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Verb Tenses (Simple Present)

Date: Aug 24 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: mo7mad_syr

Lesson

Simple Present

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

  • You speak English.
  • 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

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

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)

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.

Examples:

  • You only speak English.
  • Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
  • Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

Comments

Log in to Comment

dungtoanntl

Viet Nam

Many thanks to English Baby. As a member of English Baby, I have gained a lot of benefits from you all. I haven’t contributed any great ideas to other members. I’m terribly sorry.

02:42 PM Jul 31 2008 |

confiance

Canada

thanks for you

09:46 PM Jul 12 2008 |

sohailahmed

Pakistan

thankz

10:12 PM Feb 18 2008 |

cute.frd

Pakistan

well

07:22 PM Dec 24 2007 |

mo7mad_syr

mo7mad_syr

Saudi Arabia

thank you all for your comments

 

11:19 AM Dec 22 2007 |

Loura

Loura

Egypt

Thanks a lot, Mo7mad.

02:36 AM Dec 22 2007 |

Angel hee

China

thank you very much!

12:47 PM Dec 17 2007 |

pınarım

pınarım

Turkey

thanks

 

05:41 PM Nov 26 2007 |

Rahima

Pakistan

YA I LEARN IT  BECAUSE IT EASY FOR ME.THANKS FOR REPLY.

07:29 PM Nov 03 2007 |

buvana

India

Grammar is useful to us.

05:08 AM Nov 02 2007 |

mo7mad_syr

mo7mad_syr

Saudi Arabia

thanks all

01:28 AM Oct 12 2007 |

lee23479

Viet Nam

thanks

 

01:12 PM Oct 11 2007 |

dungtoanntl

Viet Nam

Thank you for clear presentation.

 

 

09:44 AM Oct 08 2007 |

alexf

Israel

clear and comprehensive

05:59 PM Oct 05 2007 |

mo7mad_syr

mo7mad_syr

Saudi Arabia

o.k

03:00 PM Aug 24 2007 |

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