Present Simple

• It`s used for:

 Permanent or long-lasting situations

Where do you work?
The store opens at 9 o'clock.
She lives in New York.

 Regular habits and daily routines

I usually get up at 7 o'clock.
She doesn't often go to the cinema.
When do they usually have lunch?

 Facts
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
What does 'strange' mean?
Water doesn't boil at 20 degrees.

 Feelings
I love walking around late at night during the summer.
She hates flying!
What do you like? I don't want to live in Texas.

 Opinions and states of mind

He doesn't agree with you.
I think he is a wonderful student.
What do you consider your best accomplishment?

 Timetables and schedules

The plane leaves at 4 p.m.
When do courses begin this semester?
The train doesn't arrive until 10.35.

• Common present time expressions include:

usually, always, often, sometimes, on Saturdays, at weekends (on weekends US English),
rarely, on occasion, never, seldom

• Structure:

 Positive
In the positive form add an 's' to the base form of the 3rd person singular. If the verb ends
in -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y to -ies.
I, You, We, They -> eat lunch at noon.
He, She, It -> works well in any situation.
 Negative
Conjugate the helping verb 'do' not (don't and doesn't) the base form of the verb to make
negatives.
I, You, We, They -> don't enjoy opera.
He, She, It -> doesn't belong to the club.
 Questions
Conjugate the helping verb 'do' (do or does) the base form of the verb in question forms.
Do -> I, you, we, they -> work in this town?
Does -> he, she, it -> live in this city?

• Simple present, third person singular:

Note:
he, she, it: in the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks
Negative and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the auxiliary'DO') + the
infinitive of the verb.
He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:
fly flies, cry cries

Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:

play plays, pray prays
Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

• Examples:

1. Third person singular with s or –es:

a. He goes to school every morning.

b. She understands English.
c. It mixes the sand and the water.
d. He tries very hard.
e. She enjoys playing the piano.

2. Simple present, form:

Example: to think, present simple

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I think Do I think ? I do not think.
You think Do you think? You don't think.
he, she, it thinks Does he, she, it think? He, she, it doesn't think.
we think Do we think? We don't think.
you think Do you think? You don't think.

• The simple present is used:

1. to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations,

emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city
(general truth)
2. to give instructions or directions:
You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.
3. to express fixed arrangements, present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00
4. to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as,
until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

• Examples:

1. For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.

2. For repeated actions or events

We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.

3. For general truths

Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.

4. For instructions or directions

Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.

5. For fixed arrangements

His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March

6. With future constructions

She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.

Surse:

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/Tenses2.cfm

http://esl.about.com/od/grammarstructures/a/pres_simple.htm