Present Simple
- When you can use Present Simple
- Time markers in Present Simple
- How to build Present Simple with the verb to be
- How to build Present Simple with verbs (except for to be)
- Third person singular (he, she, it) verbs ending. Spelling rules
- Adverbs of frequency
When you can use Present Simple
-
You use Present Simple for repeated (habitual) actions.
- He goes to the gym twice a week.
- We drink coffee every morning.
- My friend usually calls me in the evening.
- My husband often buys me flowers.
-
You use Present Simple for permanent situations.
- I work from home.
- We have a house.
- She studies engineering at university.
- My family lives in Sydney.
-
You use Present Simple when you talk about laws of nature or general truth.
- Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.
- The sun sets in the west.
- The moon moves around the earth.
- Trees need water to grow.
-
You use Present Simple to express an action that is happening at the moment of speaking with state verbs e.g. to see, to know, to understand, to like, to hate, to hear, to love, etc.State verbs are the verbs which can not be used in Continuous Tenses.
- He doesn’t see anything. /see is a state verb/
- I like your new dress. /like is a state verb/
- Do you know him? /know is a state verb/
- They don’t understand this rule. /understand is a state verb/
-
You use Present Simple for a sequence of short actions that are happening now. This is often used in commentaries (e.g. sports commentaries) or to create dramatic effect.Commentary is a spoken description of an event or sports competition that is given as the event is happening, especially on radio or television.
- John catches the ball and scores a goal. /sports commentary/
- She enters the room, sees Matthew and kisses him. /dramatic effect/
-
You use Present Simple for future timetables or programs.
- The plane leaves at 5.15 am.
- When does the match start? It starts at 10 pm.
- The lesson finishes at 2 pm.
-
You use Present Simple to express future after the following words: when, after, before, till/until, as soon as.
- I will see you when I come to Madrid.
- Dad will talk to her after she returns.
- Please, help me with my homework before you leave.
- I will be at home till you call.
- Emma will show you her presentation as soon as she finishes it.
-
You use Present Simple in zero and first conditionals.
- If you mix yellow and blue, you get green. /zero conditional/
- If the sun shines, snow melts. /zero conditional/
- If Chris wakes up late, he will miss the bus. /first conditional/
- If it is warm tomorrow, we will go to the beach. /first conditional/
Time markers in Present Simple
- usually
- always
- never
- often
- sometimes
- every day/week/month/year
- on Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays etc.
- once a week/month/year
- twice a month/month/year
- in the morning/evening/afternoon
How to build Present Simple with the verb to be
+
|
||
I
+
am
|
He/she/it
+
is
|
We/you/they
+
are
|
−
|
||
I
+
am not
|
He/she/it
+
isn’t
|
We/you/they
+
aren’t
|
?
|
||
Am
+
I
|
Is
+
he/she/it
|
Are
+
we/you/they
|
Wh-?
|
||
Wh
+
am
+
I
|
Wh
+
is
+
he/she/it
|
Wh
+
are
+
we/you/they
|
Practice!
- Present Simple with to be — Positive — Exercise 1
- Present Simple with to be — Positive — Exercise 2
- Present Simple with to be — Negative — Exercise 1
- Present Simple with to be — Negative — Exercise 2
- Present Simple with to be — Negative — Short forms
- Present Simple with to be — Yes/No question — Exercise 1
- Present Simple with to be — Yes/No question — Exercise 2
- Present Simple with to be — Wh-questions — Exercise 1
- Present Simple with to be — Wh-questions — Exercise 2
- Present Simple with to be — Mixed — Exercise 1
- Present Simple with to be — Mixed — Exercise 2
- Present Simple with to be — Yes/No question — Exercise 3
How to build Present Simple with verbs (except for to be)
+
|
I/we/you/they + verb
He/she/it + verb with (e)s
|
−
|
I/we/you/they + don’t + verb
He/she/it + doesn’t + verb
|
?
|
Do + I/we/you/they + verb?
Does he/she/it + verb?
|
Wh-?
|
Wh + do + I/we/you/they + verb?
Wh + does + he/she/it + verb?
|
Practice!
- Present Simple — Positive — Exercise 1
- Present Simple — Positive — Exercise 2
- Present Simple — Negative — Exercise 1
- Present Simple — Negative — Exercise 2
- Present Simple — Negative — Short forms
- Present Simple — Positive and Negative — Changing pronoun
- Present Simple — Yes/No question — Exercise 1
- Present Simple — Yes/No question — Exercise 2
- Present Simple — Yes/No question — Exercise 3
- Present Simple — Short answers
- Present Simple — Wh-question — Exercise 1
- Present Simple — Wh-question — Exercise 2
- Present Simple — Put the Wh-question to the word/phrase in bold
- Present Simple — Mixed — Exercise 1
- Present Simple — Mixed — Exercise 2
- Present Simple — Positive — have/has
- Present Simple — Positive — Choosing the right form
- Present Simple — Positive and Negative — Choosing the right form
- Present Simple — Mixed — All verbs and to be
Third person singular (he, she, it) verbs ending. Spelling rules
verbs ending with o,
ch,
sh,
z,
s,
ss,
x
➔ + es
|
|
verbs ending with a consonant followed by Y
➔ Y + ies
|
|
verbs ending with a vowel (a, e, o, i ,u) followed by Y
➔ + s
|
|
all other verbs
(no matter which ending they have)➔ + s
|
|
Adverbs of frequency
You use adverbs of frequency to say how often you do things or how often things happen.
Position in the sentence
|
|
you put adverbs of frequency after the verb to be
you put adverbs of frequency before the other verbs
|
Practice!