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EXAMPLE: [ to study]
| I | Study |
| You(singular) | Study |
| He/She/It | Studies |
| We/You/they | Study |
| Simple Present Tense Formation | |
| The simple present tense in English is formed adding -s or -es to the third person singular, you don't need to add anything to the other persons. | |
| Example: | |
| Singular Pronouns | |
| I | walk |
| you | walk |
| He | walks |
| She | walks |
| It | walks |
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Plural Pronouns |
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| We | walk |
| You | walk |
| They | walk |
| As you can notice only Third Person Singular needs -s or -es | |
| -S or -ES? | |
| You add -s to most verbs to form the third person singular, some other verbs need -es. Here are the rules: | |
| Verb ending | Add |
| -s | es |
| -z | es |
| -sh | es |
| -ch | es |
| -o | es |
| -x | es |
| consonant + y | Change Y to I, then add es |
| anything else | Add s |
USES:
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 listen to music
She does not like Biology.
The sun rises every morning
She always forgets doing her homework.
He never forget his mother's birthday
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.
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 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Sometimes speakers 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 a car.
| Affirmative | ||
| I | am | studying |
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He She It |
is | |
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You We They |
are | |
| Negative | ||
| I | am not | studying |
| He | is not (isn't) | |
| She | ||
| It | ||
| You | are not (aren't) | |
| We | are not (aren't) | |
| They | ||
| Interrogative | ||
| Am | I | studying? |
| Is |
He She It |
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| Are |
You We They |
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| Information Questions | |||
| What | is |
He She It |
studying? |
| Where | |||
| Who | |||
| Why | |||
| When | |||
| How | am | I | |
| Which | are |
You We They |
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EXAMPLES:
I am watching TV.
He is studying English in England.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Continuous (is learning), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (is quickly learning).
USE 1 Now
Use the Present Continuous with Continuous Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
EXAMPLES:
You are learning English now.
You are not swimming now.
I am sitting.
I am not standing.
They are reading their books.
They are not watching television.
What are you doing?
Why aren't you doing your homework?
USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
In English, now can mean "this second," "today," "this month," "this year," "this century" and so on. Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
EXAMPLES: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)
I am studying to become a doctor.
I am not studying to become a dentist.
I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
I am not reading any books right now.
Are you working on any special projects at work?
Aren't you teaching at the University now?
USE 3 Near Future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
EXAMPLES:
I am meeting some friends after work.
I am not going to the party tonight.
Is he visiting his parents next weekend.
Isn't he coming with us tonight.
USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
EXAMPLES:
She is always coming to class late.
He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
I don't like them because they are always complaining.
IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. Also, certain "non-continuous" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of "happening now", you must use Simple Present USE 3.
EXAMPLES:
She is loving chocolate. Not Correct
She loves chocolate. Correct