When something happens regularly or is a permanent situation we usually use the simple present tense. When using the simple present the verb (with the exception of the auxiliary verbs) remains in the dictionary form (verb + s with he/she/it).
Simple Present Timeline
The simple present tense is used to discuss permanent situations and the frequency of events.
To have |
Short form |
Other Verbs (to work) |
I have |
I’ve |
I work |
he has |
he’s |
He works |
she has |
she’s |
She works |
it has |
it’s |
It works |
you have |
you’ve |
you work |
we have |
we’ve |
we work |
they have |
they’ve |
they work |
Statements |
Statements |
Questions |
Short answer |
Short answer |
I work. |
I don’t work. |
Do I work? |
Yes, I do. |
No, I don’t. |
He works. |
He doesn’t work. |
Does he work? |
Yes, he does. |
No, he doesn’t. |
She works. |
She doesn’t work. |
Does she work? |
Yes, she does. |
No, she doesn’t. |
It works. |
It doesn’t work. |
Does it work? |
Yes, it does. |
No, it doesn’t. |
You work. |
You don’t work. |
Do you work? |
Yes you do. |
No, you don’t. |
We work. |
We don’t work. |
Do we work? |
Yes we do. |
No, we don’t. |
They work. |
They don’t work. |
Do they work? |
Yes they do. |
No, they don’t. |
For example:
Q) "Where do you live?" A) "I live in Germany."
Q) "Where does he live?" A) "He lives in Germany."
Q) "What do you do?" A) "I’m a teacher."
Q) "What does he do?" A) "He’s a teacher."
Frequency
The simple present tense is also used to show how often something happens with adverbs of frequency – always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never, etc…. And when discussing daily, weekly, monthly etc. routines.
For example:
"I always get up at 6.00."
"I never drink coffee before 12.00."
"I work on my website every day."
"Every Monday and Thursday I go to the gym."
We also use the simple present to ask for and give instructions or to discuss a series of actions.
[Present tense
- Always, every day, every week, every year, every alternate Sunday, every Wednesday
- IIIrd person singular – verb + (s)
- am, are, is, be, has, have, may, do, does, can, shall, will – auxiliary verb
Simple: Ram runs every morning at the park.
Negative: Ram does not run every morning at the park. But he walks at the beach every weekend.
Present continuous
- Ist person singular + am + verb + ing
- Ist person plural + are + verb + ing
- IInd person singular / plural + are + verb + ing
- IIIrd person singular + is + verb + ing
- IIIrd plural + are + verb + ing
Simple: Sam is driving the car towards Tuas.
Negative: Sam is not driving the car towards Tuas. But he is driving the car in the express ways towards Changi airport.
Present Perfect
1. Ist person singular/plural + have + past participle
2. IInd person singular/plural + have + past participle
3. IIIrd person singular + has + past participle
4. IIIrd person plural + have + past participle
Simple: Lalitha has walked on the corridor just few minutes before.
Negative: Lalitha has not walked on the corridor just few minutes before.]