Present Simple

Since 'to be' and 'to have' are auxiliary verbs, it takes different forms for different subjects. Take a look at the table below for the conjugation of the verb 'to be' and 'to have:'

In the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb 'do' to form negative sentences. For first and second-person singular or plural, and third-person plural pronouns, we use 'don't'. For third-person singular pronouns, we use 'doesn't'.

If the subject of your sentence is I/you/we/they, you add do not (don't) to the subject, followed by the simple main verb, without 's.'

If the subject of your sentence is he/she/it, you add does not (doesn't) to the subject, followed by the simple main verb, without 's.'

As we mentioned before, one of the functions of auxiliary verbs like do and does is making questions. To make yes/no questions, you need to start the sentence with auxiliaries do/does. The subject comes after it, followed by the main verb. Look at the examples:

You can make wh- question by starting the sentence with wh-word and then using do/does. The subject comes next, followed by the main verb.

We use the present simple when something is generally or always true. It means you cannot change them. When we say someone is dead we cannot change this fact at all. Remember general facts can refer to scientific facts, or things that cannot be changed easily. Take a look at these examples:

We use the present simple for a situation that is temporary (something that is true in the present). It means that these situations may change in the future, but they are true at the moment. For example:

To talk about people's jobs, we oftencannot be one hundred percent sure whether they will do the same job in the future or not. In this case, we use the simple present tense to describe what they currently do for a living. Check out the examples:

State verbs in English are used to describe a state of being and are often used in the present simple tense. In addition, linking verbs in the simple present tense can also be used to describe emotions or mental states. Here are the examples:

The simple present tense is used to express our likes and dislikes, such as talking about our favorite things or expressing preferences. Some verbs that are commonly used to express likes and dislikes include 'don't like', 'dislike', 'hate', 'abhor', 'can't bear', 'detest', 'like', 'love', and 'enjoy'. For example:

We use the present simple with stative verbs like 'be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish.' Normally, these verbs are not used in the present continuous form. For example:

'Present simple tense' is also used to talk about frequent actions in the present time. In this case, we use the following adverbs of frequency for more clarification.

You do something as a hobby because you are interested in it. But you probably know that your interests and desires change over time. So you can use the present simple tense to express your hobbies at the moment. For example:

We use the present simple for habits. Habits are a set of actions that we do at particular times during our life. We often use adverbs of frequency to express how often we do particular actions. For examples:

The present simple tense is also used in sports commentary to describe short actions that are completed as soon as they happen. It's important to remember that these actions occur in a brief period of time. If the actions are ongoing or take place over a longer duration, we should not use the simple present tense. Look at the examples:

The 'present simple' tense is often used to express timetables, where we can talk about events that occur at fixed times. Here are the examples:

We can use the 'present simple tense' to talk about the past when we are telling a story. In this case, you have to keep in mind that the story took place in the past, but you are narrating it in the present.

Whenever you want to talk about a film or a book after reading it or watching it. You have to use the present simple tense as you use it for narrating stories.

We use the present simple in the zero conditionals. As it was mentioned earlier the present simple tense is used to talk about facts that are generally true. 'Zero conditional' is also used to talk about facts that are generally true. So, we can use the present simple tense in zero conditionals.

We use the present simple to talk about the sequence of actions in the present. The sequence of events indicates which action has been done sooner or later. So if you are narrating something, use the simple present tense. For example:

We also use the present simple to talk about the future after words like 'when,' 'until,' 'after,' 'before' and 'as soon as.' These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time. So, keep in mind that the 'simple present tense' is used in subordinate time clauses to talk about the future. For example:

We can use the present simple tense to give instruction or ask for it. This structure mostly starts with the pronoun 'you.' For example:

We use the present simple tense in the first conditional.'First conditional' is used to talk about future events that are about to happen if something else happens. The if-clause mostly contains a simple present verb and is used in the simple present tense. Here are the examples:

We use this structure to refer to a future event which is actually in the simple present tense. Sometimes this structure can even be used to give orders. Check out the examples for more clarification.