We use the present simple. Present Simple or simple present tense in English. With verbs of mental processes and feelings
In English, unlike Russian, . But the British often use only half of them. The most popular tense among all English-speaking inhabitants of our planet is , translated as Simple Present Tense. It is used to describe things that are done regularly, habits and hobbies. And if everything is clear with the affirmative form of this tense, and constructing sentences in the Present Simple is not difficult, then problems may arise with composing interrogative sentences. Let's figure out how questions are formed in the Present Simple.
Rule of education Present Simple questions
To correctly compose interrogative sentences, we put the helping verb do (for I, we, you, they) or does (for he, she, it) in first place. The rest of the word order remains the same as it was in the affirmative construction.
Those. The interrogative form of the Present Simple looks like this:
Do/Does + performer (subject) + 1st form of the semantic verb.
Do you spend weekends alone? - Do you spend your weekends alone?
Does she help you with your studies? -She helps you With studies?
NB! The ending “es” is added to the helping verb Do when the subject is in the 3rd person singular form. In other cases, there is no need to add the ending. It is also important to remember that the ending of the main verb does not change, the “s” is only added to the auxiliary verb Do (Do+es).
Types of questions
There are several of them in English. There are general, special, alternative, dividing questions to the subject. But don't let such diversity scare you. In Present Simple, examples of constructing the above structures follow simple rules that you can easily remember.
- General question. It implies only two answer options: “yes” or “no”. In this way we find out whether there was any action at all?
In Present Simple, a question of this type is constructed according to the following scheme:
Do/Does + performer (subject) + action (predicate) + other members of the sentence
It was this type that was discussed at the beginning of the article. Let's complicate the design a little.
Does she help you with your studies every evening? -She helps you With studies every evening?
Alternative question
When an alternative is offered. There is a choice between qualities, actions, objects. The sentence is built on the same principle as in the general question, but is divided into two parts by the conjunction “or”.
Do you work 5 days a week or in shifts? -You you're working 5
days V a week or in shifts?
Does your husband or do you look after kids?-Do you or your husband look after the children?
In the second example, it is worth noting that this is a question about the subject, so the auxiliary verb is placed before the first and second subjects.
Dividing (“tag question”)
Also known as the ponytail question.” It is very easy to create such a proposal in a simple present. It is necessary to write it in the affirmative form, and at the end, separated by a comma, add: “true”, “isn’t it”, which in the English version will sound like don’t you/doesn’t she (depending on the subject). It is interesting that an affirmative sentence has a negative tail, and a negative sentence has a positive tail.
My friend often goes to his girlfriend, doesn’t he? - my friend often goes to see his girlfriend, doesn’t he?
He doesn’t play the guitar, does he? - He doesn't play guitar, right?
In a conversation with a person, on the “tail” we increase intonation.
Special question in Present Simple
We ask when you need to find out some special, additional information about something.
We start this construction with question words:
Special questions are one of the most frequently used constructions; the ability to ask them correctly will make your English speech much richer and more varied.
Question with who (to the subject)
is asked when we need to find out who performed a particular action. It is slightly different in construction from the others. Its peculiarity is that it does not need an auxiliary verb, and the main verb, in turn, will always end in “s”
Who often goes to Moscow? - who often travels to Moscow?
Answers to common questions
They can be short and complete
Let's look at them using the following two questions as an example
Do they know each other? - Do they know each other?
Does she play basketball? — She plays basketball?
- Brief answers
Yes, they do / No, they don’t - Yes / No
Yes, she does / No, she doesn’t - Yes / No
As you can see, the auxiliary verb replaces the entire action.
- Complete answers
Yes, she does. She plays basketball every Friday - Yes, she plays basketball every Friday.
No, she doesn't. She doesn't play basketball. - No, she doesn't play basketball.
Yes, they do. They know each other - Yes, they know each other
No, they don’t know each other - No, they don’t know each other
You perform many activities regularly or periodically. Sometimes you go to the movies, often do exercises, always brush your teeth, have breakfast or lunch every day.
How to talk about this in English? The actions that we perform every day, regularly and periodically, are simple ones that people have long been accustomed to. And since you are describing actions that happen every day in the present, you will use the present tense. Regular actions in the present describe Present simple tense.
The English use the Present Simple when talking about everyday life, routine and what they always do. Even if a person says something in the Present Simple without mentioning that this action is always or often performed, he has already made it clear to you that he is talking about something ordinary and familiar. But sentences in the Present Simple tense often use phrases that make it clear how often an action is performed.
USUALLY - USUALLY ALWAYS - ALWAYS NEVER - NEVER EVERY DAY TWICE A WEEK - TWICE A WEEK 4 TIMES A MONTH - 4 TIMES A MONTH ON SUNDAYS - ON SUNDAYS ON WEEKENDS - AT WEEK-ENDS, ON ONE’S FREE DAYS ON WEEKDAYS - ON WEEK-DAYS IN THE MORNING(S) IN THE EVENING(S) OFTEN - OFTEN |
RARE - SELDOM SOMETIMES - SOMETIMES ALMOST NEVER - HARDLY EVER Occasionally - HARDLY EVER QUITE OFTEN - QUITE OFTEN PRETTY RARE - RATHER SELDOM VERY OFTEN - VERY OFTEN EVERY SATURDAY IN WINTER - IN WINTER IN SUMMER - IN SUMMER IN SPRING IN AUTUMN - IN AUTUMN |
These words are always placed before the verb. Combined with phrases in the morning- in the morning, in the afternoon- during the day, in the evening- in the evening also serve as indicators that the action is taking place regularly. These phrases are always placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Formation of “Present Simple”
To begin with, it is worth remembering that we We always talk about verb (action) tense. We cannot talk about the time of an object or characteristic. For the formation of the “Present simple tense” take a verb(read, write, find, eat) and put it after the main object sentences (I, we, they). The main object in the sentence will be the object that performs the action. This is how the “Present Simple Tense” is easily formed. For example: I eat every day. We have breakfast in the morning.
