The Simple Present Tense - In which of these situations do you think we use the simple present form in English..?

To talk about…

• what is happening now?
• things we are or do regularly or all the time?
• things that are permanent or generally true?
• things that are temporary?
• future schedules and timetables?
• the future (used with – when, until, as soon as, after, before)?
• conditions (if) with a likely result in the future?
• present events that are connected to the past?

Check out your knowledge and understanding below…

Here is the form (how we say/write it) for the verbs BE and GO:

BE: (a state/linking/auxiliary verb)

I AM , YOU ARE ,  HE/SHE/IT IS , WE/THEY ARE

GO: (a dynamic or ‘action’ verb)

I GO,  I DON’T GO,   DO I GO?

YOU GO,  YOU DON’T GO,  DO YOU GO?

HE GOES,  HE DOESN’T GO, DOES HE GO?

WE/THEY GO,  WE/THEY DON’T GO DO WE/THEY GO?

We use the simple present tense form to talk about:

• things we are or do regularly or all the time (habits, routines)

Example: I like football. I play every weekend. I don’t usually go to bed late as I get up at 6am.

Key words: often, regularly, usually, sometimes, seldom, never, most days/weeks

• things that are permanent or generally true (constant facts)

Example: She works in a bank. She lives in London. She doesn’t have a car. The sun rises in the East.

Key words: always, all the time, constantly

• future schedules and timetables (planned and fixed)

Example: The meeting starts at 9am on Tuesday and ends at 5pm. A train leaves every 30 minutes.

• the future (used with – when, until, as soon as, after, before)

Example: As soon as the rain stops I’ll go out. I’m going to ask him when he arrives.

• conditions (if) with a likely result in the future (first conditional form)

Example: If he gets a pay rise this year, he’ll be able to buy a new car

They are going to visit us in the summer if they don’t have any problems getting time off

For things that are happening now and for situations or things that are temporary we use the present continuous form. For situations and events in the present that are connected to the past we use the present perfect form.

If you would like to know more about English grammar, or check your knowledge and understanding, take a look at our other Grammar check up! resources or sign up for a one-to-one online course with class-e.