time Expression
BUT!
3rd person singular + Verb
(He/She/It)
-s
-es
-ies
Interrogation (Question Sentences)
Yes / No Questions:
Do + subject + verb + Object + P + TE ?
BUT!
Does + 3rd person singular + verb
(He/She/It)
Negation (NegativeSentences):
Subject + don't verb + Object + Place + Time Expression
BUT!
3rd person singular + doesn't verb
(He/She/It)
Interrogation (Question Sentences)
Wh- Questions:
Wh- + do + subject + verb + Object + P + TE ?
BUT!
Wh- does + 3rd person singular + verb
(He/She/It)
Time expressions mostly used with Present Simple:
-
generally
-
in general
-
mostly
-
normally
-
typically
-
once/twice/three times a week
-
in summers/ in the evenings
-
at nights/ at the weekends
-
on Sundays
-
in my spare time
-
etc.
Adverbs of frequency
-
always %100
-
usually/mostly %80
-
very often/frequently %70
-
often %50
-
sometimes/occasionaly/ from time to time %30
-
seldom/rarely %10
-
hardly ever %2
-
never%0
-
never and ever %00