The structure of an affirmative sentence remains unchanged:
WHO? | WHAT DOES IT DO? | Other parts of the sentence | ||
We | live | in a big house | ||
We | we live | in a big house | ||
They | like | coffee | ||
They | love | coffee |
True, there is some nuance here. Verbs in a sentence always depend on main objects. And the main objects will influence the endings of verbs. The rule is simple: if the main object is plural (I, we, you, they, cats, dogs, people), then the verb is used without ending. If the object is singular (he, she, it, a man, a student, a cat), then the verb ends in -s or -es.
We add the ending -s to most verbs in the Present Simple and it is read as /z/ after voiced consonants and vowels (plays, finds) and as /s/ after voiceless consonants (eats, cooks).
Add the ending -es if:
1) Verbs end in hissing and whistling letters: s, ss, ch, tch, sh.
For example:
(watch) wa tch-wa tches;
(to wash) wa sh-wa shes;
(transfer)pa ss-pa sses
This ending is read as / iz /
2) Verbs end in “ o».
For example:
(do) d o-d oes ;
(walk) g o-g oes.
This ending is read as / z /
3) Verbs end in “ y» after a consonant. In this case, with the letter " y“Interesting changes are taking place. When we add the ending " es", That " y»
changes to " i».
For example: (learn) stud y- stud ies;
If the letter " y" comes after a vowel, then it does not change, and we simply add
ending " s».
For example: (play) pl ay- pl ays.
This ending is read as / z /.
An exception is the word “have” (to have), which completely changes its form after singular objects. It turns out that this verb has two forms:
have(after plural I, we, you, they) And has(after singular he, she, it).
Sentences with the verb “have” are translated into Russian as “ I have" or " he has”, and not “I have”, “he has”; although this is literally what the British say.
Let's briefly summarize what we know about the Present Simple Tense:
1) Use this tense when talking about actions that you perform often, regularly, that are typical for you. For example, “I brush my teeth and wash my face every day,” or “I usually eat porridge for breakfast.”
2) Form this tense using the verb in the first form. If the verb is
after the object in singular or pronouns he, she, it, add the ending " -s" or " -es" The exception to this rule is the verb " have", which changes its shape to " has» after singular objects.
3) Use special indicator words that indicate that the action you are talking about is regular and not something that is happening at the moment. These words include the following: always, often, usually, rarely, never. Use always, often, usually, rarely, never before the verb. And the phrases in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, which indicate the time of an event, should be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence. For example, In the morning I always eat sandwiches. They often drink coffee with cream. We usually cook salad. He rarely eats in the evening. She never drinks milk.
Offer in Russian | Main object | Verb | Other parts of the sentence | |||
I drink tea every day. | I | drink | tea every day | |||
We love milk. | We | like | milk | |||
They have glasses, cups and plates. | They | have | glasses, cups and plates | |||
I want (some) coffee. | I | want | some coffee | |||
He eats sandwiches. | He | eats | sandwiches | |||
He has a menu. | He | has | a menu | |||
She has a drink. | She | has | a drink | |||
She drinks coffee with sugar and cream. | She | drinks | coffee with sugar and cream | |||
Masha washes dishes every day. | Masha | washes | plates every day | |||
Petya cooks meat and salad in the evening. | Pete | cooks | meat and salad in the evening |
Negative sentences. Negative Sentences.
Let's imagine that you want to tell others about something that you never do or simply talk about something that you don't like. Then you need to use negative sentences. Remember this old joke: “I don’t like cats,” says one friend to another. And he answers him: “You just don’t know how to cook them.” “I don’t like cats” and “you don’t know how to cook them” are just examples of negative sentences that we will talk about. How are they built?
We remove the word “no” from the negative answer (“ no") and we get a negative sentence. That is, it turns out that you have already learned how to build them a long time ago and now you have just learned what they are called. Below, for clarification, is the formula for negative sentences.
Remember that you can use a shortened form of the verb " do" and particles " not».
Namely: " do not = don't; does not = doesn’t».
Official uniform | Spoken form | |
don't | don't | |
does not | doesn't | |
I don't | I don't | |
You don't | You don't | |
We don't | We don't | |
They don't | They don't | |
He doesn't | It doesn't | |
She does not | She doesn't | |
It does not | It doesn't |
Negative sentences can be supplemented with correct information. For example, “I don’t have a sister.” I have a brother!” - “I don’t have a sister. I have a brother! or “My father doesn’t write books. "He writes only notes." - “My father doesn’t write books. He only writes notes." Here are some examples of negative sentences:
Main object |
Auxiliary verb "do" |
Negative particle "not" |
Semantic verb |
Other parts offers |
Translation |
Mary | does | not | like | her job | Mary doesn't like her job |
Pete and John | do | not | go | to work on Mondays | Pete and John don't go to work on Mondays |
I | do | not | watch | TV very often | I don't watch TV very often |
Our cat | does | not | eat | much fish | Our cat doesn't eat a lot of fish |
Questions in the Present Simple Tense
You are already quite good at talking about the actions you perform regularly. But what if you need to ask about something or disagree with something? Ask a question or say a negative sentence. The questions use a standard scheme that we have already studied earlier:
In English there is such a thing as strong and weak verbs (this is a conditional division). For example, strong verbs include the verb “be”, and weak verbs include all the others. And the difference between these verbs is precisely that strong verbs can form questions and negations independently and without support. For example, “Is it a pen” and “No, it isn’t.”
