The Simple Present Tense
Definition of Simple Present Tense
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the simple present tense form of the verb in a
sentence is defined as “the tense that is used to refer to events, actions, and conditions that
are happening all the time, or exist now.”
The Cambridge Dictionary gives a much more elaborate definition of the simple present
tense. According to them, “the present tenses of a verb are the ones that are used to talk
about things that happen regularly or situations that exist at this time.
The simple present tense uses the base form or the ‘s’ form of a verb, as in
‘I play tennis twice a week’ and ‘She works in a bank’.”
Structure of the Simple Present Tense
The structure of the simple present tense can be understood by analyzing the positive,
negative, interrogative and negative interrogative forms of the tense. Have a look at the
following simple present tense structure chart so that you can understand easily how it
works.
Structure of Simple Present Tense
Positive Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Subject + Verb in the Subject + Do Do/Does + Subject + Don’t/Doesn’t + Subject
base form/third person not/Don’t/Does Verb + Verb
plural form not/Doesn’t + Verb in
the base form/third
person plural form
Example: Example: You do not Example: Do you look b Example: Don’t you loo
You look beautiful. look beautiful. eautiful? k beautiful?
She looks beautiful. She does not Does she look beautiful? Doesn’t she look beautif
look beautiful. ul?
Rules and Points to Remember When Using the Simple
Present Tense
In order to use the simple present tense accurately and effectively, there are some rules and
points you have to keep in mind. This is because of the fact that the sentence or the context
would not make sense if the verb does not agree with the subject in the sentence.
The first thing that you should understand about the simple present tense is that the verb
mostly appears in the base form.
This changes when a third person pronoun or subject is used in a sentence. In this case, the
verb used should be made plural.
What Do You Use the Simple Present Tense For?
The present tense can be used for various purposes. The following are the functions of the
present tense.
Used to quote general truths and scientific facts.
Used to denote habitual actions that happen on a daily basis or at regular intervals.
Used to indicate unchanging events.
Used to give directions or instructions
Used to speak about fixed arrangements
Used along with future constructions
Forming the Simple Present Tense – Examples
To show you how sentences are formed using the simple present tense and how they are
employed for various purposes, here are a few examples.
Indicating General Truths and Scientific Facts
The Sun sets in the west.
Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table.
Rome is the capital of Italy.
Indicating Habitual or Repeated Actions
Everyday, I go to work by bus.
The firm publishes their company magazine every month.
Do you attend class regularly?
Forming the Simple Present Tense – Examples
Giving Directions or Instructions
Switch off the light when you leave.
Close the door when you come in.
Come home as soon as possible.
Speaking about Fixed Arrangements
My brother’s flight arrives around 5 p.m.
Our summer vacation starts on the 16th of April.
Her cousin arrives tomorrow.
Using with Future Constructions
I will meet you before you leave.
Karishma will let you know when Sandhya arrives.
He will give it to Sam when he comes home.
simple present tense spelling rules
What are the keywords of present simple?
Tense Time words
Every day, month, week, year;
Simple present always; sometimes; never;
frequently
Test Your Understanding of Simple Present Tense
Fill in the blanks with the right form of the verb given in the brackets in the following
sentences:
1. Do you _______ (watch) English movies?
2. I _____ (read) a lot of short stories.
3. Geetha _____ (be) a doctor.
4. Deena, Priya and Shanti _____ (be) friends.
5. He _____ (go-negative) to work regularly.
6. ______ (be) you the one who came to get the stationery for the competition?
7. _______ (take) a left after the petrol bunk on the right.
8. Please _______ (switch) off the fans when you ______ (leave).
9. ______ (give) it to him when he ________ (arrive).
10. Harry told me that he will meet me before I _____ (leave) for Chennai.
.
Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense form of the verbs given in brackets
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)
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.___ us milk. (give)
14.My granny ___ delicious lasagne. (cook)
15.The birds ___ all day long. (chirp)
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)
Present Continuous tense
The present continuous verb tense indicates that an action or condition is happening now,
frequently, and may continue into the future.
