Simple Present Tense

English Grammar

-Anjoe-

Subject + Present form of the verb + object

Format of Simple Present Tense

e.g., She sings a song.

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They sing a song.

Key points

In simple present tense if the third person is singular, then the verb must be singular.

She (singular subject) sings (singular verb (verb +s) a song (object)

Key points

In simple present tense if the third person subject is plural, then the verb must be plural.

They (plural subject) sing (plural verb (verb without ‘s’) a song (object).

Uses of simple present tense

1. Simple presentences used to talk about a universal truth.

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e.g., The sun rises in the east.

The Earth revolves around the sun.

Uses of simple present tense

2.

2. To express a habitual or repeated action.

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e.g., I get up at five in the morning.

She usually goes to school by bus.

Things to note

Adverbs of frequency (time) like always, often, usually, generally, rarely, regularly, occasionally, never, seldom, annually, daily, everyday, every month, every week, several times etc. can be used in simple present tense.

Things to note.

Adverbs of frequency must always be used before verbs.

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e.g, He always writes the test paper.

He writes always the test paper.

Uses of simple present tense

To express a future action that is already planned.

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e.g., The Prime Minister visits Russia the next month.

The new academic year commences (begins) in the

month of April.

Uses of simple present tense

To express a permanent state.

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e.g., The Taj Mahal is on the banks of the Yamuna.

The headquarters of the UN is at New York.

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When ‘is’ or ‘are’ are used without ‘ing’ it denotes

simple present tense.

Uses of simple present tense

Present tense is used in quotations, and proverbs.

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e.g., John Keats says ‘a thing of beauty is a joy forever’.

Barking dog seldom bites.

Time and tide waits for no man.

Uses of simple present tense

Present tense is used in broadcast commentaries.

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e.g., Cricket commentary.

Exercises.

Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense

form of the verbs given in brackets

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1. The Principal ____ to speak to Raj. (want)
2. The Earth ____ around the Sun. (revolve)
3. The baby ___ all day. (cry)
4. The flight ____ at 8 o’clock in the morning. (leave)
5. What ____ so good? (smell)
6. Hema ___ badminton every evening. (play)
7. Tony ___ to guitar lessons every Sunday. (go)

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Exercises.

Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense

form of the verbs given in brackets

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8. If it ___ today, we will get stuck. (rain)
9. The nurse ____ of my grandfather. (take care)
10. There ___ the topper of our school. (come)
11. I ___ up at 7:00 a.m. every day. (get)
12. Amy rarely ___ her room. (leave)
13. Cows ___ us milk. (give)
14. My granny ___ delicious lasagne. (cook)
15. The birds ___ all day long. (chirp)

Exercises.

Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense

form of the verbs given in brackets

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16. The boys ___ hard to get good grades. (study)
17. The teacher ____ the parents today. (meet)
18. The movie ____ within a few minutes. (start)
19. The fluffy clouds ___ around. (move)
20. The dogs ___ at night. (bark)

Exercises - Answers

1. Wants
2. Revolves
3. Cries
4. Leaves
5. Smells
6. Plays
7. Goes
8. Rains
9. Takes care
10. Comes
11. Get
12. Leaves
13. Give
14. Cooks
15. Chirp
16. Study
17. Meets
18. Starts
19. Move
20. Bark

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Thank you for your effort.

“Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.” — Maria Robinson