When we want to start learning English, the first tense we must know is “the present simple tense”. It is very easy. It is widely used in day to day conversations.
In this lesson, we will look when we use “the present simple tense” with examples.
Present Uses
1: We use the present simple when something is generally or always true.
2: Similarly, we need to use this tense for a situation that we think is more or less permanent. See the present continuous for temporary situations.)
3: The next use is for habits or things that we do regularly. We often use adverbs of frequency (such as ‘often’, ‘always’ and ‘sometimes’) in this case, as well as expressions like ‘every Sunday’ or ‘twice a month’. (See the present continuous for new, temporary or annoying habits).
4: We can also use the present simple for short actions that are happening now. The actions are so short that they are finished almost as soon as you’ve said the sentence. This is often used with sports commentary.
Future Uses
5: We use the present simple to talk about the future when we are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organisation, not by us.
6: We also use the present simple to talk about the future after words like ‘ ‘when’, ‘until’, ‘after’, ‘before’ and ‘as soon as’. These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time.
Conditional Uses
7: We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals. (See the conditional section for more detail)
Read the grammar part of the present simple tense from the next post.