6 Present Simple Affirmative
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Introduction
The present simple is the tense used to express permanent situations or events that regularly repeat or always occur.
When expressed in its affirmative form, the verb confirms something about the subject.
Form
The present simple, in its affirmative form, has this structure:
Subject + verb + …
- For the third person singular, we add -s at the end of the verb. Exceptions:
- Verbs with suffixes -ch, -s, -sh, -x, -z: add -es (watch ⇒ watches; kiss ⇒ kisses; crush ⇒ crushes; tax ⇒ taxes; buzz ⇒ buzzes);
- Verbs ending with a consonant followed by -y: change -y to -i and add -es (cry ⇒ cries);
- Irregular verbs such as do, go, be and have do not follow any rule: do ⇒ does, go ⇒ goes, be ⇒ is, have ⇒ has.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I | work |
| You | work |
| He | works |
| She | works |
| It | works |
| We | work |
| You | work |
| They | work |
Example
- Planned future
- I start my new job on the 17th of June.
- The exam period ends on the 24th December.
- Their friend arrives in a few days.
- Timetables
- The train leaves at 7 o’clock.
- The match starts at 9 o’clock tomorrow.
- My exams start at 10 o’clock tomorrow.
- Habits/routines
- I usually wake up at 8 o’clock.
- He goes to the gym twice a week.
- We go to good restaurants for lunch.
- Facts
- The sun rises in the east.
- The water boils at 100°C.
- Tigers exist.
- Permanent situations
- I live in Brussels.
- She works in a supermarket.
- They play football.
- Promises…
- I promise to buy you a new mobile phone.
- He swears he’ll go to the doctor.
- Promise me you’ll give me your phone number.
- Giving directions and instructions
- You go straight and you turn left.
- You restart your mobile phone.
- You go upstairs and through the second door on the left.
- Completed actions that happen as we speak
- The brigades disappear into the crowd.
- The police catch the thief.
- Real Madrid recovers from two goals down.
- Informal narrative
- The Beast transforms into a prince.
- Snow White falls asleep.
- Little Red Riding-Hood meets the wolf.
Use
Present simple, in its affirmative form, is used to confirm:
- Planned future (planned events with given exact date);
- Timetables (planned events with given exact time);
- Habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
- Facts (things that are generally true, stated);
- Permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
- Promises;
- Instructions (orders);
- Completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
- Informal narrative (when telling a story).
Summary
We use the present simple, in its affirmative form, to confirm situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.
The structure is:
Subject + verb + … (-s for the third person singular)
For example:
— “I live in a small flat.” = We use the present simple to express a permanent situation.
— “The train leaves at 6.” = We use the present simple to refer to a timetable.
— “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.” = We use the present simple to express a fact.
There are some exceptions for the third person singular, depending on the ending of the verb.
For example:
— Suffixes -ch, -s, -sh, -x, -z: “Catch” ⇒ “Catches” = Add -es.
— Consonant + -y: “Try” ⇒ “Tries” = Change -y to -i and add -es.
— Irregular verbs: do ⇒ does, go ⇒ goes, be ⇒ is, have ⇒has…
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.
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