Present Simple Tense - Explanation of Grammar

1. Present Simple Tense
Rules of spelling, use, formation

2. We use the Present Simple
a. for permanent states, repeated actions, daily routines
habits.
He works in an office.
(permanent state)
They meet their boss every
day.
(repeated actions/daily routines)
British people drink a lot of
tea.
(habits)

3. b. for general truths, laws of nature.
The sun rises in the East.
Water boils at 100 degrees
Celsius.
Winters in Russia are cold.

4. c. for timetables (planes, trains, buses, etc.) and programmes.
The train from London
Arrives at 10:30.
Our favourite film starts
at 8 in the evening.

5. d. for sports commentaries, reviews, narration.
Petrov overtakes Schumacher
and wins the race.
(sports commentary)
Then Simon gets on his bike
and quickly rides away.
(narration)

6. e. for headlines in newspapers and magazines.
(references to the past are usually simplified to Present Simple)
Ship sinks in midnight collision.

7. f. for instructions, itineraries, recipes.
(sometimes recipes and instructions can be written in Present
Simple instead of in Imperative Forms. This style is more personal)
First you roll out the pastry.
Then you add some salt and
pepper.

8. Affirmative
I/You/We/They read.
He/She/It reads.
Interrogative
Do I/you/we/they
read?
Does he/she/it
Negative
I/You/We/They do not (don’t)
read
He/She/It does not (doesn’t)

9. Spelling Rules
Most verbs take –s in the third person singular.
I read – he reads
Verbs ending in –ss, -sh, -ch, -tch, -x and –o, take –es.
I kiss – he kisses, I brush – he brushes,
I teach – he teaches, I go – he goes, I fix – he fixes
Verbs ending in a consonant + y, drop y and take -ies.
I try – he tries, I fly – he flies
Verbs ending in a vowel + y, simply take –s.
I buy – he buys