Using Present Simple: Rules and Exceptions

2024 Author: Angel Austin | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:14

The use of different tenses in English is often difficult, especially for those who are just starting to learn the language. It is best to start your acquaintance with English tenses with the simplest topic - "Using Present Simple". Another common definition is Present Indefinite Tense.

Formation of the affirmative form

The formation of the above form and the use of verbs in Present Simple is quite easy to remember. In the 1st and 2nd person singular. hours, as well as in all persons plural. number verb is used unchanged. In the 3rd person singular. hours, the ending -s or -es is added. More details in the table:

	unit number	pl. number
1st person	I see, do (I see, do)	we see, do (we see, do)
2nd l.	you see, do (you see, do)	you see, do (you see, do)
3rd l.	he/she/it sees, does (he, she, it sees, does)	they see, dodo)

How to understand in which words in the third person singular the ending -s is added, and when -es? The addition of endings occurs according to the same principle as in the formation of the plural. If the word ends in -ch, -sh, -o, -s, -ss, -x, the ending -es is required. In all other words - as usual, just -s.

As for the verb "to be", its conjugation is different from the standard one.

	unit h.	pl. h.
1 l.	I am	we are
2 l.	you are	you are
3 l.	he/she/it is	they are

Interrogative form

The formation of sentences containing a question occurs with the help of the auxiliary verb to do, which is placed at the beginning. Also, depending on the context, the verbs to be, to have and interrogative words (what, when, why etc.) can be used

• Do you like classic music? - Do you like classical music?
• Have you something to read? - Do you have anything to read?
• Are you a teacher? - Are you a teacher?
• What does this term mean? - What does this term mean?

The order of the vocabulary in the sentence remains unchanged: the auxiliary verb is placed first, followed by the subject and other components.

Negative form

Negation is formed by the verbs to do, to be or tohave in combination with the particle "not" (not). The subject comes first. The abbreviations don't, doesn't, aren't, isn't, haven't, hasn't are often used.

• She doesn't like such a music. - She doesn't like this kind of music.
• He isn't a pianist. - He's not a pianist.
• I don't have anything to say. - I have nothing to say.

Interrogative-negative form

Similar constructions are translated into Russian with particles such as "unless" and "really".

• Do I not know? - Don't I know?
• Why do not you say the truth? - Why don't you tell the truth?

In colloquial speech, abbreviations can also be used: don't, doesn't, haven't and others.

Passion voice

The above rules for the formation of sentences applied to the active voice (Active voice). There is also a passive voice (Passive voice), in which the action is directed to the subject. Consider the following table and using the Present Simple Passive will not cause any difficulties.

Comparative characteristics of the real and passive voice in the present indefinite tense:

	Active		Passive
I	listen	I'm listening	am listened	they listen to me
he, she, it	listens	she, she, it is listening	is listened	he, she is being listened to
we, you,they	listen	we, you, they listen (-et, -ut)	are listened	us, you, they are listening

In the case of irregular verbs, you should take into account the peculiarity of their use and substitute the desired form (Past Participle from the third column of the table of irregular verbs).

• This work is done well. - This job is well done.
• A lot of books are written every year. - Many books are written every year.
• My flowers are watered every day. - My flowers are watered every day.

As a rule, the passive voice is used in cases where the action or phenomenon is more important than the performer. If you need to specify an executor or a means or instrument of action, the prepositions by and with are used. It is translated into Russian using instrumental case.

• This bread is baked by me. - This bread is baked by me.
• This picture is painted with special brush. - This picture is painted with a special brush.

Cases of using Present Simple with examples

The present indefinite tense is a very multifaceted topic. The grammatical structure is quite simple to understand, but the scope of this tense form should be considered in more detail.

There are rules for using Present Indefinite:

1. Common facts, laws of nature, undeniable truths.

   - Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade. - Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

   - Mostof birds fly away to warm lands for the winter. - Most birds fly to warmer climes for the winter.

   - Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe. - Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe.

2. Phenomena that are somewhat constant or change slowly.

   - I'm 20 years old. - I'm 20 years old.

   - Ann is flute player. - Anna plays the flute.

3. Phenomena and events that recur regularly.

   - She runs every morning in the park. - She runs every morning in the park.

