Present simple (in English): Structure, uses and examples
Examples / / April 02, 2023
He simple present (present simple) is a tense in English that is used to express actions, states and general facts in the present. For example: We travel to our beach house every summer./ We travel to our beach house every summer.
He present simple It is the tense used to introduce oneself, talk about a person and make descriptions. For example: Yo’m Peter; Yo have a degree in computer science and I work for a foreign company./ I am Peter; I have a degree in systems and I work for a foreign company.
He present simplehas a general and permanent character (not temporary, like the present continuous). For example:
- Yo live in Argentina. / I live in Argentina. (permanent)
- I'm living in a small apartment these two weeks. / I am living in a small apartment these two weeks. (temporary)
- See also: Sentences with "do" and "does"
Uses of present simple
The simple present (present simple) is a tense in English that is used to express:
- Actions or permanent states in the present. For example:Yo have two dogs./ I have two dogs.
- Usual actions. For example: I usually sleep late on weekends./ I usually sleep late on weekends.
- universal truths. For example: Earth rotates once in 24 hours./ The earth rotates once every 24 hours.
affirmative structure of present simple
Unlike Spanish (which has one conjugation for each person), English has only two conjugations in present simple, according to the pronoun:
Subject | Verb |
---|---|
Yo you We |
like |
I have She Item |
likeyes |
For example:I like rock and he likesyes pop./ I like rock and he likes pop.
He verbto be (to be or to be) is the only verb that is not conjugated following the rules of the affirmations for the present simple. For example: They are from Mexico. (And not: They are from Mexico).
conjugation for people I, you, we, they matches the infinitive of the verb. For example: read, work, cost.
The conjugation for he, she, itis formed by adding "s" to the verb (readyes, workyes, costyes) or "is" when the verb ends in ch, sh, ss, x (watchesis, finishedis, kissis). When the verb ends in "y", the "y" is replaced by "i" and then "es" is added.. For example: study-studyyes, try–tryes.
Exceptions:
- do – does
- go- goes
- have – have you
Attention: The final "s" of the conjugation of the verbs corresponding to he, she, it is not related to the plural number (as is the case in the nouns).
- See also: Affirmative and negative sentences in English
negative structure of present simple
The negative structure of present simpleis formed with the negative auxiliaries don't or doesn't(as appropriate) + the verb, which always goes in the infinitive for all pronouns.
The final "s" of the verb in the positive structure for he, she, it disappears in the negative structure.
Subject | Negative auxiliary | Infinitive verb |
---|---|---|
Yo you We |
do not (no) | like |
I have She Item |
does not (does not) |
For example: Yo no like rock and he doesn't like pop. / I don't like rock and he doesn't like pop.
Exception: The verbto be (to be or to be) is the only verb that does not use no either doesn't to form the negative in present simple. For example: I'm not at home.(And not:I don't be at home).
- It can help you: Sentences with "do" and "does"
interrogative structure of present simple
The interrogative structure of the present simpleis formed with the auxiliaries do or does (as appropriate) + the infinitive of the verb, which always goes in the infinitive for all pronouns.
Assistant | Subject | Infinitive verb |
---|---|---|
Do |
Yo you we they |
like…? |
Does |
I have she Item |
- Do you work in Seattle?/ Do you work in Seattle?
- where does She often travels on business?/ Where does she often travel for work?
- Yes-no questions. When a "yes" or "no" answer is required, the question begins with the auxiliary. For example: Do you run the company?/ Do you manage the company?
- wh-questions. When information is required as a response, it is preceded by a wh- word (what, when, where) to the assistant. For example: Why do you do yoga?/ Why do you practice yoga?
Attention:
- The “s” verb ending in the positive structure to he, she, it disappears in the interrogative structure. For example:Does he run?(And not: Does he run?)
- As in all questions in English, there is inversion between the subject and the auxiliary.
Exception:The verbto be(to be or to be) is the only verb that does not use do / does to ask questions in present simple. For example: Are you a doctor? (And not: Do you be a doctor?).
- See also: Questions with "do" and "does"
Examples of the present simple in English
-
the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. -
my mother never watches TV in her bedroom.
My mother never watches TV in her room. -
paul never does his homework of her.
Paul never does his homework. -
Do you usually watches movies in the evening?
Do you usually watch movies at night? -
Grand Canyon National Park receives visitors all year round.
The Grand Canyon National Park welcomes visitors throughout the year. -
This bus always arrives on time.
