Present Simple

The Present Simple tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English. We use it to talk about things that are true in general, happen regularly, or are facts that do not change. It is called simple because the verb form is basic and doesn’t change much, except with he, she, it, where we add -s or -es.

Examples:
1) I play cricket every Sunday.
2) The sun rises in the east.
3) She works in a bank.


Uses of Present Simple

Habits and routines

  • I wake up at 6 every day.
  • She drinks tea in the morning.

General facts

  • The sun rises in the east.
  • Water boils at 100°C.

Permanent situations

  • He lives in Karachi.
  • My father works as a teacher.

Schedules

  • The train leaves at 9 a.m.
  • The shop opens at 10.

Commentaries or instructions

  • He passes the ball and scores!
  • First, you mix the flour and sugar.

With non-continuous (stative) verbs

  • I like pizza.
  • She knows the answer.


Sentence Structure

(a) Positive (Affirmative) Sentences

  • Formula: Subject + Base Verb (+ s/es for he, she, it) + Object
  • Examples:
    • I play football.
    • She works in an office.
    • They eat dinner at 8 p.m.

(b) Negative Sentences

  • Formula: Subject + do/does + not + Base Verb + Object
  • Examples:
    • I do not (don’t) play football.
    • She does not (doesn’t) work in an office.
    • They do not (don’t) eat dinner at 8 p.m.

(c) Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

  • Formula: Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb + Object + ?
  • Examples:
    • Do you play football?
    • Does she work in an office?
    • Do they eat dinner at 8 p.m.?

(d) Negative Interrogative Sentences

  • Formula: Do/Does + Subject + not + Base Verb + Object + ?
  • Examples:
    • Do you not play football? OR Don’t you play football?
    • Does she not work in an office? OR Doesn’t she work in an office?
    • Do they not eat dinner at 8 p.m.? OR Don’t they eat dinner at 8 p.m.?