Unit 1.2
Present Simple: use
Tenses
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Use
We use present simple when we talk about:
- Completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
- Facts (things that are generally true, stated);
- Habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
- Informal narrative (when telling a story).
- Instructions (orders);
- Permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
- Planned future (planned events with a given exact date);
- Promises;
- Timetables (planned events with given exact time);
In its three forms:
- in the affirmative, to confirm;
- in the negative, to deny;
- in the interrogative, to ask;
Example
- Completed actions that happen as we speak
- The taxi driver disappears.
- The taxi driver doesn’t disappear.
- Does the taxi driver disappear?
- Facts
- Teachers perform an important role in society.
- Teachers don’t perform an important role in society.
- Do teachers perform an important role in society?
- Habits/routines
- I usually wake up at 8 o’clock.
- I don’t usually wake up at 8 o’clock.
- Do you usually wake up at 8 o’clock?
- My boss goes to the gym twice a week.
- My boss doesn’t go to the gym twice a week.
- Does he go to the gym twice a week?
- We go to the cinema too much.
- We don’t go to the cinema too much.
- Do we go to the cinema too much?
- Informal narrative
- The housewife transforms into a princess.
- The housewife doesn’t transform into a princess.
- Does the housewife transform into a princess?
- Instructions
- Go straight and turn left.
- Restart your mobile phone.
- Dedicate yourself to your studies.
- Permanent situations
- I live in Russia.
- I don’t live in Russia.
- Do I live in Russia?
- She works in a police station
- She doesn’t work in a police station.
- Does she work in a police station?
- The trainee doctor studies medicine.
- The doctor didn’t study maths.
- Did the doctor study English?
- Planned future
- I start my new job on 17th June.
- I don’t start my new job on 17th June.
- Do I start my new job on 17th June?
- The exam period ends on 24th December.
- The exam period doesn’t end on 24th December.
- Does the exam period end on 19th December?
- Emily’s plane lands in two hours.
- Emily’s plane doesn’t land in 2 hours.
- Does Emily’s plane land in 2 hours, or 3?
- Promises…
- I promise to buy you a new mobile phone.
- I don’t promise to buy you a new phone.
- Do you promise to buy me a new phone?
- Timetables
- The train leaves at 7 o’clock.
- The train doesn’t leave at 7 o’ clock.
- Does the train leave at 7 o’ clock?