This bus always arrives on time. -
my dad doesn'tlike sushi.
My dad doesn't like sushi. -
nick travels to Australia every summer.
Nick travels to Australia every summer. -
Kate she speaks English and German.
Kate speaks English and German. -
Harry goes to school by bus.
Harry goes to school by bus.. -
The car isn't in the garage.
The car is not in the garage. -
mel doesn'tsing in a choir.
Mel doesn't sing in a choir. -
My friends always go on vacation to the beach.
My friends always go on vacation to the beach. -
She works for NASA.
She works for NASA. -
vegetarians don't eat meat.
Vegetarians do not eat meat. -
where does Liz eat desde?
Where does Liz come from? -
my grandfather es an engineer.
My grandfather is an engineer. -
Yo nodrink coffee.
I do not drink coffee. -
que does this word mean?
What does this word mean? -
banks usually open at 10 a.m.
Banks normally open at 10 a.m. -
my grandmother grows vegetables in her backyard.
My grandmother grows vegetables in her backyard. -
My parents always work long hours.
My parents always work long hours. -
Ian lives in a big house in Bristol.
Ian lives in a big house in Bristol. -
Her children sees it playing in the garden.
Her children love to play in the garden. -
Liz getsup very early every morning to do her homework.
Liz gets up very early every morning to do her homework. -
Do you often gorunning in the park?
Do you often go running in the park? -
I don't usually drink coffee.
I don't drink coffee usually. -
My friends and I sometimes have parties on Saturday evenings.
My friends and I sometimes have parties on Saturday nights. -
An atheist is a person who doesn'tbelieve in God.
An atheist is a person who does not believe in God. -
where does Jane eat desde?
Where does Jane come from?
Verb to be
Unlike the rest of the verbs in present simple, the verb to be(to be and to be) does not use the auxiliaries doanddoesfor the formation of interrogative sentences either negative. Nor does it respect the affirmative structure of the rest of the verbs. The verb to beIt has its own structure, which is as follows:
affirmative verb structure to be in present simple
Subject | Verb to be | Complement |
---|---|---|
Yo | am (´m) | from Argentina. |
he/she/it | is (´s) | good. |
You/we/they | are (‘re) | students. |
negative verb structure to be in present simple
Subject | Verb to be | Complement |
---|---|---|
Yo | am not ('m not) | an engineer. |
he/she/it | is not (isn't / 's not) | my brother. |
You/we/they | are not (aren't / 're not) | beats. |
Interrogative structure of the verb to be in present simple
Verb to be | Subject | Complement |
---|---|---|
A.M | Yo | right? |
Es | he/she/it | sick today? |
are | you/we/they | In London? |
If the speaker wants information as an answer, a question word is preceded (wh-word) to the verb to be. For example: Where is Ted?/ Where is Ted?
- See also: Sentences with the verb "to be"
adverbs with present simple
Frequency adverbs (frequency adverbs)
When it is necessary to specify the frequency of an action or state, an adverb of frequency is used with the present simple. For example: Yo always get up early./ I always wake up early.
Adverbs of frequency go before the verb, except with the verb to be, which come after. For example: Yo soy never beats./ I'm never late.
Some frequency adverbs are: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, occasionally, never.
Adverbs of time (adverbs of time)
When it is necessary to specify when an action is done, adverbs of time can be used, which go at the end of the sentence. For example:Emily plays tennis every Saturday./ Emily plays tennis every Saturday.
Some adverbs of time are: at 8 o'clock, every week, on Mondays, in the morning, on weekends.
present simple either present continuous?
PRESENT SIMPLE | PRESENT CONTINUOUS |
---|---|
It expresses actions or permanent states in the present. ted works for Invgate. |
Expresses temporary actions. ted is working on a special project. |
Express routine. Every day I walk to school. |
Express exception to a routine. YoI'm going to school by bus this week. |
Expresses actions that always occur. my mother always works long hours. |
Expresses actions that occur in the moment. my mother is working now. |
It expresses future schedules of public transport. the train leaves at 12.30. |
Expresses future events. My friends are coming over for dinner tonight. |
Attention: There are the stative verbs which are used only in present simple (or any simple, non-continuous time), such as know, mean, believe, understand, cost). They express conditions and states (and not actions or activities). For example:I don't understand. (And not: I'm not understanding).
Follow with:
- Adverbs in English
- Prayers in English and Spanish
- «Yes/no questions" in English
- Questions "what questions" (English)
- «how old», «how far" and "how often»