Weak verbs are completely deprived of this luxury. Since they are weak, it means they need outside support. And this support, one might say, humanitarian assistance, is provided to all verbs by the simple verb “do”. Since it provides support, let's call it an auxiliary verb (linguists call it that). The verb on which the meaning of the entire statement rests (it indicates what kind of action is being performed or occurring) is called semantic. The difference between semantic and auxiliary verbs is that the main verb is translated into Russian, but the auxiliary verb is not. We can say that the auxiliary verb is a ghost verb, it seems to be there, but it does not add meaning to the sentence.
The verb “do” removes from the main verb, which is called the semantic verb, the obligation to bear endings and generally change in any way. Remember that when talking about regular actions, you add the ending “s” or “es” if the semantic verb comes after the singular object (he, she, it, a cat).
For example, “He likes pizza”, “She has breakfast every morning” or “She does her homework every day”. In negation and in questions, the verb “do” ( acting as an auxiliary verb!!!) takes over all the endings of semantic verbs. The semantic verbs themselves, since the endings have already been given away, remain in the first (dictionary) form. So, once again - the formula of the question:
General question | ||||
Regular offer | Main object | Semantic verb | Other parts of the sentence | |
I like food | Do | you/I | like | food? |
He goes to school | Does | he | go | to school? |
Mary reads books every day | Does | she/Mary | read | books every day? |
Special question | ||||
Question word | Auxiliary verb (do/does) | Main object | Semantic verb | Other parts of the sentence |
What | do | you/I | like | |
Where | does | he | go | |
What | does | she/Mary | read | every day? |
Alternative question | ||||
Auxiliary verb (do/does) |
Main object | Semantic verb | Alternative | Other parts of the sentence |
Do | you/I | like | food or drinks? | |
Does | he | go | to school or home? | |
Does | she/Mary | read | books or copy-books | every day? |
What does | she/Mary | read | books or copy-books | every day? |
As you noticed, if a verb appears in a regular sentence with the ending “s” or “es,” then it does not appear in the question. In a question with an ending there is only an auxiliary verb. And since there is already one verb with an ending, then why use it again?
Special questions to the main object also deserve special mention.
They are built so simply that there was no point in including them in the table above. If you want to ask a question to the main object, then build a declarative sentence in which you replace the main object with “ Who"(if the question is asked to an animate person) or " What"(if the question is asked to an inanimate object). In these questions you do not need an auxiliary verb and you do not need to change the word order in the sentence. Everything in it remains as it is.
For example:
"Who goes to school every day?" - “Who goes to school every day?”
"Who is here?" - “Who’s here?”
“What is in your bag?” - “What’s in your bag?”
These questions are answered by substituting the main object for the words “who” and “what”:
“My brother goes to school every day” - “My brother goes to school every day”
“I am here” - “I am here”
“Pens are in my bag” - “Pens are in my bag.”
How to answer all these types of questions? And answer them according to the schemes studied earlier. For general questions, the answer formula is standard:
Positive answer:
Question | The answer is "Yes" | Main Object (from question, Always pronoun) |
Auxiliary verb (taken from question) |
Translation |
Do you have friends? | Yes, | I | do. | Yes. |
Does he like to watch TV? | Yes, | he | does. | Yes. |
Does Ann learn English? | Yes, | she | does. | Yes. |
Do you do morning exercises? (here the verb “do” is semantic, so it appears 2 times in the sentence: once as an auxiliary, and the second as a semantic one). |
Yes, | we/I | do. | Yes. |
Negative answer:
Question | Answer "No" |
Main object (from the question, Always pronoun) |
Auxiliary verb(taken from question) |
Negative particle "not" |
Translation |
Do you have friends? | No, | I | do | not. | No |
Does he like to watch TV? | No, | he | does | not. | No |
Does Ann learn English? | No, | she | does | not. | No |
Do you do morning exercises? | No, | we/I | do | not. | No |
Present Simple Tense(Russian: Present Simple) is used more often than any other tense in English. Therefore, to speak English well, you need to learn how to use this tense correctly.
How can the past and future be, when the past is no longer is, and the future is not yet? As for the present, if it were always present and never moved on to become the past, it would not be time, but eternity.
How can there be a past and a future when the past no longer exists and the future does not yet exist? What about the present? If it always existed, it would never become the past, which means it would not be time, but eternity.
~ Augustine of Hippo
The name itself Present Simple or the simple present tense already speaks for itself. And at first, many may mistakenly take it for a complete analogue of the present tense in Russian.
Yes indeed Present Simple Tense (or Present Indefinite Tense) has a lot in common with it: we use this tense to describe simple, regular actions, habits, preferences. However, there are other special cases of using the Present Simple tense in English, which you will learn about by reading this article.
So, let's figure out in order what this Present Indefinite time is, how to form negation and questions in Present Simple, and how to use it correctly.
Which is correct: Present Simple or Present Indefinite?
“Everything ingenious is simple.” This is exactly how I would like to describe the times of the Simple group, because “simple” is translated into Russian as “simple,” and the times themselves denote simple everyday actions.
First, let's figure out why the well-known Present Simple Tense(Russian Present Simple tense) is very often also called Present Indefinite(Russian: Present Indefinite tense), and is there a difference between them.
Present Simple very often describes an action where time is uncertain. In examples I work in LA(Russian: I work in Los Angeles) or I live in NY(Russian: I live in New York) the verb expresses action in general; the time as such is not specified.
