Present Simple (I do)

Present Simple (int)

Uses

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We are not talking only about now.

Study this example situation: 😉

Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep.

He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)

but He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.)

Drive(s)/work(s)/do(es) etc. is the present simple:

I / we / you / they > drive / work / do / etc.

he / she / it > drives / works / does / etc.

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

• Nurses look after patients in hospitals.

• I usually go away at weekends.

• The earth goes round the sun.

• The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning. 

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences: 

¤ I come from Canada. Where do you come from?

¤ I don't go away very often.

¤ What does this word mean?

¤ Rice doesn't grow in cold climates. 

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn't do etc.): 

¤ What do you do?' ‘I work in a shop.' 

¤ He's always so lazy. He doesn't do anything to help. 

We use the present simple to say how often we do things: 

¤ I get up at 8 o'clock every morning. 

¤ How often do you go to the dentist? 

¤ Julie doesn't drink tea very often. 

¤ Robert usually goes away two or three times a year. 

LET'S PRACTICE 📝