Learning English: SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

A. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The function of Simple Present Tense in verbal sentence:

1. Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express repeated actions or usual such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled, an event or something that often happens.

Examples:

ü The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

ü She goes to gym once a month

ü They eat hamburger in restaurant every Saturday

2. Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about schedule or events in the near future.

Examples:

ü The bus leaves tonight at 6 PM.

ü The party starts at 8 o'clock.

ü The class begins at 1 PM

3. Now

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening now.

Examples:

ü They are not here now.

ü He needs help right now.

ü She has her wallet in his hand.

4. To tell fact or general truth, example:

ü Dogs like bones.

ü Bali is in Indonesia.

ü A year has twelve months.

Pattern of Simple Present Tense
I	Am	I	Do / Don't
You	Are	You
They		They
We		We
He	Is	He	Does / Doesn't
She		She
It		It

Note.

DO and DOES are used for affirmative sentence.

DON'T (DO NOT) and DOESN'T (DOES NOT) is used for negative sentence.

Formulas and examples in sentences

Expressing the simple present tense’s sentence which use VERB

+	Subject + Verb 1 + Object
-	Subject + DON'T / DOESN'T + Verb 1 + Object
?	DO / DOES + Subject + Verb 1 + Object?
?	Question Words + DO/ DOES + Subject + Verb 1?

Example:

+	I go to school everyday She goes to school everyday
-	I don’t go to school everyday She doesn't go to school everyday
?	Do you go to school every day? Answer: Yes I do, or No, I don't Does she go to school everyday? Answer: Yes, She does or No, She doesn’t
?	Why do you go to school everyday?

IMPORTANT!

Only in positive sentence, subject “He, She, and It” in the end of the word Verb 1 must add with “s/es”. The additional “s/es” in the VERB 1:

1. In general words, verb directly adding by “s/es”, example:

§ Read – Reads

§ Cook – Cooks

§ Run – Runs

2. Verb that ended with alphabet such as “ch, o, s, sh, x” adding with “-es”, example:

§ Pass - Passes

§ Finish - Finishes

§ Teach - Teaches

§ Go - Goes

§ Fix - Fixes

3. The alphabet which is end with the alphabet of “-y” and start by the consonants “-y” change into “-“ then add by “-es”, example:

§ Study - Studies

§ Carry - Carries

§ Cry - Cries

4. Meanwhile, verbs which is ended by alphabet “-y” and start with vowels, add with “-s”, example:

§ Buy - Buys

§ Play - Plays

§ Say - Says

INFORMATION

When modal auxiliaries follow by Verbs, so verbs don’t have to add by “s/es”, example:

§ He Will work at 9 AM

§ She Can open the window

§ He Must close the door quietly

Express Simple Present Tense sentence which don’t use Verb

+	Subject + To be 1 + Non Verb + Object
-	Subject + To be 1 + NOT + Non Verb + Object
?	To be 1 + Subject + Non Verb + Object?
?	Question Word + To be 1 + Subject + Non Verb + Object?

Example:

+	I am a student. She is a student.
-	I am not a student. She is not a student.
?	Are you a student? Answer: Yes I am, or No, I am not Is she a student? Answer: Yes She is, or No, She is not
?	What are you? Answer: I am a student Where are your students? Answer: they are in the classroom

Practice

Write the verb by adding “s/es”

No.	Verb 1	Verb (S/Es)	No.	Verb 1	Verb (S/Es)
1			11
2			12
3			13
4			14
5			15
6			16
7			17
8			18
9			19
10			20

Exercise

Change the sentences into positive, negative or interrogative form!

1. The Moon goes round the Earth. ( - )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

2. He is still teenager. ( ? )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

3. They don’t work at the weekend. ( + )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

4. Do you play football? ( - )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

5. Water freezes at zero degrees. ( ? )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

6. I don’t play the piano, but I play the guitar. ( + )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

7. The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace. ( - )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

8. Does it rain a lot in winter? ( + )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

9. Her mother are Peruvian. ( ? )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

10. A dog has four legs. ( - )

Answer : _____________________________________________________________

Exercise

Change the words in the brackets into correct Simple Present forms.

1. I (sell) a can of AQUA PROOF.