That is why Present Simple is also called Present Indefinite, because “indefinite” is translated as “uncertain”. And such a name in some cases better conveys the meaning of this time.
Despite the fact that Present Simple called present (Russian present), it does not always describe the action that is happening now, at the present time. For the action taking place at the moment of speaking, it is used (Russian: Present continuous action).
So, as we see, Present Simple And Present Indefinite- these are just different names for the same time. By the way, in Russian, when translating, two terms are also used: the present simple and the present indefinite.
In linguistics and in teaching English, you may encounter both names, although the frequency of use of the names may vary depending on the region and the preferences of publishers who print textbooks for English learners.
Present Simple: reference table
Reference table: Rules for the formation of the affirmative form, negation and questions in the Present Simple and its use in English
As you can see from the table, verbs in the Present Simple affirmative form coincide with the infinitive form without the particle to in all persons. except for the 3rd person singular adding the ending -s/-es.
Auxiliary verbs do/does can be found in questions and negations, and not always. For example verb be(Russian be) and modal verbs can(Russian: can), must(Russian: to be due), need(Russian: need) form negative and interrogative forms in Present Simple without the help of an auxiliary verb.
In order to ensure that there are absolutely no questions left, let’s look at how the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms are formed in more detail and analyze everything with examples.
Rules for the formation of Present Simple: affirmative sentences
The Present Simple is called simple because no auxiliary verbs are used to form its affirmative form. Below are rules and reference tables Present Simple for the formation of affirmative, negative and interrogative forms in English.
Formation of the affirmative form Present Simple
Basic table for the formation of the affirmative form in Present Simple and spelling rules for endings -(e)s for the 3rd person singular
Affirmative form of Present Simple- one of the few, for the formation of which no auxiliary verb is required, but endings are used, and then only in the 3rd person singular.
Remember!
To form an affirmative sentence in the Present Simple, use first form of the verb(infinitive) without particle to after the subject (the subject performing the action). If the subject is in the 3rd person singular. numbers, the ending is added to the verb -(e)s
For example:
I work in a hotel(Russian: I work in a hotel): I- subject, work- verb
We dance every Sunday(Russian: We dance every Sunday): We- subject, dance- verb
My son plays in a band(Russian. My son plays in a band): My son- subject, plays- verb
If the action is done I(Russian) you(Russian: you, you), we(Russian we), they(Russian they), plural noun ( boys- boys, dogs- dogs, friends- friends), then the verb does not change in any way.
However, if the action is performed he(rus.on), she(Russian she), it(Russian it, this, singular number for inanimate objects), singular noun ( a girl- girl, a cat- cat, cat, a friend- friend), then the ending -s, sometimes -es is added to the verbs.
Examples of affirmative sentences in Present Simple with translation:
Spelling rules for endings -s, -es in Present Simple.
Let's look at when verbs take an ending in the Present Simple tense -s and when -es, and when they do not follow the rules, that is, they are exceptions.
1. An ending is added to most verbs in the Present Indefinite tense in the 3rd person singular -s:
play-plays(Russian plays)
sit-sits(Russian sitting)
clean- cleans(Russian cleans)
2. Verbs that end in - s, -sh, -ch, tch, -x, -z, add ending -es. This is due to the history of the language and the ease of pronunciation: when there are two similar sounds next to each other, it is difficult for us to pronounce them without a linking vowel:
kiss-kisses(Russian kisses)
wish-wishes(Russian wishes)
march-marches(Russian marching)
watch-watches(Russian looks)
box-boxes(Russian boxing)
buzz-buzzes(Russian buzzes)
3. Verbs ending in -o, also add the ending -es. Fortunately, there are few such verbs:
do-does(Russian does)
go-goes(Russian is coming)
4. If the verb ends in I agree and -y, ending is used -es. In this case -y changes to -i :
cry-cries(Russian cries, screams)
study-studies(Russian studies)
try-tries(Russian tries)
5. If the verb ends in vowel and -u, just adding the ending -s. There are no changes with -y:
play-plays(Russian plays)
pray-prays(Russian prays)
say-says(Russian speaking)
6. Verb have Present Simple does not add endings -s or -es. For the 3rd person singular the form is used has. Compare:
I have a cat(Russian: I have a cat, literally - I have a dog)
He has a dog(Russian: He has a dog, literally - He has a dog)
7. Verb be in the Present Simple tense has my forms: am, is, are, about which read further in this article.
Negative and interrogative sentences in the Present Simple
Present Simple: examples of negative sentences
Basic table for the formation of the full and shortened negative form in Present Simple.
To say that we are NOT doing something, we use an auxiliary verb in negative sentences do does(For he, she, it
Remember!
To form negative sentences in the Present Simple to the auxiliary verb do/does, which stands between the subject and the main predicate verb in the infinitive form, a negative particle is added not.
For example:
I don't watch(Russian: I don't watch)
They don't study(Russian: They don't study)
It doesn't paint(Russian: He doesn't draw)
The boy doesn't box(Russian: The boy does not box)
In the last two examples It doesn't paint(Russian: He doesn’t draw) and The boy doesn't box(Russian: The boy does not box), as you noticed, the main verbs paint And box used without ending -(e)s, which is used to form the affirmative form in the Present Simple, compare: He paints(Russian: He draws), He boxes(Russian. He is boxing)
Important!
When using an auxiliary verb does to form negation in Present Simple (3rd person singular) main verb loses ending -(e)s: doesn't go, doesn't watch, doesn't play
This is due to the fact that the auxiliary verb does already has an ending -es, and there is no need to use it in the main verb. Below are 10 more examples of negative Present Simple sentences.
