Present Simple

Present Simple

Module 2 - Session 1​

The simple present is a verb tense used to talk about repeated actions or events, permanent states or things which are always true.

What is the Present Simple

​

​Ex:

• I usually get up at 7 o'clock.

• During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.

• We always go on holiday in the summer.

We use the present simple to talk about things which are repeated every day, every week, every year, etc

​

​we often use adverbs of frequency sometimes, often, usually or other time expressions like on Mondays, twice a week or in the summer.

​

Time expressions

Permanent states

​Replace with sub-header

are situations or feelings which are not temporary.

Ex:

• I like him a lot.

• Sophie works as a travel writer.

• They live in London.

General facts

When something is generally or always true such as when we are talking about scientific facts, science or geography.

​

Ex:

Thailand is really hot at this time of year.

Snakes live on the ground, in trees and in water.​

We use the present simple to talk about the future when we are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organisation, not by us.

Ex:

• School begins at nine tomorrow.

​

​Future uses

​

We also use the present simple to talk about the future after words like ' 'when', 'until', 'after', 'before' and 'as soon as'. These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time.

Ex:

• I'm going to make dinner after I watch the news.

• I will call you when I have time.

​

We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals. 

Ex:

• If it rains, we won't come.

• If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

​

Structure

To form the present simple...​

• The third person singular forms end in -s or -es. That's for he, she or it.

​

Ex:

• He watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.

• He thinks chess is a sport!

• Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + V₁  ( First Form of Verb )

• Subject ( He, She, It ) + VERB – S / ES / IES

​​Positive Forms (+)

​

To form the present simple

for questions and negatives​

We use the present simple of the verb do/does + subject infinitive without to to form questions.

​Ex:

Do you see him on Wednesdays then?

Does Jack like sports?

• Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + do not / don’t + V₁  ( First Form of Verb )

• Subject ( He, She, It ) + does not / doesn’t + V₁  ( First Form of Verb )

​​Negative Forms (-)

​

To form the present simple

for questions and negatives​

For negatives we use the subject + do/does + not + infinitive withoutto.

​Ex:

Daisy and Jack don't go out together much at the weekend.

I don't think Coldplay are boring.

• ​Do + Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + V₁  ( First Form of Verb )

• Does + Subject ( He, She, It ) + V₁  ( First Form of Verb )

​​Question Forms (?)

​

• ​YES / NO + Subject ( I, You, We, They )+ do / do not (don’t)

• YES / NO + Subject  ( He, She, It ) + does / does not (doesn’t)

​​Short answers forms (+/-)

​

Now we are ready to work!

Lets answer some true and false questions​

Multiple Choice

We use the present simple for talking about permanent states or situations.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

We use it for things happening at the moment.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

 We use it for general facts (e.g. scientific facts).

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

 We use it for talking about timetables (e.g. bus or lesson timetables).

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

We use it for future plans.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

 We use it for routines (e.g. things we do every day or week).

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

 We use it for talking about likes and dislikes.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

We use it for giving opinions (e.g. with the verbs think / believe).

• True

• False

You got this!

Now let's put it up to practice!