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Grammar: Present Simple

Published 10/08/2015 In Blog

 

 

The Present Simple is the infinitive of the verb: I live in Paris

 

But we add an -s to the 3rd person singular: He lives/ she lives in Paris

 

 

When do we use the Present Simple? 

 

We use the Present Simple to talk about: 

 

 

1. Something that is true, a fact. 

 

 The earth is round (fact)

 I am a teacher (true)

 

 

 

2. Habits

 

I wake up at 8am every day and I start work at 9.30pm

He usually goes to bed before his sister

 

 

 

3. Something that is fixed in the future.

Used with time expressions such as: this afternoon, at 8pm, next week, etc.

 

The kids start school next week

I fly to Amsterdam this afternoon

 

 

 

4. To talk about the future after 'when', 'until', etc.

 

I will go to the gym when it stops raining

He won't (will + not) go on holiday until he finished his course

 

 

 

 

How do we construct questions in the Present Simple?

 

1. We  use DO and DOES to make questions.

But! We use DOES for the third person (she/he/it) and we use DO for the others. 

 

Does she understand English?

Does he live in London?

Do they want to come with us?

 

 

2. We also use DO/DOES with questions constructed with the WH question words.

 

What do you do?

Where do you come from?

Why does she want to study Chinese?

 

For more information please check the following article about 'Questions in English': https://www.keelyalgarlanguages.com/en/blog/grammar-questions-in-english

 

 

How do we form negative sentences in the Present Simple?

We use DOES NOT (DOESN'T) for the third person (she/he/it) and we use DO NOT (DON'T) for the others. 

 

She does not (doesn't) speak English

do not (don't) want to start a new course

 

 

Hopefully this post will have helped you to understand when we use the Present Simple in English, but please don't hesitate contacting me at the following address if you still have some questions: info@keelyalgarlanguages.com

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