Present Simple Tense Formation
The present indefinite tense is formed using the first form of the verb, as shown below.
Present Simple Tense Formula
Subject + (Verb)1 + Object
The sentence can be either positive/affirmative, negative, or interrogative. If the subject is singular, i.e., he, she, or it or any other singular noun or pronoun, add s, es to the verb. We add s/esto the main verb only in the affirmative sentences.
Positive Sentences
Subject + (Verb)1 + ObjectÂ
Examples
- I play cricket.
- He likes bananas.
- We like mangoes.
- Babies cry.
- She takes a shower every day.
- It snows in winter in New York.
Negative Sentences
The negative is formed by adding the word not after the auxiliary verb “do” or “does.”
Structure: Subject + do/does + not+(Verb)1+ Object
Examples
- I do not eat a banana.
- We do not eat bananas.
- You do not eat the banana.
- Â He/she/it does not eat the banana.
- Â They do not eat bananas.
Interrogative Sentences
Structure: Do/Does + Subject + (Verb)1 + Object
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Examples
- Do I eat the banana?
- Do we eat the banana?
- Do you eat the banana?
- Does he/she/it eat the banana?
- Do they eat the banana?
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This pattern of interrogative sentences isn’t followed when we want to ask who or what did something.
- Has she an answer to the question?
- Where are they?
- When does the match start?
Simple Indefinite with be verb (is, am, are)
The verbs are is, am, and are called the be verbs and are used to form the present simple tense. The be verbs in the present simple tense do not need do when we are making negative statements. We put only not after these verbs in forming negative statements. To form the interrogative, move the be verb to the start of that sentence.Â
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Use am when the subject is I
Examples
- Am I included?
- I am a doctor.
- I am in school every day at 12:00
If the subject is, we, you, or they, we use are
Examples
- They are very late.
- Are you busy at the moment?
- You are well again.
- We are not Indian.
If the subject is the third person singular, i.e., he, she, or it’ we use the verb “is.”
Examples
- She is an English teacher.
- He isn’t rich or famous.
- Is there a problem here?
Uses of the Present Indefinite Tense
It expresses habit, general truth, routine, always true, repeated actions, etc.
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Examples
- She is a teacher at this school. (Her regular activity is being a teacher.)
- I get up early in the morning. Â
- Two and two make four.        Â
- The sun sets in the west.
- I usually get home about 9 o’clock.
- The earth goes around the sun.
- He lives in Canada. (permanent resident of Canada)
- She visits her garden every Sunday.
- Each year she goes to New York for a holiday.
- Wood floats in water.
The ideas in the simple present tense are often expressed by the adverbs of frequency such as seldom, daily, usually, normally, occasionally, generally, always, frequently, rarely, often, never.
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- We usually eat lunch at the university canteen.
- He leaves the office at 4.30 daily.
- I rarely visit this school.
- He always come sin time.
- He doesn’t usually arrive until eight.
- We see each other quite frequently.
- I never come late to class.
- He is seldom home.
- I don’t often drink cold water.Â
Other time expressions such as on Sunday/Monday etc., at night/the weekend, etc., in the afternoon/evening, etc., every day/week/month, etc., are also used in the present simple tense.
- David goes shopping on Sunday.
- He usually goes fishing at weekends.
- I meet him at school every day.
This tense is also used for future events when it is a part of the fixed timetable.
Example
- The bus leaves at 7 p.m.
- My exam starts tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.
- The supermarket opens at nine tomorrow morning.Â
Verbs that Don’t Use in Continuous Form
Some verbs do not use continuous form; we use present simple tense instead of present continuous tense.
Verbs of Perception
- Prefer
- See
- Hear
- Taste
- Smell
- Please
emotion and feelings or effect Verbs
- Love
- Hate
- Hope
- Like
- Dislike
- Wish
- Want
- Fear
- Forgive
- Value
- Want
- Impress
- Satisfy
- Appreciate
- Astonish
- Desire
- Care, etc.
Verbs of Thinking Process
- Think
- Know
- Mean
- Mind
- Agree
- Consider
- Trust
- Forget
- Imagine
- Guess
- Perceive
- Regard
- Remember
- Understand. etc.
Verbs Showing Possession
- Own
- Have
- Belong
- Comprise
- Possess
- Contain, etc.
Other stative verbs are
- Amaze
- Appreciate
- Be
- Believe
- Care
- Concern
- Consist
- Doubt
- Envy
- Equal
- Exist
- Fear
- Feel
- Forget
- Look
- Matter
- Need
- Owe
- Recognize
- Resemble
- Seem
- Understand
- Weigh Â
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Don’t trusting on him. | Don’t trust him. |
| She is loving me. | She loves me. |
| I am liking mangoes. | I like mangoes. |
| He is owning this house. | He owns this house. |
| She is preferring tea to coffee. | She prefers tea to coffee. |
| He is hating him. | He hates him. |
| These grapes testing sour. | These grapes taste sour. |
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Some of these verbs are sometimes used in continuous form as well, for example, to do something repeatedly or to prevent someone from doing something.  Â
Examples
- He kept hoping that he’d phone him.
- She is very late, what’s keeping her? (what keep her late)
- What are you holding in your hand?
- He’s having a bath at the moment.   Â
Further Examples of Present Indefinite Tense              Â
- She works at a hotel.
- I like watching movies.
- My son likes mangoes, but he doesn’t like bananas.Â
- He has four brothers.
- She isn’t alone in this house.
- Planes leave here every hour.
- He comes from Delhi.
- Leopards don’t eat grass.
- Bees make honey.
- Children usually smile because they are happy.
- There goes my friend, looking as cheerful as usual.
- He promises he won’t be late.
- I never waste my time.
- The next plane leaves at 7 p.m.
- She doesn’t have many children.
- I have a large number of dogs.
Note
If the subject is I, we, you, and they or any other plural noun or pronoun, the verb must be plural. Â The singular verb goes with the singular subject, i.e., he, she, and it.
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The verbs do not form their plural by adding s or es as nouns do. Verbs become singular when s or es is added to it.