In this lesson we focus on the form and uses if the simple present tense. Also you can see the sample sentences related to the simple present tense on this page.
The form the simple present tense
Except the third person singular, the simple present tense has an infinitive structure whereas the third person singular just needs an -s in the sentences. So you can see this in the following explanations.
The affirmative form of the simple present
Firstly, the affirmative form of the simple present tense has an infinitive form, but only the third person singular requires an -s after the main verb. So, let’s see the samples.
- I think.
- You think.
- He/she/it thinks.
- We think.
- You think.
- They think.
The negative form of the simple present
Firstly, the negative form requires “do not” or “does not”. However this time the main verbs of the sentences in the third person singular doesn’t require -s because the -s is already used in “does not”. Also we can combine “do not” into “don’t”, and “does not” into “doesn’t”. So check the sample sentences below.
- I don’t think.
- You don’t think.
- He/she/it doesn’t think.
- We don’t think.
- You don’t think.
- They don’t think.
The interrogative form of the simple present
We use do or does before the subject in irder to form the interrogative sentences. So check the sentences below.
- Do I think?
- Do you think?
- Does he/she/it think?
- Do we think?
- Do you think?
- Do they think?
Spelling of -s in the simple present
Verbs ending in ch, sh, ss, x, o requires -es instead of -s. So let’s see the examples below.
- Watch > watches
- Brush > brushes
- Kiss > kisses
- Box > boxes
- Do > does
When a verb ends in y and the letter before y is a consonant, y changes into i.
- Dry > dries
- Fry > fries
- Carry > carries
- Try > tries
Uses of the simple present tense
Firtly, we use this tense in order to express the usual habits and routines.
- I always have breakfast in the morning.
- He does sports on weekdays.
Also, we can use the adverbs of frequency or adverb phrases such as always, never, usually, sometimes, rarely, twice a week, every day, on Fridays etc. So let’s see the samples used in the sentences.
- He goes to mosque in Fridays.
- They go to church on Sundays.
- We do sports twice a week.
- I always brush my teeth after breakfast.
Also we can use some verbs such as see, like, love, hate, believe, realize etc that are related to emotions and senses with this tense instead of present continuos tense.
- I love you.
- She hates it.