The Present Simple

Lesson10

English for Engineers

A Compilation for Elementary Students
USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea

that an action is repeated or usual. The action
can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a
scheduled event or something that often
happens. It can also be something a person
often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples:
I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker

believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will
be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is
correct about the fact. It is also used to make
generalizations about people or things.
Examples:
Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

California is in America.

California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the
Near Future
Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk
about scheduled events in the near future. This is
most commonly done when talking about public
transportation, but it can be used with other
scheduled events as well.
Examples:
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.

When does class begin tomorrow?

How do we form the
present simple?
 Affirmative statements

I get up early.
I check my e-mail.

My husband and I get up late.

We get up late.

Alex and his wife read the newspaper.

They read the newspaper.
 Affirmative statements

I check my e-mail. Greg s his

He checks his e-mail.

I drive . Amanda's husband s

He drives .

I get up late. Amanda s

She gets up late.

I watch TV. Jennifer's sister es

She watches TV.
 Negative statements

I don't
like mornings.

We don't
talk a lot.

They don't
get up early.

She doen't s
drive
drive .

He do
ha
en't ve
s breakfast.

don't = do not doesn't = does not

 Affirmative statements Negative statements

I check my e-mail. I don't like mornings.

We get up late. We don't talk a lot.

They read the newspaper. They don't get up early.

He drives . He doesn't have breakfast.

She watches TV. She doesn't drive.

 Verb endings: he, she, it

get up get s up
check check s
but
watch watches

vowel
play plays
consonant but
study study
ies

have has
do does
 I play sports.
Do you play soccer?

Yes, I do play soccer.

Do you play baseball?

No, I don't play baseball.

Do you and your friends study in the morning?

Yes, we do study in the morning.

No, we don't study in the morning .

Do your friends make phone calls at night?

Yes, they do make phone calls at night .

No, they don't make phone calls at night .

My mother works a lot.

Doe she works on Saturdays?

Yes, she does work on Saturdays .

Doe she works on Sundays?

No, she doesn't work on Sundays .

 FRI SAT SUN
MON TU E WED TH UR 7
4 5 6
1 2 3
12 13 14
9 10 11
I play sports every day. 8
15 16 17 18
19 20 21
26 27 28
23 24 25
22
29 30 31

FRI SAT SUN

WED TH UR 7
M ON TUE 3 6
I play soccer on Mondays. 1 2
4 5
12 13 14
9 10 11 21
8 19 20
17 18 28
15 16 26 27
24 25
22 23
31
29 30

I play tennis on (the) weekends. D TH UR FRI SA T

SUN
WE 7
MON TU E 4 5 6
2 3
1 13 14
9 10 11 12
8
19 20 21
17 18
15 16 27 28
24 25 26
22 23
31
29 30
in the morning(s)

in the afternoon(s)

in the evening(s)

at night
I exercise before breakfast.

I read the paper after breakfast.