English Grammar Made Easy: The Present Simple

I learned English in, well England as I grew up (I was born there) so – I didn’t learn grammar, at least not the way an English student from say France would. Grammar was perhaps my biggest hurdle when starting out along the path of ESL teaching. As strange as this sounds I hadn’t a clue what, for example, the present perfect was, or how to form it or when to use it! During my first year as an ESL teacher I found that as grammar lessons came up through the semester I was doing a quick revision of grammar I should, as a native English speaker, have known so that I was prepared to teach my students. After speaking to various colleagues I discovered that this was actually quite a common predicament. I predict that it will continue to be so (unless the lovely Mr. Brown decides to radically change the English Language GCSE curriculum-doubtful). I began compiling a quick study guide with tense forms and so that I could quickly refresh my memory before heading into the generally dreaded (by both student and teacher) grammar lesson. So for all those new ESL teachers who want a little refresher Grammar 101, here is my entry for the Present Simple – let’s start of easy eh? Stay tuned for the other tenses!

FORM :

POSITIVE: subject + verb (s/es) + object I speak English.

NEGATIVE: subject + do/does + not + verb + object You do not speak English.

QUESTION: Do/Does + subject + verb + object Does he speak English?

WHEN TO USE IT:

1) Repeated Actions

The present simple is used to describe actions that are regular or usual. These actions include habits, hobbies, everyday events, prearranged or scheduled events

Examples:

I play football.
I do not play golf.
Does she play tennis?
The bus leaves at 7am every morning.
The bus does not leave at 8 am.
When does the bus leave?
You work every day.
They do not work every day.
Does he work every day?

2) Facts or generalizations

The present simple can also be used by a speaker when describing facts or generalizations about people or things that are always true.

Examples:

The Earth circles the Sun.
The moon does not circle the Sun.
Does the moon circle the Earth?
Snow is white.
Grass is not white.
Women are bad drivers.
Women are not bad drivers.

3) Pre-arranged/Scheduled events in the near future

Most commonly used when talking about public transportation.

Examples:

The train leaves at 9am tomorrow morning
The train does not leave at 8.30am, it leaves at 9am.
When do we board the ferry?
Class starts at 2pm.

4) Used with NOW

Speakers occasionally use the present simple to talk about things happening (or not happening) now.

Examples:

I am here now.
She needs to leave now.
He does not need to leave now.
He has a pen now.
Do you have a pen?