The Present Continuous Formula: to be [am, is, are] + verb [present participle]
Aunt Christine is warming up the car while Scott is looking for his new leather coat. They are
eating at Scott’s favorite restaurant today, Polly’s Pancake Diner.
The present continuous is used:
to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You are
studying English grammar.
to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still
working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared: We're
going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next
winter?
to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass
guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.
with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasize a continuing series of repeated
actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about your
mother-in-law!
Forming the present continuous
The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb
to be + the present participle of the main verb.
(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)
Affirmative
Subject + to be + base + ing
She is talking.
Negative
Subject + to be + not + base + ing
She is not (isn't) talking
Interrogative
to be + subject + base + ing
Is she talking?
Forming the present continuous
Examples: TO GO, present continuous
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I am going I am not going Am I going?
You are going You aren't going. Are you going?
He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?
We are going We aren't going Are we going?
You are going You aren't going Are you going?
They are going They aren't going Are they going?
.
Take a look at the following points that elaborate on the more specific uses of the present
continuous tense.
It is used to represent an action that is happening or progressing in the moment that the
speaker is speaking.
For example:
My son is working on his science project.
Santana is singing Don’t Rain on my Parade.
It is used to depict a future event or arrangement.
For example:
What are you planning to do tomorrow?
I heard that Rachel is moving to Paris next month.
It is used to denote an action that is going on or continuing at the time of speaking.
For example:
Is she still working at the National Institute of Medical Sciences?
I am currently taking guitar lessons so that I could play for your wedding.
.
10 Sentences Using the Present Continuous Tense
1.My mom is cooking dinner.
2.The band is playing all the classics this week.
3.Monica and Rachel are going on a trip tomorrow.
4. I am currently taking guitar lessons so that I could play for your wedding.
5.I am trying out something new.
6.They are not travelling to London next week.
7.Are you watching a movie tonight?
8.Is your phone working properly now?
9.The children are loving the new park.
10.Diana is playing the main role in the play.
.
Test Your Understanding of the Present Continuous Tense
Having gone through all the given examples, you should have understood really well.
Check your understanding of the present continuous tense by filling in the blanks in the
following sentence with the right form of tense using the verbs given in the brackets.
1. ______ the clock ________ (work)?
2. The teachers ___________ (plan) to dance to all the latest songs on Children's Day.
3. ______ she ___________ (play – negative) the piano anymore?
4. The dog __________ (run) all around the garden.
5. We ____________ (go – negative) to the party tomorrow.
6. The Bellas ___________ (perform) the songs of the 80s.
7. Will, Smith and Sherlock ___________ (dance) well.
8. _______ I __________ (look) good today?
9. Trinita and Vinitha ____________ (ride) on their new cat.
10. _____ he still ________ (stand) there?
Fill in the blanks with the present continuous form of the given
verbs.
I _____ to watch a movie at Inox. (go)
We ___ in the nearby park. (play)
The boys ____ in the pond. (swim)
Rita ____ at the function. (sing)
The child ____ baseball. (play)
The chef ____ his famous ravioli. (cook)
The teacher ____ the students. (teach)
I ____ Aladdin and the Magic Lamp. (read)
The man ____ a Royal Enfield. (ride)
Sheema ____ for her dance performance. (practise)
The boys ___ everyone present at the party. (annoy)
My mother ____ a sweater for my sister. (knit)
The man ___ on the streets. (beg)
The baby ___ with her mother. (giggle)
Ronaldo ___ his team. (train)
Exercise 2 – Change into the present continuous tense
Read the sentences in different tenses and change them into present continuous tense.
He goes to play in the park.
COVID affects our lungs.
I ate a cheeseburger.
The Prime Minister will visit the school.
Ram walks to school.
The mason was building this tower.
Riya spoke at the inter-school competition.
The wrestlers fought hard.
The cuckoo sings beautifully.
Prerna left for Dubai.
I cleaned my room.
We bought a new car.
Anurag plays the guitar.
You went in the wrong direction.
I did a new project.