Examples of negative sentences in Present Simple with translation:
Sentence in English | Translation | Sentence in English | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
I don't know. = I don’t know.. |
I don't know. | He doesn't know. = He doesn’t know. |
He doesn't know. |
We don't love cats. = We don't love cats |
We don't like cats. | She does not love cats. = She doesn’t love cats |
She doesn't like cats. |
Friends don't lie. = Friends don't lie |
Friends don't lie | My friend does not lie. = My friend doesn’t lie. |
My friend is not lying. |
My parents do not speak German. = My parents don’t speak German. |
My parents don't speak German. | He does not speak German. = He doesn’t speak Germa |
He does not speak German. = He doesn’t speak Germa |
I don't like rude people. = I don’t like rude people. |
I don't like rude people. | My sister does not like rude people. = My sister doesn’t like rude people. |
My sister doesn't like rude people. |
Forms don't And doesn't, as you probably already guessed, are a shortened form of don't And does not.
Abbreviated forms don't And doesn't are used in colloquial speech, but it is better to give preference to the full form don't And does not.
Present Simple: interrogative sentences
Reference table for the formation of simple and special questions in the Present Simple and short answers
An auxiliary verb is also used to form questions in the Present Simple do(for 1st and 2nd person, 3rd person plural) or does(For he, she, it and for all nouns in the singular).
There are two types of questions: general and specific. General questions require a clear answer “Yes” or “No”, while specific questions are asked to clarify details and details.
Compare:
Do you like ice-cream? -Yes, I do(Russian. Do you like ice cream? - Yes)
Which ice-cream do you like? - Chocolate(Russian. What kind of ice cream do you like? - Chocolate)
Remember!
To ask a general question in the Present Simple, you need to use an auxiliary verb do/does before the subject. Remember that when using an auxiliary verb does, ending -(e)s disappears at the main verb.
For example:
Do you live in Rostov?(Russian. Do you live in Rostov?)
Do they go to school?(Russian: Do they go to school?)
Does your brother have a car?(rus. Does your brother have a car?, dos. Does your brother have a car?)
Does the cat eat mice?(Russian: Does this cat eat mice?)
Remember!
To ask a special question (Wh-question) in the Present Simple, you need to put a question word What, Where, When etc. comes first, followed by an auxiliary verb do/does, then the subject and the main verb in the infinitive form, that is, without ending -(e)s .
For example:
Where do you live?(Russian. Where do you live?)
When do they go to school?(Russian: When do they go to school?)
What car does your brother have?(Russian. What kind of car does your brother have?)
Why does the cat eat mice?(Russian. Why does this cat eat mice?)
Short answers to general questions in Present Simple are formed according to the following scheme: Yes/No+ subject in the form of a personal pronoun ( I, he, we, you, etc.) and auxiliary verb do/does for a positive answer or don"t/doesn"t for negative.
The auxiliary verb don"t/doesn"t in a short answer must be consistent with the subject: if they ask about your actions, then the answer will be about your actions, and not the actions of the interlocutor.
For example:
Do you love me?(Russian: Do you love me?) - Yes, I do(Russian: Yes, I love you) or No, I don't(Russian: No, I don’t like it)
Does your girlfriend like flowers?(Russian: Does your girlfriend like flowers?) - Yes, she does(Russian: Yes, he loves) or No, she doesn't(Russian: No, he doesn’t like)
Below are 10 more examples of Present Simple interrogative sentences.
Examples of interrogative sentences in Present Simple with translation:
The verb to be in the Present Simple
Conjugation of the verb to be in the present tense: affirmative form, negation, questions and short answers
Everyone is well aware that almost “every rule has exceptions.” This could not have happened without Present Simple Tense.
Below are the verb conjugation tables to be in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms in the Present Simple:
Table: conjugation of the verb to be (am, is, are) in the present tense, statement
Table: conjugation of the verb to be (am, is, are) in the present tense, negation
Table: conjugation of the verb to be (am, is, are) in the present tense, questions
As you can see, verb to be conjugates by persons in the Present Simple and has its own forms am, is, are. It is the only verb in the English language that has its form depending on the person and number of the subject.
Rules for using Present Indefinite in English
The Present Simple is a tense that is often used to describe regular actions that occur in the present tense.
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, Present Indefinite- this is a tense that we use not only to describe actions taking place in the present time.
It is a tense that can describe various actions, whether occurring regularly or once, occurring in the present or even those that will occur in the future.
So let's figure it out when to use Present Simple and what it conveys in English.
Present Simple for the present tense
Present Indefinite is often used to indicate repeated actions in the present tense.
1. Present Simple is used to indicate condition, regular, repetitive actions, habits, daily routine.
In this meaning, the Present Simple with a verb is often used adverbs of frequency(adverbs of frequency) designed to answer how often an action occurs:
100% always(Russian always)
85% usually(Russian usually)
60% often(Russian often)
50% sometimes(Russian sometimes)
10% hardly ever(Russian rarely)
0% never(Russian never)
You can find out more about the clue words for Present Simple in the article, but now let’s look at the examples:
2. We also use the Present Simple when we speak about scientific facts, laws of nature, generally accepted statements and known facts .
Examples of sentences with Present Simple:
3. Present Simple is also used when description of sequential actions, especially often found in the description of instructions, recipes, manuals.
Examples of sentences with Present Simple:
Present Simple for future tense
Using the Present Simple to denote future actions that occur on schedule
1. We use Present Indefinite indicating the future tense for schedules of trains, planes, theater and cinema shows, concerts etc.
In this case, the Present Simple shows that the action occurs regularly and is repeated with some frequency.
