The Present Simple Tense

The simple present tense is used in English for the following purposes: Repeated actions Simple statements of fact World truths With verbs of the senses and mental processes In jokes and story telling To refer to the future

How to form the present simple Repeated actions The present simple tense is very often used with adverbs of repeated time. Look at these examples (the adverbs are shown in bold):

I always come to school by car. She frequently arrives here before me. He never forgets to do his homework. I often catch the late bus home. I play football on Saturdays. Once a year I fly back to visit my family in Korea. The classrooms are cleaned every evening after school. She sometimes loses her temper, but it doesn't happen very often. Do you ever eat in the cafeteria? Does your father speak English every day?

Simple statements of fact When we want to state a fact or ask a question without any time reference, we use the present simple tense.

I live in Frankfurt. She plays football but she doesn't play tennis. For breakfast he eats rice and drinks cold milk. She works very hard. My friend speaks four languages. It rains a lot in Germany. I don't like horror films! Do you smoke? Does your sister have any children? How much does it cost to buy an apartment in Frankfurt?

World truths

Statements about rules of nature and the way the world is are in the present simple tense.

The sun sets in the West. Most babies learn to speak when they are about two years old. Water boils at 100 Celsius. Trees lose their leaves in the fall. Few people live to be 100 years old. Wood floats on water. Does it snow in the Sahara desert? Do elephants live longer than humans? Money doesn't guarantee happiness. Flowers don't grow in the winter.

Verbs of the senses and mental processes The present simple tense is used for many verbs of thinking, feeling and sensing. The most common words are: like love prefer know hate need want see

understan d

believe remember smell look

hear taste

She likes it in Germany. I love lying in bed late on Sunday mornings. I need to know right now. She says she doesn't know who did it, but I don't believe her. He doesn't want to speak to you again. This doesn't taste very good, does it? Do you remember the first time we met? Do you smell something funny? Does he understand which way to go?

In jokes, anecdotes and film or book summaries The present simple tense is very often used in jokes and when telling a story to make the joke or story seem more immediate. This use of the present tense is sometimes called the graphic present.

The present simple is also used to retell what happens in a book or film.

So in he walks with a parrot on his shoulder. In his new film Robert Redford plays the part of a brave cowboy.

To refer to the future The present simple is often used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and outside of our control).

Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes. I leave Frankfurt at 5 o'clock in the morning and arrive in New York at midnight the next day.

She has a piano lesson after school today. There's no need to hurry. The train doesn't leave for another 30 minutes. When does the meeting begin?

The Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is most often used for the following: - For actions happening now - For future arrangements - To express annoyance at repeated actions How to form the present continuous For actions happening now When we want to talk about an action that is happening now or at this time (and is unfinished), we use the present continuous tense. We also use this tense when we want to make clear that the action is temporary.

Sorry, she can't come to the phone right now; she is having a bath. Look! Someone is trying to break into your car. This work is good! Your handwriting is getting better and better. I'm wearing these old trousers to school this week, as we're doing a pottery course and it's very messy work! Of course she likes you. You're just being stupid!

Where's John? - He's playing soccer in the sports hall. This calculator isn't working properly. Do you have another one. You can go outside now. It isn't raining any more. What are you doing? - My watch is broken and I'm trying to fix it. Why are you talking? You should be listening to me.

For future arrangements We usually use the present continuous tense for future events that have already been arranged:

I'm meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow. Our grandmother is visiting us at Christmas. Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Jun-Sik. My mother's going to the dentist tomorrow. I'm not going home at Christmas, so I can come to your party after all! Are you doing anything on Sunday morning? Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maiko next week?

To express annoyance at repeated actions Usually the present simple is used for repeated actions. For example, He always gets up before 7 o'clock, but .. the present continuous is the correct choice when the speaker wants to express annoyance at a repeated action. (Note how often the word "always" is used in such statements):

You are always interrupting me when I'm talking and I don't like it! She's always tapping her pencil on the desk and it's getting on my nerves! My ESL teacher's always giving detentions; how can anyone be so mean? I'm getting tired of you always coming late to class. Why is it always raining in Germany? Why are you always criticising me?

Modal verbs
The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on. Below is a list showing the most useful modals and their most common meanings:

Modal can can may may must must should would would

Meaning to express ability to request permission to express possibility to request permission to express obligation to express strong belief to give advice to request or offer in if-sentences

Example I can speak a little Russian. Can I open the window? I may be home late. May I sit down, please? I must go now. She must be over 90 years old. You should stop smoking. Would you like a cup of tea? If I were you, I would say sorry.

Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They do not change their form (spelling) and they have no infinitive or participle (past/present). The modals must and can need substitute verbs to express obligation or ability in the different tenses. Here are some examples: Past simple Present perfect Future Infinitive Past simple Present perfect Future Infinitive Sorry I'm late. I had to finish my math test. She's had to return to Korea at short notice. You'll have to work hard if you want to pass the exams. I don't want to have to go. I couldn't/wasn't able to walk until I was 3 years old. I haven't been able to solve this problem. Can you help? I'm not sure if I will be able to come to your party. I would love to be able to play the piano.

Irregular verbs
beat - beat - beaten become - became - become begin - began - begun bend - bent - bent bite - bit - bitten blow - blew - blown break - broke - broken bring - brought - brought let - let - let light - lit - lit lose - lost - lost make - made - made mean - meant - meant meet - met - met pay - paid - paid put - put - put

build - built - built burst - burst - burst buy - bought - bought catch - caught - caught choose - chose - chosen come - came - come cost - cost - cost cut - cut - cut dig - dug - dug do - did - done draw - drew - drawn drink - drank - drunk drive - drove - driven eat - ate - eaten fall - fell - fallen feed - fed - fed feel - felt - felt fight - fought - fought find - found - found fly - flew - flown forget - forgot - forgotten freeze - froze - frozen give - gave - given go - went - gone grow - grew - grown have - had - had hear - heard - heard hide - hid - hidden hit - hit - hit hold - held - held hurt - hurt - hurt keep - kept - kept know - knew - known lead - led - led leave - left - left
Present perfect continuous

read - read - read ride - rode - ridden ring - rang - rung rise - rose - risen run - ran - run say - said - said see - saw - seen sell - sold - sold send - sent - sent shake - shook - shaken shine - shone - shone shoot - shot - shot shut - shut - shut sing - sang - sung sink - sank - sunk sit - sat - sat sleep - slept - slept speak - spoke - spoken spread - spread - spread stand - stood - stood steal - stole - stolen stick - stuck - stuck strike - struck - struck sweep - swept - swept swim - swam - swum take - took - taken teach - taught - taught tear - tore - torn tell - told - told think - thought - thought throw - threw - thrown wake - woke - woken wear - wore - worn win - won - won write - wrote - written

I have been working in the garden all day, and now I'm extremely tired. She has been living in a one-room appartment since she left home. How long have you been playing the piano? He's been learning German for two years, but he still can't speak it very well. We've been painting our house since last Friday, but we're still a long way from finishing. We haven't been living in Germany very long. Why are you sweating? Have you been running?

Do a quiz on this grammar topic. Past perfect continuous

I had been working in the garden all day, and all I wanted to do was sleep. She had been living in a one-room appartment for a year before getting married. How long had you been playing the piano before the accident with your hand? He'd been learning German for two years, but he stopped when he returned to Japan. We'd been painting our house for two weeks, but we were still a long way from finishing.

Future continuous

At this time next week I will be sitting in the plane on the way to New York. Don't call me after 10 o'clock. I'll be sleeping. If you want to see Miho tomorrow, you will have to go to the school. She will be taking a test all afternoon. I won't be working on my car this weekend. My mother-in-law will be here.

Future perfect

I hope my mother will have finished cooking dinner by the time I get home. You can come at 6 o'clock. I will have done my homework by then. There's no point calling her at home. She will have left for work already. On June 25 2020 they will have been married for 60 years.

Future perfect continuous

By the time I retire I will have been working here for 45 years! If she reaches her 60th birthday, she will have been smoking for half a century!

PRESENT SIMPLE
1. My sister 2. Frank 3. My parents 4. We sometimes cinema. 5. Uncle George 6. Our friends 7. She 8. He 9. We 10. Carol 11. She 12. My sister 13. The children 14. Bill 15. I (read) a book. (like) dogs. (do) the shopping. (meet) in front of the

(go) to the doctor's. (play) football in the park.

(go) to the park every Friday. (ride) his bike every day. (have) the best ideas. (say) good bye. (be) the best singer in our class. (live) in a big house. (eat) hamburgers.

(have) got nine posters. (be) at home.