   - I read detective stories every day. - I read detective stories every day.

4. A series of actions following one after the other. The following words are often used: at the beginning (at first, at the start, at the beginning), then, then (then, further), after (after, next).

   - At first she comes to the office, looks through the new letters and then begins to work. - First she comes to the office, looks through new letters, and then starts working.

5. In the subordinate clause of a sentence (condition or time). The following words are used: if (if), before (before), when (when).

   - If I find that interesting book, I'll give it to you. - If I find that interesting book, I'll give it to you.

6. Quite often, the use of Present Simple can be found when describing upcoming events related to the future. Mostly, if we are talking about an upcoming single event, planned in advance. In this case, words are used that indicate the future tense, such as tomorrow (tomorrow), next week (next week), in a week (this week). Also often in such proposals are usedverbs of motion.

   - My friend comes next month. - My friend is coming next month.

   In Russian there is an analogue of this construction. For example: "My sister Anna is leaving tomorrow night."

7. Describing actions or phenomena occurring at the moment of narration, using verbs that are not used in Continuous. These include words that describe the emotional state (like - like, prefer - give preference, wish - desire), thought process (recognize - recognize, know - know), attitude, possession (belong - belong, posses - possess), sensations (see - see, smell - have an aroma to smell). - I see a car in the distance. - I see a car in the distance.

   - I understand you. - I understand you.

Comparative characteristics of the simple and long present tenses

The use of Present Simple and Present Continuous is one of the most important topics in the English language, since these tenses are most common in colloquial speech. There are certain differences, the essence of which is not always perceptible when translated into Russian.

For example: how to translate a simple phrase "I'm studying"? There are two ways in English:

• I study. - The use of Present Simple in this case implies the performance of an action in general. Perhaps the speaker is talking about being educated at some educational institution or working on the study of some issue for a long period of time.
• I amstudying - The sentence is written in Present Continuous, which indicates the implementation of the action at the moment of speech. Most likely, the speaker is busy studying right now.

Another of the most common uses of the continuous tense is to denote an unusual behavior or state. For example:

• He is being kind today. - He's being very polite today (Although he doesn't usually behave like that).
• Her brother is very kind. - Her brother is very polite (always).

Besides the rules, pay attention also to the words used in different tenses. They will help determine the right shape.

Present Simple	Present Continuous
every day, week, month, year - every day, week, month, year; usually - usually; seldom - rare; rarely - rarely; sometimes - sometimes; often - often; always - always; never - never; in the morning, afternoon, evening - in the morning, afternoon, evening; at night - at night; on Sundays	now - now; at the moment - at the moment; at present - currently; nowadays - nowadays; at these days - these days; today - today; tonight - tonight.

Exercises with answers

Any theoretical material should be put into practice. Most effectiveThe method is to perform translation exercises from the native language into English. This method of study allows you to identify gaps in knowledge and understand your own shortcomings. In addition to mastering grammar rules, completing tasks will also help you learn new vocabulary, increase your active vocabulary, and practice writing and speaking. After you have worked through numerous exercises, using the Present Simple will not be difficult.

Task 1: Translate into English.

1. Do you believe in God?
2. Am I wrong?
3. When will the festival be held?
4. Do you like this city?

Task 2: Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (using the word in brackets):

1. How often … your father play tennis? (do). - How often does your father play tennis?
2. The sun … in the east (rise). - The sun rises in the east.
3. She … from USA tomorrow (come). - She's coming from the US tomorrow.
4. If she needs money, why … a job? (do, not, get) - If she needs money, why won't she get a job?
5. Cats … mice (catch). - Cats catch mice.

Answer 1:

1. Do you believe in God?
2. Am I wrong?
3. When does the festival take place?
4. Do you like this city?

Answer 2:

1. does;
2. rises;
3. comes;
4. doesn't she get;
5. catch.

In addition to completing tasks, you can also consolidate the studied material by composing your own sentences, dialogues and texts. Any grammatical topic of the English language, whether it is the use of Past, Present Simple or Continuous, will be better perceived with sufficient lessons with theoretical material and practical study. In addition to understanding and memorizing, it is also very important to bring the use of certain lexical units, speech structures and grammatical formulas to automaticity.