Minggu, 01 September 2013

Present Simple Tense


How do we make the Present Simple Tense?
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb


do

base
There are three important exceptions:
  1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
  2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
  3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like:

subject
auxiliary verb

main verb

+
I, you, we, they


like
coffee.
He, she, it


likes
coffee.
-
I, you, we, they
do
not
like
coffee.
He, she, it
does
not
like
coffee.
?
Do
I, you, we, they

like
coffee?
Does
he, she, it

like
coffee?
Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

subject
main verb


+
I
am

French.
You, we, they
are

French.
He, she, it
is

French.
-
I
am
not
old.
You, we, they
are
not
old.
He, she, it
is
not
old.
?
Am
I

late?
Are
you, we, they

late?
Is
he, she, it

late?
How do we use the Present Simple Tense?
We use the present simple tense when:
  • the action is general
  • the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
  • the action is not only happening now
  • the statement is always true
John drives a taxi.
past
present
future

It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.
Look at these examples:
  • I live in New York.
  • The Moon goes round the Earth.
  • John drives a taxi.
  • He does not drive a bus.
  • We meet every Thursday.
  • We do not work at night.
  • Do you play football?
Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the present simple tense for situations that are not general. We can use the present simple tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the present simple tense - some of them are general, some of them are now:
Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
past
present
future

The situation is now.
 
I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
past
present
future

The situation is general. Past, present and future.

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