Simple Present
FORM
VERB+ s/es in third person
FORM
VERB+ s/es in third person
Examples
You speak English
Do you speak English
You do not speak English
USE 1 Repeated Actions
Do you speak English
You do not speak English
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
When does the train usually leave
She always forgets her purse
He never forgets his wallet
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun
Does the Sun circle the Earth
USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
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
When does the train usually leave
She always forgets her purse
He never forgets his wallet
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun
Does the Sun circle the Earth
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
California is not in the United Kingdom
Windows are made of glass
Windows are not made of wood
New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue
USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Birds do not like milk
Do pigs like milk
California is in America
California is not in the United Kingdom
Windows are made of glass
Windows are not made of wood
New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue
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
The party starts at 8 o'clock
When does class begin tomorrow
USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM
When do we board the plane
The party starts at 8 o'clock
When does class begin tomorrow
USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs
Examples
I am here now
She is not here now
He needs help right now
He does not need help now
He has his passport in his hand
Do you have your passport with you
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc
She is not here now
He needs help right now
He does not need help now
He has his passport in his hand
Do you have your passport with you
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc
Examples
You only speak English
Do you only speak English
Do you only speak English