This article will discuss the simple present in English - Present Simple. In grammar, this time is used most often. To better understand and consolidate knowledge, the article will present several examples of suggestions.
Present Simple - what time is it?
For students of English and its grammar, tenses are one of the most difficult topics. This is due to the fact that in English linguistics there are 12 times, while in Russian there are three times (present, past and future). It depends on the duration of the action - whether it passes right now and lasts, or, for example, is currently happening regularly, or already performed.
Present Simple is a real simple time. It indicates actions that occur regularly, periodically: schedules, habits, etc. Still often in textbooks, Present Simple is called time indefinite, or Indefinite.
As a rule, when using this time, clarifying words are often used, such as: often (often), usually (usually), never (never), rarely (seldom), always (always), every day (every day) and others.
The use of verbs in the present simple tense
What you need to know about verbs in Present Simple? For better assimilation, here are the basic rules for Present Simple in the form of a graphic table.
To build sentences, verbs do not need to be changed - as indicated in the dictionary, it is written so. However, it should be noted that if the offer is from a third party - he | she | it, then you need to add the ending -s (-es) at the end of the verb. This applies to sentences with a positive value - affirmation.
In negative, auxiliary do and do are added before the verb after the predicate (I, you, he), and in interrogative ones, before the pronouns and the verb.
Sample sentences with Present Simple
So, we will consider sentences in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. For each form, 5 phrases will be presented. Examples of Present Simple passive sentences will also be provided.
The affirmative form of the proposal in the table:
Affirmative sentence| Original | Transfer |
| I wake up at 7 o'clock and read the news. | I wake up at 7 in the morning and read the news. |
| He speaks French and Chinese. | He speaks French and Chinese. |
| They play poker every Friday after work. | They play poker every Friday after work. |
| It often rains in autumn and summer. | In autumn and summer it often rains. |
| Polina likes to collect different stamps. | Polina likes to collect various postage stamps. |
Next, consider the sentences in negative form:
Negative Suggestions| Original | Transfer |
| Usually I do not buy medicine for colds. | I usually don’t buy cold medicine. |
| I do not know this actress. | I do not know this actress. |
| Peter does not like this weather. | Peter doesn't like this weather. |
| She can not bring this mask made of papier-mache. | She can't bring this papier-mâché mask. |
| We do not speak Estonian. | We do not speak Estonian. |
In the interrogative form of proposals, the following procedure for constructing proposals:
- The interrogative word is What | Where | Why, etc. +
- Do or does (3rd person) +
- The face is me, you, he, she, etc. +
- The verb is in the initial form.
Consider the examples in the table:
Interrogative form| Original | Transfer |
| Do you like mango? | Do you like mangoes? |
| When the plane arrives in St. Petersburg? | When does a plane arrive in St. Petersburg? |
| Do you know the periodic table? | Do you know the periodic table? |
| How long do you sit on social networks every day? | How long do you sit on social networks every day? |
| Does your brother like tennis? | Does your brother like tennis? |
And the following examples of Present Simple Passive sentences are in the passive voice. These include passive / passive voice, which tells about actions on a person or object. To formulate a sentence, you must use the following wording: the verb to be + predicate (verb in the 3rd degree).
Passive security offer| Original | Transfer |
| The parcel from the online store is delivered by mail. | Parcels from the online store are delivered by mail. |
| This story is not written by Dostoevsky. | This story was not written by Dostoevsky. |
| That list is usually compiled every week | This list is usually compiled every week. |
| All baggage at the airport is checked carefully. | At the airport, all baggage is checked carefully. |
| Every summer a lot of forests are burned by fire. | Every summer, many forests are burned in flames. |
Conclusion
So, from this article you can learn how to build a sentence in the present simple time in English. So, actions in Present Simple are used in the case of well-known facts, or those that are regularly repeated - for example, are performed according to a schedule. And by the examples mentioned above, you can see how this time is used in the affirmative, negative forms, in questions, as well as in the passive voice.