Simple Present Tense

16 Tenses in English Grammar (Formula and
Examples)
Verb Tenses are different forms of verbs describing something happened in the past,
happening at present or will happen in the future. By expanding these three forms,
you will learn 16 tenses in all.
There are three main types of verb tenses past, present and future.
PRESENT TENSE
Present tense shows the current action that is going to be performed. It has four
types which are briefly described here.
1. Simple Present Tense

Structure:
Subject + Verb (vI) + es/es
Examples:
1. I take exercise daily.
2. She reads a book in the library.
Simple Present Tense is a type of sentence that has a function to express an

activity or fact that occurs in the present, and structurally or its arrangement,
simple present tense uses only one verb.
Present Tense is one of the forms of verb tenses. It simply describes the actions,
truths(facts), future and situations. It is very easy to form and uses base form of
the verb.
It is a verb tense. A ‘verb’ is an action word. The ‘tense’ is the time of the action.
The ‘present’ is now. It shows how the past is connected to the present/now.
Structure / Formula
Formula of the simple present tense affirmative is,
Subject + Base Form(V1)+’s’ or ‘es’ + rest of the sentence
If the subject is he, she or it, there is addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’ with base form. For
example, He eats apples daily.
If the subject is you, we, they or any plural form, only base form is used. For example,
They eat apples daily.
Simple Present Tense Negative

Subject + do not / does not + base form + rest of the sentence.
With the singular subject we use ‘does not’ while with the plural, we use ‘do not’. For
example,
 He does not eat apples daily.

 They do not eat apples daily.
Simple Present Tense Interrogative
Do / Does + subject + base form + rest of the sentence +?
Interrogative sentences start with ‘do’ or ‘does’. For example,
 Does he eat apples daily?
 Do they eat apples daily?
Usage
Use the Present Simple in English for:
1. Something which is true or factual –
1.1 General – “Chinese people eat a lot of rice.”

1.2 Permanent – “I am a teacher.” “He is a father.”
1.3 Mathematical/scientific – “One plus one equals two.” “Water freezes at 0c.”
1.4 Habitual – “I drink coffee every day.”
1.5 Recurring – “It snows every winter.”
1.6 Eternal/Unvarying – “The Bible says ‘You must not kill’.”
1.7 Mental state – “I think she is very kind.”
2 Describing Feelings and Senses – “I feel very cold.” “Im freezing.”
3 Giving instructions, directions or demonstrations – “Open the box on the table,
take out the hand beater and beat the eggs until they are creamy.”
4 Media (newspapers, radio announcements, television broadcasts) –

“Earthquake hits New Zealand.”
5 Timetables – “The train leaves at midnight.”
6 After ‘when’ or ‘if’ to form a time clause (also called the ‘General or Zero
Conditional) – “I like to ski when it snows.” “When it snows, I like to ski.” Note the
comma in the second example.
Examples
Affirmative Sentences
 My friend helps me.
 Teacher talks to his students regularly.
 I walk daily early in the morning.
 They discuss literature with each other.
 She takes exercise regularly.
Negative Sentences
 I do not like mathematics.
 He does not fall in the category of eligible candidates for a job.
 The garden does not look attractive.
 He does not attend his class regularly.
 They do not talk to each other.
Interrogative Sentences
 Do you like Mathematics?
 Does he belong to Rome?
 Do they perform their duties honestly?
 Does he attend his class regularly?
 Does she take exercise daily?
Exercises
1. Do you ________ how to speak German? (know)
2. She ________ as an Accountant in a private firm. (work)
3. I do not _______ Mathematics. (like)
4. The sun _______ in the west. (set)
5. He does not _______ novels. (write)
6. David ______ his room everyday. (clean)
7. I ______ up at 4:00 am everyday. (wake)
8. Julie does not _______ her car. (drive)
9. Do you ______ tennis? (play)
10. They ______ books late night. (study)
Answers
1. know
2. works
3. like
4. sets
5. write
6. cleans
7. wake
8. drive
9. play
10. study
Simple Present Tense Exercise: It is a practice exercise for you consisting of 15 questions.
Solve the exercise. All the answers are given at the end of the exercise.
I _______ the sum.

solve
solves
solved
He _______ his duty diligently.

perform
performs
performed
My mother _______ meal daily.

cooks
cooked
is cooking
They _______ holidays in December every year.

enjoys
enjoy
are enjoying
She _______ TV in the evening.

watch
watched
watches
I _______ tea at breakfast.

drink
drinks
drank
The water of lake _______ in December every

year.
freeze
freezes
freezed
The doctor _______ the pulse of patients daily.

feel
feeling
feels
I _______ late at Saturdays.

sleep
sleeps
slept
He does not _______ French fluently.

speaks
speak
speaking
Does the bus _______ tonight at 7:30 pm?

leave
leaves
leaving
Does the sun _______ in the East?
rises
risen
rise
Why does she not _______ me?

believe
believes
believed
I _______ up early in the morning.

gets
get
got
The children always _______ the zoo trip.

enjoys
enjoyed
enjoy
Answers
1. I solve the sum.
2. He performs his duty diligently.
3. My mother cooks meal daily.
4. They enjoy holidays in December every year.
5. She watches TV in the evening.
6. I drink tea at breakfast.
7. The water of lake freezes in December every year.
8. The doctor feels the pulse of patients daily.
9. I sleep late at Saturdays.
10. He does not speak French fluently.
11. Does the bus leave tonight at 7:30 pm?
12. Does the sun rise in the East?
13. Why does she not believe me?
14. I get up early in the morning.
15. The children always enjoy the zoo trip.

Simple Present Tense

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Simple Present Tense

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Simple Present Tense

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

16 Tenses in English Grammar (Formula and

1. Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense is a type of sentence that has a function to express an

Subject + Base Form(V1)+’s’ or ‘es’ + rest of the sentence

Simple Present Tense Negative

 He does not eat apples daily.

Interrogative sentences start with ‘do’ or ‘does’. For example,

1. Something which is true or factual –

1.1 General – “Chinese people eat a lot of rice.”

4 Media (newspapers, radio announcements, television broadcasts) –

5 Timetables – “The train leaves at midnight.”

I _______ the sum.

He _______ his duty diligently.

My mother _______ meal daily.

They _______ holidays in December every year.

She _______ TV in the evening.

I _______ tea at breakfast.

The water of lake _______ in December every

The doctor _______ the pulse of patients daily.

I _______ late at Saturdays.

He does not _______ French fluently.

Does the bus _______ tonight at 7:30 pm?

Why does she not _______ me?

I _______ up early in the morning.

The children always _______ the zoo trip.

You might also like