Present Indefinite Tense (Simple Present Tense OR Present Simple Tense)

Present Indefinite Tense (Simple Present Tense OR Present Simple Tense)

Formal Definition
The simple present (also called present simple or present indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show repetition, habit or generalization. Less commonly, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the near future and, in some cases, actions happening now.

Simple definition

We use it for

→ thoughts and feelings: I think so, I like it.

→ repeated actions: They come here every month.

→ states, facts and things that are true for a long time:

→ He lives quite near.

→ The human body contains 206 bones.

→ Light travels at almost 300,000 kilometres per second.

FORMULA / STRUCTURE

Subject + Verb (first form) + Object / Adverb / Complement

for third person singular we add s/es/ies [Click here for spelling rules]

BASIC LEVEL

→ I play cricket.

→ Yaqoob reads a novel.

→ You watch TV.

NEGATIVE EXAMPLES

For negative we use [do not = don’t] [does not = doesn’t]

→ I do not play cricket.

OR I don’t play cricket.

→ Yaqoob does not read a novel.

OR Yaqoob doesn’t read a novel.

→ You do not watch TV.

OR You don’t watch TV.

INTERROGATIVE / QUESTION

For interrogative we use [Do] [Does]

→ Does Yaqoob read a book?

→ Does Yaqoob not read a book?

OR Doesn’t Yaqboob read a book?

→ Do you watch TV?

→ Do you not watch TV?

OR Don’t you watch TV?

We use do and does with question words like where, what, how and when:

↷ Where do Yaqoob and Aslam live?

↷ What does Maria do?

↷ How do you install this software?

↷ How does your mother manage kitchen?

↷ When does he usually get up?

But questions with who often don't use do or does:

↷ Who lives in Karachi?
↷ Who plays hockey at the weekend?
↷ Who works at Agha Khan Hospital?

We use the present simple to talk about something that is true in the present.

↷ I'm nineteen years old. (I’m = I am)
↷ I'm a student.
↷ He lives in London.

Speakers sometimes use the simple present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now.

↷ I am here now.

↷ She is not here now.

↷ He needs help right now.

↷ He does not need help now.

↷ He has his passport in his hand.

↷ Do you have your passport with you?

THOUGHTS – FEELINGS – STATES

We normally use the present simple (not present continuous) to talk about thoughts and feelings.

→ She thinks it's a good program.

→ Yaqoob likes his job.

We also use it to talk about states and permanent facts.

→ Reporting means a lot to her.

→ Paper burns easily.

We also use the present simple in I promise, I agree, I refuse, etc.

→ I promise I will write to you.

→ It is all right. I forgive you.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

Present simple for Future:

→ We also use the present simple to talk about something that is fixed in the future.

→ We can use the present simple for the future when we are talking about a timetable, usually a public one such as a train timetable.

Yaqoob:          What time does your train leave tomorrow?
Aslam:             Seven twenty in the morning.

It gets into Lahore at eleven twenty.

↷ The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

↷ The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

↷ When do we board the plane?

↷ The party starts at 8 o'clock.

↷ I'll talk to John when I see him.

↷ If it rains we'll get wet.

↷ He won't come unless you ask him. (won’t = will not)

We often use adverbs like sometimes, always and never with the present simple:

↷ I sometimes go to the cinema.
↷ She never plays football.

Here are some useful sentences. Complete them so that they are true for you.

My name is ______.	I'm ______ years old.
I come from ______.	I live in ______.
I'm a/an ______.	I ______ at the weekend.
I often ______.	I never ______.

Complete these sentences so that they are true for a friend.

Her/His name is ______.	She's/He's ______ years old.
She/He comes from ___.	She/He lives in ______.
She's/He's a/an ______.	She/He _______ at the weekend.
She/He often ________ .	She/He never ______.

We also use the present simple to talk about Current Information, News Paper Headline, Announcement.

↷ The PM goes to America.

↷ The President inaugurates the company.

↷ Here comes the one and only Shahid Afridi.

BE to and BE about to

[Reference: (Second Edition) Oxford Practice Grammar by John Eastwood Unit 26]

BE VERB
First form	Second form	Third form	Fourth form
Infinite form	Past form	Past participle form	Present participle form
Be Present cases (is, are, am)	Was / were	Been	being

We use be to for a future event that is officially arranged. It is often used in news reports.

↷ The Queen is to visit Portugal in November.

↷ The Student Games are to take place in Melbourne next year.

We could also use the present continuous here.

↷ The Queen is visiting Portugal in November.

We use be about to for the very near future.

↷ The plane is at the end of the runway. It is about to take off.

↷ Do you want to say goodbye to our visitors? They're about to leave.

ADVANCE LEVEL

We sometimes use the present simple to talk about the past when we are:

(i) SUMMARISING A BOOK, FILM OR PLAY

↷ Harry Potter goes to Hogwarts School. He has two close friends, Hermione and …

↷ Shakespeare's Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. One night he sees his father's ghost.

(ii) TELLING A STORY

To tell stories (particularly jokes) to make your listener or reader feel more engaged with the story.

↷ I was walking down the street the other day when suddenly this man comes up to me and tells me he has lost his wallet and asks me to lend him some money. Well, he looks a bit dangerous so I'm not sure what to do and while we are standing there …