Unit 1.2
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 affirmative uses the base form of the verb and it has the following 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
- The taxi driver disappears.
- Teachers perform an important role in society.
- I go to the gym twice a week.
- The housewife transforms into a princess.
- Go straight and turn left.
- I live in Russia.
- Emily’s plane lands in two hours.
- I promise to buy you a new mobile phone.
- The train leaves at 7 o’clock.
Use
Present simple, in its affirmative form, is used to confirm:
- completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
- facts (things that are generally true, stated);
- habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
- informal narrative (when telling a story).
- instructions (orders);
- permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
- planned future (planned events with a given exact date);
- promises;
- timetables (planned events with given exact time).
Summary
We use the present simple, in its affirmative form, to confirm situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.
When we use the present simple in its affirmative form, we start with the subject followed by the base form of the verb. In the third person singular, we add an –s.
For example:
— “I work on important projects.” = The sentence is in the present simple affirmative, so we use the base form of the verb to work (work).
— “She works on important projects.” = The subject is she, so we add -s to the base form of the verb to work (works).
There are some exceptions for the third person singular, depending on the ending of the verb.
For example:
— With suffixes -ch, -s, -sh, -x, -z, add -es: “Catch” ⇒ “Catches“.
— With a consonant + -y, change -y to -i and add -es: “Try” ⇒ “Tries“.
— With 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.
Exercises
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