English Module 1 Present Simple Tense

English Language Coaching

Module 1

We use the PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE when we talk about

• Something that is generally TRUE

Example: Earth is over six billion years old.

The moon travels around the earth.

The Present Simple Tense is often used with frequency adverbs such as always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never etc.

• Something that is either routine, a habit or often happens

Example: I drive to work every day

Attalia works for the National Treasury

The train leaves at 4:00 pm.

The following are further examples:

We play football every Sunday.

The Minister travels overseas twice a year.

I love kwaito music.

The taxi arrives every hour.

The present simple tense does not just refer to something that is happening now. Examine this sentence:

Julie sings in the choir.

The above sentence means that Julie sang in the choir last week, and will most probably sing in the choir next week.

When talking about things in general, we use the present simple tense. The exact time of the event is not so important.

The present simple tense does not just represent the present

The present simple tense is used when talking about things in general.

Example: Linda and Wilna have the same surname.

When speaking in the present simple tense, we often use the following verbs that express feeling and emotions, mental activity and possession, such as:

Need Believe Have Want Think Know

Dislike Prefer Seek Seem Forget Feel

We would say:

I need advice.. not I am needing advice.

I think she is pretty not I am thinking she is pretty.

They have many memories. not The are having many memories.

Questions

Asking questions in the present simple tense are usually informal, so we rarely use them in letters. However, we often use them when writing memos or emails.

The verb do/does can be used for questions.

Example: Do you have the correct figures?

Does this need to be verified?

Do: Used if the subject of the sentence is/or can be replaced by I, you, we

or they.

Does: Used if the subject is/or can be replaced by he, she or it.

When do/does is used in a question, the verb that comes after it does not have an �s’ at the end of the verb.

The following sentence can be made into a question by using the question form does:

She is feeling sick. Does she feel sick?

Pearl enjoys music. Does Pearl enjoy music?

You have the book. Do you have the book?

It is incorrect to say

Do she feel sick? Does you have the book? X

The negative form

We also form the negative with do