Examples of sentences with Present Simple:
2. Another use of the Present Simple for the future tense is subordinate clauses conditions (First Conditional).
(Russian: Conditional sentences of the first type) denotes a real action that will definitely be performed in the near future, subject to some condition.
In such sentences Present Simple used in sentences with if, even when the proposals refer to the future. They are translated into Russian using verbs in the future tense.
Examples of sentences with Present Simple:
3. A similar case of using the Present Simple to express the future tense is its use in subordinate clauses of time .
We use the Present Simple after conjunctions when, as soon as, until, unless, before, after in subordinate clauses that indicate future action.
Examples of sentences with Present Simple:
In future articles we will look in more detail at differences between Present Simple and other tenses in English that are relevant to the present.
Instead of a conclusion:
In this article, we tried to explain as simply as possible how the Present Simple is formed and when the Simple Indefinite tense should be used in English.
As you have seen, there is nothing easier than building affirmative, interrogative or negative sentences in the Present Simple to describe constant, regular activities that happen to you on a daily basis.
Now we invite you to test your knowledge by completing the following test on the Present Simple.
Exercises on Present Simple
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb in the Present Indefinite:
go(es), travel(s), fly(s), do(es), use(s), drink(s), live(s), want(s), visit(s), look(s), like(s)
We often ____
to foreign countries.
She ____
her homework every evening.
I don't often ____
coffee.
My friend ____
in a very big house.
They always ____
us in summer.
Why do you ____
so sad?
Tom and Ann ____
to the cinema every Friday.
We never ____
to our grandparents, we usually ____
a train.
Lilly ____
swimming and sunbathing a lot.
Richard's parents ____
him to go to a private school.
English tenses are a broad topic in English grammar, including a number of subgroups that can take quite a lot of time to study. However, for basic use of the language, it is enough to get by with one – the Simple group. Yes, knowing exclusively this time will not give you complete freedom of expression, but you will be able to explain yourself, talk about events, and ask for something. Therefore, if you are just starting to learn English and its grammar is not yet familiar to you, choosing the Simple group for initial learning will be the most logical, simple and optimal. When making a choice between Past, Present or Future Simple, give preference to Present Simple (pronounced [present simple]) or the simple present tense, which will be discussed today.
Present Simple Tense or present simple tense in English (also known as Present Indefinite Tense [indefinite tens] or present indefinite tense) is a tense that expresses regular or constant actions in the present. Such actions are not tied to a specific moment, but occur in the present in a general sense.
The peculiarity of this time is that it does not show the duration of the action or its completion; there are no such temporal nuances. The action simply exists and it is rather taken for granted. Despite the fact that the Present Simple tense is considered one of the easiest, it also has its own characteristics of formation and application. Therefore, let's study in detail how the Present Simple is formed and in what cases it should be used.
Usually I get up at 7 am. (I usually get up at 7 am.)
They live in London. (They live in London.)
She plays tennis every Tuesday. (She plays tennis every Tuesday.)
The formation of the Present Simple consists of using exclusively a semantic verb. No auxiliary verb in the affirmative form is needed for this. The semantic verb practically corresponds to its simple dictionary form. The only difference is that the verb in the infinitive when forming the Present Simple loses the particle to:
Having received a formed verb, however, do not forget that it can vary in numbers. Thus, the ending –s (–es) is added to 3rd person singular verbs. Education formula with explanations:
Example sentences:
To avoid difficulties with adding endings, consider a number of rules:
- If verbs end with –ch, –tch, –s, –ss, –sh, –x, –z, they are appended with the ending –es:
- The same rule works with verbs ending in –o:
- If a verb ends in –y with a preceding consonant, then –y is replaced by –i, and the ending –es is added to the word. If there is a vowel before –y, this rule does not apply.
The verb to be deserves special attention, which independently changes in numbers and tenses:
Present Simple: sentence forms
Having understood the rules of formation of the Present Simple or simple present tense, you can immediately move on to forms in order to learn how to use formed verbs in sentences.
Affirmative form of Present Simple
The affirmative English form is constructed while maintaining direct word order. In such sentences, the predicate comes after the subject. Let's look at the diagram:
To use the passive voice in the simple indefinite tense, in which the subject does not perform the action, but is affected, the following structure is used:
Negative form of Present Simple
With the negative form things are a little different. First, an auxiliary verb appears before the semantic verb do(does), which takes away the ending from verbs in the 3rd person. Secondly, this auxiliary verb is used in conjunction with the negative particle not:
If the verb to be is used in the present tense, then a negative particle is simply added to it.
Let's consider the forms of a negative sentence according to the following schemes:
Abbreviations are often used in negative sentences:
The verb to be, in turn, can be shortened in both affirmation and negation:
Full form | Short form | |
+
statement |
I am from England. | I'm from England. She's a model. |
—
negation |
I am not a pupil. She is not my lover. They are not in the list. |
I'm not a pupil. She isn't my lover. They aren't in the list. |
Am not as amn’t is usually not abbreviated. This denial may occur in Ireland and Scotland.
Question form Present Simple
In interrogative form, construction formulas may differ depending on the type of question:
- In a general question, the auxiliary verb do (does) is also added to the semantic verb, which is placed before the subject.
