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The simple present tense is used to discuss permanant situations and the frequency of events.
| To have |
Short form |
Other Verbs (to work) |
| I have |
I've |
I work |
| he has |
he's |
He works |
| she has |
she's |
She works |
| it has |
it's |
It works |
| you have |
you've |
you work |
| we have |
we've |
we work |
| they have |
they've |
they work |
Statements
+ |
Statements
- |
Questions |
Short answer
+ |
Short answer
- |
| I work. |
I don't work. |
Do I work? |
Yes, I do. |
No, I don't. |
| He works. |
He doesn't work. |
Does he work? |
Yes, he does. |
No, he doesn't. |
| She works. |
She doesn't work. |
Does she work? |
Yes, she does. |
No, she doesn't. |
| It works. |
It doesn't work. |
Does it work? |
Yes, it does. |
No, it doesn't. |
| You work. |
You don't work. |
Do you work? |
Yes you do. |
No, you don't. |
| We work. |
We don't work. |
Do we work? |
Yes we do. |
No, we don't. |
| They work. |
They don't work. |
Do they work? |
Yes they do. |
No, they don't. |
Regular or permanent situations
When something happens regularly or is a permanent situation we usually use the simple present tense. When using the simple present the verb (with the exception of the auxiliary verbs) remains in the dictionary form (verb + s with he/she/it).
Simple Present Timeline
For example:
Q) "Where do you live?" A) "I live in Germany."
Q) "Where does he live?" A) "He lives in Germany."
Q) "What do you do?" A) "I'm a teacher."
Q) "What does he do?" A) "He's a teacher."
Frequency
The simple present tense is also used to show how often something happens with adverbs of frequency- always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never, etc.... And when discussing daily, weekly, monthly etc. routines.
For example:
"I always get up at 6.00."
"I never drink coffee before 12.00."
"I work on my website every day."
"Every Monday and Thursday I go to the gym."
We also use the simple present to ask for and give instructions or to discuss a series of actions.
For example:
Q) How do I make pancakes?" A) Well, first you take 4 eggs and crack them into a bowl, then you weigh out 4 oz. of flour and sieve it into the eggs. etc.
The simple present tense can also be used to discuss future events.
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