Simple Present Tense
Simple Present Tense is also known as Indefinite Present Tense.
Uses of Simple Present Tense
Use Case 1: routine actions, habits, universal truth
We use Simple Present to talk about things in general, i.e. routine actions, habits, universal truth (things that are always true).
We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking.
Doctors look after the sick in hospitals. (look – $V_1$)
Sun rises in the East. (rises – $V_{s/es}$)
Here are some of the indicators which show that the action is habitual:
Always, Seldom, At times, Never, Hardly, At all times, Often, Scarcely, Seldom if ever, Daily, Rarely, Seldom or never, Generally, Barely, More often than not, Usually, Sometimes, Every day (Every + Time expression)
But there are some exceptions to this rule.
Exception 1
Habitual actions conveying a sense of irritation are expressed in present continuous tense.
She is constantly losing the keys of the car.
You are always making this mistake.
He is always complaining about something or the other.
Exception 2
Habitual actions conveying a sense of cause and effect are expressed in present continuous tense.
Aanya goes for a morning walk every day because she has to participate in a beauty contest.
Aanya is going for a morning walk every day because she has to participate in a beauty contest.
Mragank does vigorous exercise every day because he wants to lose some weight.
Mragank is doing vigorous exercise every day because he wants to lose some weight.
Use Case 2: will go on indefinitely
We use the Simple Present to describe situations that exist now and probably will go on indefinitely as far as we know.
It takes me an hour to write one article. (takes – $V_{s/es}$)
Charlie Parker plays the saxophone brilliantly. (plays – $V_{s/es}$)
Any action/situation that is permanent cannot be put in continuous tense.
I am liking it. (incorrect)
I like it. (correct)
I am knowing it. (incorrect)
I know it. (correct)
He is believing. (incorrect)
He believes. (correct)
He is loving it. (incorrect)
He loves it. (correct)
He is remembering it. (incorrect)
He remembers it. (correct)
Let’s see some more uses of Simple Present Tense.
Use Case 3: headlines and commentary
We use the Simple Present in newspaper headlines and commentary of sports.
For example:
President signs the nuclear deal. (newspaper headline)
Klusener strikes the ball and off it goes towards the boundary line like a bullet. (commentary)
Use Case 4: report
The Simple Present is used to report what we have heard, read or seen (sometimes in phrases such as I gather, I hear, I see and I understand):
This magazine article explains why Republicans are going to win the election again.
I understand you’re worried about your son.
I hear that the neighbours are very rich.
Use Case 5: in exclamatory sentences
We also use Simple Present in exclamatory sentences beginning with ‘here’ and ‘there’ to express what is actually taking place in the present.
Here comes the train !
There he goes !
Simple Present is used to introduce quotations.
Tej Bahadur says, ‘Sweat now in training, save blood in war’.
Use Case 6: Proverbial facts
Proverbial facts are expressed in simple present tense for their continued existence or relevance.
It takes two to make a quarrel.
Nothing succeeds like success.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
A stitch in time is saving nine.
Simple Present Tense for future
Concept 1
We also use Simple Present tense to express planned action of near future (i.e. fixed official timetable/fixed official programme).
President leaves for France next month.
The college opens on 22nd October.
There is a full moon tonight.
The sun rises at 5.18 tomorrow.
Instead of Simple Present tense, we can also use will + infinitive in sentences like these with little difference in meaning (although using simple present tense suggests that the arrangement is fixed and definite).
President will leave for France next month.
The college will open on 22nd October.
Concept 2
In case of personal plans or predictions, we do not use simple present tense. Instead we use:
- will,
- going to, or
- the present continuous
Although terrorism is a problem only in France at the moment, we think it affects the rest of Europe soon. (incorrect – use of simple present tense is not appropriate here)
Although terrorism is a problem only in France at the moment, we think it will affect the rest of Europe soon. (correct - will)
I am just stay in to watch a movie tonight. (incorrect – use of simple present tense is not appropriate here)
I am just staying in to watch a movie tonight. (correct – present continuous)
As he is very tired, I guess he is just rest tonight. (incorrect – use of simple present tense is not appropriate here)
As he is very tired, I guess he is just going to rest tonight. (correct – going to)
Concept 3
Simple Present tense is used, instead of the Simple Future tense, in clauses of time and clauses of condition.
In adverbial clauses introduced by time conjunctions
We use simple present tense (instead of will), in adverbial clauses introduced by time conjunctions such as after, before, when, till and until.
I shall wait till you complete your homework. (till you complete your homework – clause of time)
When you see Meenakshi, tell her that I am sorry. (When you see Meenakshi – clause of time)
In conditional clauses
We use simple present tense in conditional clauses with if, unless, in case, and provided.
If it rains, we shall get wet. (If it rains – conditional clause)
I will bring a pistol in case we get into trouble. (in case we get into trouble – conditional clause)
Different Sentence structures of the Simple Present Tense
We use the following helping verbs in simple present tense (depending on person and number of subject):
It is not necessary that ‘do/does’ will always work as helping verbs. They can function as main verbs too.
I do it regularly.
He does it regularly.
Structure of Declarative sentences
Affirmative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + $V_1 / V_{s/es}$ + Object
Aanya goes to college.
I go to college.
he/she/it/singular subject - We will use $V_{s/es}$
Pattern: Subject + do/does + $V_1$ + …….
Aanya does meet me every day.
Negative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + do not / does not + $V_1$ + Object
Aanya does not go to college. (Aanya – III person singular, so we will use does)
I do not go to college. (I – I person, so we will use do)
Structure of Interrogative sentences
Affirmative Interrogative Sentences
Pattern 1: Do / Does + Subject + $V_1$ + Object?
Does Aanya go to college?
Do they go to college?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + do / does + Subject + $V_1$ + Object?
When does Aanya go to college?
When do they go to college?
Negative Interrogative Sentences
Pattern 1: Do / Does + Subject + not + $V_1$ + Object?
Does Aanya not go to college?
Do they not go to college?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + do / does + Subject + not + $V_1$ + Object?
Why does Aanya not go to college?
Why do they not go to college?
In general, in case of simple present tense, we use “do/does” to make a sentence negative or interrogative.
Virat does not like Rohit.
Do you know?