Tables with examples:
For a question with the English verb to be, this verb is simply brought forward:
These questions are usually answered briefly:
+ | Yes, he does. | Yes. |
— | No, he doesn’t. | No. |
- In an alternative question, the form of the general is retained, but a second subject/predicate/other clause member is added to provide an alternative, which is linked to the first by means of the conjunction or (or):
These questions require a more complete answer:
- A special question is built according to the general question formula, but a question word is added before the auxiliary verb:
This construction also requires a complete answer:
- In a dividing question, the affirmative or negative form of the sentence is retained, followed by short questions:
The answers to this question are formed in a short form:
Present Simple: use
Having studied education and structures, let’s move from theory to practice and take a closer look at the cases of using the Present Simple in tables. Present Simple or Indefinite is used very often in speech, sometimes performing the same functions as in Russian. But there are also cases of using the simple indefinite tense in English that are not applicable in Russian. So, Present Indefinite Tense is used in the following cases:
- When it is necessary to express habitual, regularly repeated actions. Often in this case, satellite words are used, expressed always (always), often (often), usually (usually), sometimes (sometimes), rarely (rarely), never (ever), every day / week / month / year (every day / week / month / year), daily / on a daily basis (daily). Table with examples:
I always wash the dishes. | I always wash the dishes. |
She usually does her English homework. | She usually does her English homework. |
She sometimes forgets to clean her teeth in the evening. | She sometimes forgets to brush her teeth in the evening. |
He rarely visits his grandma. | He rarely visits his grandmother. |
Jack never makes fun of me. | Jack never laughs at me. |
I learn grammar of Present Simple Tense every week. | I study the present simple tense grammar every week. |
- If you want to express some action, give it a special meaning, you can put it before the semantic verb do (does) in an affirmative sentence. In this case, the auxiliary verb has the following translation: “very”, “really”, “in fact”:
- The Present Simple in English is also used to show that an action is happening in the present, but not necessarily at a specific moment:
- If we are talking about well-known facts, statements, stereotypes, sentences are also constructed in the Present Simple. Some examples:
- The simple indefinite tense is also used to list actions:
- The use of the Present Simple in the same function is also possible in operating manuals, instructions, and recipes. Typically, such sentences replace imperative sentences to list sequential actions.
- The sequence of actions expressed in the Present Simple can still be found in the speech of sports commentators. Let's look at an example:
- Present Simple or simple present tense is also used when it comes to timetables or operating hours of trains, planes, (cinema) theaters, shops, activities.
This construction may imply the future tense, although even when translated into Russian the present tense will be used:
- The Present Simple can also express the future tense when expressing planned actions with verbs of motion, without obeying the standard rule for the formation of the simple future tense. In order to indicate that an action will happen in the future, time phrases with the word next are often used:
- The Present Simple can be used as the past tense in newspaper headlines:
Even though the action mentioned has already been done, the present tense is used to avoid too long names.
- The use of the present simple tense is necessary to replace the Present Continuous if the sentence contains state verbs that are not used in the Continuous:
If the verb is not stative, it cannot be changed to Present Indefinite.
- Present Simple is also used in the imperative mood:
- The Present Simple is used when using subordinate clauses of time and conditions for the future tense. Such sentences are used to show that one action will happen after another happens. Such sentences often use the conjunctions until / till (not yet), as soon as (as soon as), when (when), used to introduce a subordinate clause. There may be several translations into Russian, but often both parts are translated into the future tense:
- The Present Indefinite Tense can also be found in two types of conditional sentences:
- Zero Conditional or conditional sentences of the zero type are used to express scientific facts, generally accepted statements, and laws of nature. Education formula:
The future tense can be used for translation into Russian.
- First Conditional or conditional sentences of the first type are used to show that an action will occur in the future if some condition is met. To form this type, use the following formula:
These situations are uncertain, since their outcome depends on the fulfillment of a condition.
Please note that when translated into Russian, both parts are used in the future tense.
These were all briefly outlined cases of using one of the simple English tenses - the Present Simple tense. The grammar of this tense is quite simple, so even if at the initial stage you find it difficult to master this tense, it will not cause you any problems with the language in the future. Understand the rules, do the exercises, read the explanation, make up your own examples and communicate with native speakers, because this time at a basic level can be useful for any case.
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Today we invite you to learn, and for those who already know - to repeat, the basis of the basics of the English language - the Present Simple tense. First we will look at cases of its use, then we will move on to the rules for forming sentences in this tense.
Who will benefit from this article?
Friends, we wrote this article with an eye not only on beginners, but also on advanced ones who have already learned other tenses. From my own experience and from the experience of friends, I know that when you start learning other tenses after the Present Simple, many questions arise. It's easy to get confused about tenses. For example, in some cases we may not understand the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous. Sometimes the teacher's explanations only make things even more confusing. Therefore, we decided to try to lay out the information as accessible as possible, without using template explanations from textbooks, but by explaining the material as we understand it ourselves, based on the observations that we came to during the long process of learning the language. We sincerely hope that we succeeded.
When to use the Present Simple
Present Simple is the simple present tense. Neem refers to actions that occur regularly.
1. When we talk about generally known facts.
For example:
The sky is blue. - The sky is blue.
People in China use chopsticks. — People in China use Chinese chopsticks.
2. To describe permanent states (feelings, thoughts, opinions)
When we are talking about some permanent states, we will use the Present Simple tense.
For example, when we feel sympathy for something, or think something about a certain reason, this will be a constant state.
My favorite color is blue.
My favorite color is blue.
If we like blue now, we cannot like it only at this moment, so it is inappropriate to use the Present Continuous.
I think she is a great writer.
I think she's a wonderful writer.
We think this not only at the time of speaking, but this is our opinion as a whole, that is, this is a permanent state - therefore the Present Simple is appropriate here.
I think or I’m thinking
When it comes to verbs that are not used in the Present Continuous, many people stumble over the verb “think”, which is not used in the Continuous only in a certain sense. It's actually very easy to figure out.
Think exclusively in the Present Simple is only used when talking about opinion (as in the example above).
I think he likes you.
I think he likes you.
