Present Simple Tense
Form:
Subject + Verb (present) + ……..
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Use:
1. General truth
We use Present Simple when we talk about something that is true in general, or something that is always true.
· Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
· The earth goes round the sun.
· The sun rises at the East.
2. Repeated actions or habits
We also use Present Simple to talk about something that happens repeatedly or regularly.
· They usually play football on weekends.
· She always reads books at night.
· I do exercise every morning.
Note: Adverb phrase of frequency
every
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Sunday/ Monday/ ….etc.
Saturday evening/ Tuesdays morning/ ….etc.
day/ week/ weekend/ month/ year
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on
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Saturdays/ Fridays/ ….etc.
Weekends
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· I go to the park on Saturdays. (= I go to the park every Saturday.)
· They play tennis on weekends. (= They play tennis every weekend.)
We use adverbs of frequency to show how often we do something.
never, ever, rarely, occasionally, sometimes, usually, normally, frequently, often, almost always, always
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· I never get up late.
· He often goes out at night.
· They always have a party on Sundays.
Position of adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency go between the subject and an action verb.
· I always do my work.
· He occasionally walks to school.
However, they come after verb “to be”.
· She is always lazy.
· They are usually happy.
In negative sentences, they come after don’t/doesn’t
· They don’t normally come here on Sundays.
· She doesn’t sometime speak to me.
Some of them can come at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the sentence.
usually, normally, sometimes, often, frequently, occasionally, rarely
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· Usually I go to school at 7 am.
· He gets up late sometimes.
· She occasionally visit my family.
In question, they usually come after the subject, but some of them can come at the end.
· Do you usually read books at night?
· Where does she go sometimes?
3. Facts or thoughts
We use present simple to talk about something that is true about someone or something. It’s true in general.
· Mice are afraid of cats.
· He understands my words.
· I am from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
4. Permanent situation
We use Present Simple when something is true for a long time until now.
· He is a banker, and he works in a bank in the center of Phnom Penh.
· Her parents live in New York. They have a big house there.
· My sister is a teacher, and she works at University of Management.
5. Future with timetable
We use Present Simple when we talk about an arrangement in the future with timetable or schedule.
· Our first class starts on October 5.
· The bus to Siem Reap leaves at 9:00 am.
· The train from Kampong Som arrives in Phnom Penh at 5:00 pm this evening.
Negative:
Subject + do/does + not + Verb (base form) + ……..
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Do not = don’t
Does not = doesn’t
· I don’t like coffee.
· He doesn’t study English on Sunday.
Question:
Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form) + ……..?
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· Do you work on Saturday?
· Does he like coffee?
Question word + do/does + Subject + Verb (base form) + ……..?
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· How many languages do you speak?
· Where does she live?
