Present simple

Welcome to the first part of our two-part series on the Present Simple tense! In this video, we’ll dive into the structure of the Present Simple tense, covering all the exceptions and uses. You’ll learn how to form affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences, and understand when to use the Present Simple tense in everyday conversations. Stay tuned for the second part, where we’ll explore more examples and practical applications. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated!

Grammar

Practice how to use Present Simple.

Transcript

Watch Our Video!

Introduction:

• Host: Hello and welcome to the English Magnet. Today’s video: The Present Simple Made Easy! It’s time to dive into one of the most essential parts of English grammar: the present simple tense. Very common and widespread, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity; there are traps that can mislead even the most experienced speakers. We’ll cover its structure which includes numerous exceptions and when to use it. So stick around as we break it down, ready to master the basics? Let’s get started!

Part 1: Structure of the Present Simple

Ok, the present simple is pretty straightforward; add the base form of the verb to a subject. I climb / You contemplate / We reach / They dig. I’ve skipped over he, she & it on purpose because these pronouns represent the 3rd person singular which requires an -s added at the end of the base form. This gives us she giggles / He pulls / It shows. 

That’s the general rule, now, let’s go over several different special cases that only apply to he/she/it: 

1) Verbs ending in -o, -s, -x, -ch, -sh, -ss, -zz require an -es ending. (instead of just an -s) 

Example: 

She goes / He buses / It fixes / She crunches / He slashes / It compresses / He buzzes 

Please note that to quiz doubles the ‘z’ making she quizzes and verbs ending in -oo are regular verbs such as he boos. 

2) Verbs ending in consonant + y; bye bye ‘y’ + ies. 

Example: 

Deny – he denies / Empty – she empties / Remedy – It remedies

3) Special case: Have – he/she/it has Nothing else to say here, it’s just an exception. ‘haves’ is the plural form of the noun ‘have’, not a verb! 

2 quick remarks on all pronouns; 

First, modal verbs never carry an -s at the 3rd person singular (he/she/it), in other words a modal verb remains unchanged regardless of the subject. 

Example: 

I can / You may / She must / He should / It might to name a few. 

Second, the verb to be stands out here; it has 3 endings: 

I am / you-we-they are / she-he-it is 

By the way, only  am, are & is’ can form contractions (so only the verbs to be) 

I’m / You’re / We’re / They’re / She’s / He’s / It’s 

Quick sidenote, ‘have’ and ‘has’ commonly form contractions, but not in the present simple. Still you should know, in spoken English such contractions ( I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, they’ve, she’s, he’s and it’s) can be heard in the British Isles. (UK, Irish, Scottish and Welsh flags). (yes, ‘s can both mean is / has, it depends on the context). 

Quick second (and last) sidenote, you can use the auxiliary ‘do’ or ‘does’ when you wish to emphasize a statement. (but not with am/are/is!) The following form is generally found when answering a question. 

Example: 

I (do) like pizza. 

He (does) cook well. 

We (do) enjoy the smell. 

Since ‘does’ carries the -s, cook is without an s. As you can see, ‘do’ follows the -es ending form since it ends in -o. 

I’m glad I’ve introduced do and does, since we’re going to cover the negative form now. Won’t you look at that? It uses the same auxiliary, coincidence? The difference is in the negative the auxiliary is compulsory and it must be followed by ‘not’.  So, when forming a negative sentence in the present simple, we need to follow the structure: subject + don’t / doesn’t + base form. 

I went straight for the contractions as they are the most common form (do not = don’t & does not = doesn’t). Of course, don’t is for I, you, we & they while doesn’t is for she, he & it. 

Example: 

I don’t drive at night. 

You don’t swim in acid. 

She doesn’t follow the rules. 

He doesn’t understand Greek. 

Did you see how ‘doesn’t’ carries the -s ending and so the following verb is in its base form (no -s)? (folloW and understanD are highlighted)

Again, the verb to be does its own thing here; you simply add ‘not’ after the verb instead of ‘don’t’ or ‘doesn’t’ before the verb.

Example: 

I’m not ready. / He isn’t online. / We’re not at home. / They aren’t glad. (I am not ready. / He is not online. / We are not at home. / They are not glad.)

Look at the contractions; you either go with subject + am/are/is or are/is + not. In North America, the contraction am + not doesn’t hold up. 