In Continuous it can be used when we are thinking about something at a specific moment.
For example:
I'm thinking if he likes me.
I wonder if he likes me.
That is, I am thinking about this right now. Now I sit and talk about it.
You can remember by the popular phrase:
What are you thinking about?
What are you thinking about right now?
Lifehack!
And here is a small life hack that will help you avoid confusion:
- If we can translate a sentence with think as “I believe”, then we should use the Present Simple.
- If we can translate it as - I'm thinking, I'm thinking - we use the Present Continuous.
3. With the feelings/emotions that we experience at the moment of speaking
For example:
I am surprised. -I'm surprised.
He is horrified. - He's terrified.
I am glad to see you. - I'm glad to see you.
4. When we talk about circumstances that are relevant at the moment.
He lives in Germany.
He lives in Germany.
Here we emphasize that this is a permanent condition. We are not interested in the time frame: when he moved there, and how long he plans to live there. What is important to us here is the very fact of where he lives.
I work. - I am working.
This is a state that is relevant at this period of our lives. The very fact that you are no longer a student, and not yet retired, is important, but you are working. With this sentence, you are not saying that you are working at a specific moment, or that you are currently working in a specific company where you plan to work for several more months.
My son is three years old.
My son is three years old.
5. With actions that are repeated regularly
I usually go to the gym twice a week. — I usually go to the gym twice a week.
I wake up at 7:00 am. — I wake up at 7 am.
This means that this is how you usually wake up.
6. Present Simple in schedules
Train will arrive or arrive
When we have some kind of schedule or schedule, as a rule, it is also spoken about in the Present Simple tense. It is worth keeping in mind that this time is used when the schedule is constant.
For example:
The train arrives at 8:00 pm.
The train arrives at 8 pm.
That is, he will arrive in the future, but since this is his usual schedule, a particular train will always arrive at the specified time - we use the simple present tense.
But, for example, if you are standing at a train station, you may hear this option:
The next three train will arrive in 5 minutes.
The train will arrive in 5 minutes.
The train will be arriving in 5 minutes.
The train arrives in 5 minutes.
As you can see, this is the future tense. The fact is that this information is intended for passengers or those greeting them so that they have time to prepare for arrival. That is, we are not talking about the train schedule as a whole.
Also, future tense can be used in schedules when it has changed slightly. For example, if the train is late. Or if they put in some additional train that is usually not on the schedule.
Verb form in Present Simple
Before we move on to looking at sentence construction, let's look at the forms of the main verb.
I, we, you, they or any other plural noun
Then the main verb stands in its original form.
I go to work at 9 o’clock. — I go to work at 9.
People think apples are useful. — People think that apples are healthy.
If the noun is:
He, she, it or other noun in the 3rd person singular
Then the ending is added - s/ — es/ — ies(we’ll look at when to add which one below)
He wakes up at 9 o'clock. — He wakes up at 9.
My dog barks very loudly. — My dog barks very loudly.
Ending -s/es/-ies
Let's look at the basic rules:
The ending es comes after:
"Hissing sounds": -sh; ch;
He watches TV every evening.
He watches TV every evening.
After S and Z
He kisses like a god.- He kisses like a god.
He buzzes and I don’t like it. “He gossips and I don’t like it.”
After X
Sometimes she mixes things up.
Sometimes she gets everything mixed up.
Letters O
She goes to the theater once in a while.
She goes to the theater from time to time.
Ending-ies:
After the letter Y, if it is preceded by a consonant:
He carries his laptop in his bag. — He carries his laptop in his bag.
She studies - She studies
In other cases we just put the ending S:
She plays the guitar. — She plays the guitar.
Forms of the verb to be in the Present Simple
You / We / They + are
He/She/It + is
Formation of sentences in Present Simple
For visual learners and those who simply repeat time, we have prepared a table. And below everything is described in detail.
Affirmative sentences in Present Simple
Noun (who/what) + verb in the required form + other parts of speech (if any)
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.
He sings very well. — He sings very well.
Interrogative sentences in Present Simple
Auxiliary verb for simple present tense - do (for I/We/You/They) and does (for He/She/It).
Attention: if we use the auxiliary verb does, then we leave the main verb in its original form.
In questions, the auxiliary verb comes first:
Do/Does + who/what + main verb + other parts of speech.
Do you live in London? — You live in London.
Does Emma like flowers? — Does Emma like flowers?
When in a question we have the verb to be, then instead of the auxiliary verb we put it in first place (of course, do not forget to put it in the correct form).
Are you an architect? — Are you an architect?
Is she pretty? - Is she pretty?
There are also special questions with the words “where”, “when”, “why”. In such cases, the question word is placed at the very beginning of the sentence, then we put the auxiliary verb and the remaining parts of speech.
Why does she wake up so early?
Why does she wake up so early?
Negative sentences in the Present Simple
To construct negative sentences, we also need an auxiliary verb, to which we add the negative particle not:
You / We / They + do not (short form - don’t) + main verb + other parts of speech;
He/She/It + does not (short form - doesn’t) + main verb + other parts of speech;
We don't work on Sundays. — We don't work on Sundays.
He doesn't like swimming. — He doesn't like to swim.
In sentences with the verb to be, we put this verb in the desired form, also adding the negative particle not to it:
I + am not (I’m not);
You / We / They + are not (aren’t);
He/She/It + is not (isn’t).
He isn't a doctor. - He's not a doctor.
They aren't my parents. - They are not my parents.
The Present Simple tense is used most often in English, so you need to know it thoroughly. Fortunately, it's very easy to figure out. The main thing is to remember the forms of verbs. We hope we were able to explain this material clearly.