This is usually the first tense you recognise and become familiar with when learning English.
The verbs in this tense are in their base form. This means that nothing has been added to the word such as /ed/ or /ing/. However, depending on the subject of sentence, (he, she, it, I, we, they) you might need to add an /s/ to the end of the verb.
Example: base word - PLAY
I play…
We play…
They play…
She plays…
He plays…
It plays…
When do we write or speak in the present simple?
Situation 1
To talk about something that is true now (in the present).
She lives in New York.
I go to university.
Situation 2
To talk about something that happens regularly e.g., every day, month, year etc
I play tennis at the weekend.
She cleans the windows every month.
Situation 3
To say something that is always true.
The Earth is round.
Humans have tens fingers and toes.
Situation 4
To talk about a fixed schedule in the future. Yes, I realise that is quite confusing, talking about the future using the present simple!
The wedding starts at 12:30.
How to form the present simple tense.
subject + base verb(s) + rest of the sentence
I/You/We/They + eat + lunch at 2pm every day.
He/She/It + eats + lunch at 2pm every day.
PRACTICE YOURSELF
Read the sentences below and click the arrow ( >) on the left to show the correct answers.
My brother ________ (read) a book.
I ________ ( play) the piano really well.
Jon ________ ( go) to the market on Tuesdays.
A king _________ (be) very rich.
I ______ ( be) at school.
Children _________ (go) to school everyday.
He _________ (swim) on Saturday mornings.
They __________ (live) in a flat.
She ________( live) in a house.
The party _________ (begin) at 7:00 pm.
How did you do? Let me know in the comments below.
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