Mastering the Present Simple Tense: A Guide to Clear Communication

Over the next 7 weeks, we'll be doing a bit of grammar review, think of it as your crash course for the summer. This week, we'll be reviewing the present simple. You can read this post for a quick explanation, or you can even click this link and watch my Instagram video explanation if you want something quick and easy. Whether you're a beginner or simply looking to brush up on your grammar skills, mastering the present simple tense will undoubtedly enhance your fluency and clarity in English.

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Usage and Significance

The present simple tense serves as a powerful tool for expressing general truths, habitual actions, routines, and facts that are always true. It allows us to describe actions or states that occur repeatedly or regularly, emphasizing their reliability and permanence. Additionally, the present simple tense is used to refer to scheduled events or future actions with fixed time arrangements. By understanding its significance, you can communicate ideas accurately and concisely. Here are a few examples:

1. FACT - The sun rises in the east.

2. TRUTH - She plays the piano beautifully.

3. ROUTINE - We usually have dinner at 7 p.m.

4. HABITUAL ACTION - They visit their grandparents every weekend.

5. FUTURE EVENT - The meeting starts at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

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Formation and Structure

Forming the present simple tense is more or less...straightforward. It isn't always so simple though! In most cases, we use the base form of the verb (infinitive) for subjects like 'I,' 'you,' 'we,' and 'they.'

I play football.

We don't live in the UK.

Do you like pizza?

However, for the third person singular pronouns ('he,' 'she,' 'it'), an 's' or 'es' is added to the verb. This is one of the most difficult things to remember. Check out this chart to help you remember those pesky 3rd person verbs:

Verb	3rd person singular
​To have	has
To go	goes
To do	does
To watch	watches
To fix	fixes
To miss	misses

You can use adverbs of frequency, such as 'always,' 'usually,' 'sometimes,' to level up your communication by telling your listener how often an action takes place. Remember, the order is very important here!

Subject + adverb + verb

I always teach in the afternoon.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common mistakes to be aware of. Check out this list to make sure you're not making any of them!

1. Confusing the present simple with the present continuous tense, which describes actions happening at the present moment (we'll review this tense next week). It's crucial to differentiate between ongoing actions and habitual actions or general truths.

2. Remember to adjust the verb form for the third person singular pronouns to maintain subject-verb agreement accurately.

3. Put your adverb of frequency in the right place - between the subject and the main verb.

4. Forgetting to add "do" to a question: Do you work here? What do you do for a living?

Follow all these steps and you'll be using the present simple like a pro, or rather, like a native! Download this guide and keep it on hand for whenever you have doubts, and stay tuned for next week's review post on the present continuous!

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Glossary

• crash course: a short, usually intensive course or lesson program

• brush up: phrasal verb - to refresh your memory on a specific topic

• undoubtedly: a fancy way to say "obviously"

• straightforward: clear, simple, understandable

• pesky: synonym for annoying, irritating

• crucial: essential, very important