Simple Present and Adverbs of Frequency

1. Present Simple – Affirmative
and
Adverbs of Frequency
N. Valdelomar

2. The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses in English. We
use it for routines, regular activities, and also for permanent and long-term
situations.
Subject Verb Form Example
I simple form I sing
You simple form You sing
He simple form + S He sings
She simple form + S She sings
It simple form + S It sings
We simple form We sing
They simple form They sing
Forming the simple present tense
There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the
other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":

3. -s or -es ?
With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S.
However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here
the rules:
Verb ending in...
How to make the 3rd
person singular
Example
s Add -ES He passes
z Add -ES She waltzes
sh Add -ES She wishes
ch Add -ES He watches
x Add -ES She mixes
o Add -ES He goes
consonant + y Change Y to I, then add -ES It flies
[anything else] Add -S He sings

4. Adverbs of Frequency

5. FREQUENCY ADVERBS IN SIMPLE PRESENT
Affirmative statements with be Affirmative statements with other verbs
Subject be adverb subject adverb verb
I am
always
seldom
late.
I
always
seldom
write
receive
emails.She is She
We are We
Negative statements with be Negative statements with other verbs
Subject adverb be + not subject adverb do/does + not verb
I am not
generally
usually
late.
I
generally
usually
don’t
text.She is not She doesn’t
We are not We don’t
Yes/No Questions with be Answers
Be subject adverb Yes.
Yes, I am.
Yes, I always am.
Are you always online?
Yes/No Questions with other verbs Answers
Do/does subject adverb verb Yes.
Yes, she does.
Yes, she usually does.Does she usually exercise?

6. Adverbs of Frequency
 They indicate how often something happens.
always
almost always
usually, generally
frequently, often
sometimes, occasionally
rarely, seldom
almost never, hardly ever
never
 Do not use negative adverbs of frequency in negative statements. In English, double negatives are
ungrammatical.
We rarely eat lunch.  We don’t rarely eat lunch. (INCORRECT)
0%
Positive adverbs of frequency
Negative adverbs of frequency
100%