Now the question form is similar to the negative form as it uses an auxiliary as well, let’s look at its structure: Do/Does + subject + base form. If we begin a question with do or does, it’s a closed question, meaning answers are yes or no. If we begin with a question word, then it’s an open question, answers aren’t simply with a yes or a no. 

Example: 

Why does it make a noise? It makes a noise because it’s a car alarm. 

Do we wait here? Yes, we do (wait here). 

Do they like pizza? No, they don’t (like pizza).

No contractions here, unless you form a negative question. 

Example: 

Why doesn’t it make a noise? 

Don’t we wait here?

Don’t they like pizza?

But, they’re not mandatory, just more natural. 

Example: 

Why does it not make a noise? 

Do we not wait here? 

Do they not like pizza?

Once more, the verb to be stands out here as no auxiliary is needed. You simply invert the subject and am/are/is. 

Example: 

Am I on time? 

Are you the inspector? 

Is it the blue car? 

With negative questions, you can use contractions, except with ‘am not’. 

Example: 

Am I not on time? 

Aren’t you the inspector? Are you not the inspector? 

Isn’t it the blue car? Is it not the blue car? 

Part 2: Uses

The present simple feels like an easy verb tense to master, it does have the word ‘simple’ in it. Nevertheless, knowing when to use it correctly can be puzzling. Therefore, understanding why and when you should rely on the present simple will give you an edge in your English journey. Let’s go over the 6 main cases: 

1) It’s used to share a factual statement

The present simple is used to express facts that are always true or universally accepted. 

Example: Our planet orbits the sun.  (It’s a fundamental fact of nature, no debate here… really!)

Penguins don’t fly. (As far as we know, that’s true and always has been, and will be!)

2) It’s used to express a habit

The present simple is used to describe actions that happen regularly or simple routines. It emphasizes the repeated pattern of an action; it happened before, and will happen in the future as well. 

Example: He jogs every evening. (The action happens consistently and is likely to continue over time, it’s a habit)

We drink tea together in the morning. (Like clockwork, this action is part of one’s routine, just as you watch our videos weekly)

3) It’s used to present a permanent situation

It describes situations or states that are generally true for a long period or indefinitely. It’s akin to a mix of a factual statement and a habit. In other words, it conveys a lasting and unchanging reality.

Example: Veronika lives in downtown New York. (It’s her home base and there’s no time marker attached to this situation, we understand it’s a fact in Veronika’s life and it is a lasting situation)

We believe in fairplay. (The belief in fairplay is not linked to a time period and we can take it for granted, it will persist. 

4) It’s used to state a planned event

The present simple can be used to talk about future events that are scheduled or timetabled. The action doesn’t take place in the present, but the present simple focuses on the certainty of it. 

Example: Our flight takes off at noon. (The departure time is planned and it is considered certain. You could use the future simple: Our flight will take off at noon. Then, you focus on it being a future event rather than a planned event.) 

The circus comes to town next month. (Even though we have a future time marker, the emphasis is on the planned nature of the event. There must be billboards and flyers announcing the arrival of the circus which implies it’s part of a program) 

5) It’s used to give instructions

The present simple can communicate directions or instructions as in telling someone what to do or how to do something. Note that more often than not, the pronoun ‘you’ is used in this case. 

Example: You turn left at the end of the street and you drive until the end of the road. (The present simple gives clear, casual but polite guidance on how to do something. The imperative mood ‘turn left at the end of the street and drive until the end of the road’ is more direct and more like an order. 

You fold your clothes neatly before putting them away. (Again these instructions are simple, respectful and to the point). 

6) It’s used to express an instantaneous action

The present simple is used to describe actions that happen instantly to create a sense of immediacy or vividness often in live commentary, storytelling or demonstrations.

Example: He dekes the left winger, skates around him, shoots and scores! (The commentator describes the ongoing actions as they unfold; one after the other and in rapid succession, all of it is so fast!)

The duckling runs into the room and grabs the book on the shelf. (The storytelling here uses the present simple to bring you close to the story as if you were witnessing it)

Wrap up

Host: There you go, the present simple made simple! If you’re in the mood, be sure to watch more of our videos! Hopefully, this has been helpful! A link to some free material to practice by yourselves can be found in the description below. Keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it. Thank you for watching. Until next time!