Present Simple

Auxiliary: DO

Examples:

1. He often arrives late for work.

2. When do you do your homework?

3. They don't take the bus to work

Present Simple Use the present simple to express regular routines and habits. The present simple is often used with adverbs of frequency

How to form the Present Simple Tense

of the verb to work. I you we they

work

do not work. (don't)

•he•she•it

works

does not work. (doesn't)

for Copec

How to form the Present Simple Tense

of the verb to work. Do I Do you Do we Do they

work ?

•Does he•Does she•Does it

•Yes, I/you/we/they do./

•No, I/you/we/they don't.

•Yes, he/she/it does./

•No, he/she/it doesn't.

Common Mistakes A common mistake is to forget to put the -s ending

on the he/she/it forms.

All verbs except modals must end in -s in the third person singular affirmative:

wrong: Our new computer system work very efficiently.

right: Our new computer system works very efficiently.

.

Common Mistakes

A second common mistake is to add the -s to the he/she/it forms of negatives and questions.

We add the -es form to the auxiliary (do), and not to the main verb (work):

wrong: I know Kari doesn’t works in Accounts.right: I know Kari doesn't work in Accounts

Permanent situations

The present simple is used to talk about actions and situations that are generally or permanently true:

IBM is the largest computer company in the world; it manufactures mainframes and PCs and sells its product all over the world.

Routines and frequency

We use the present simple to talk about routines and things we do regularly:

I usually get to the showroom at about 8.00 and I have a quick look at the post

The sales reps arrive at about 8.15 and we open at 8.30.

Facts

We use the present simple to talk about scientifíc or other facts:

Suferconductors are special materials that conduct electricity and do not create any electrical resistance.

We use the present simple to talk about programmes and timetables.

When we use the present simple like this, it can refer to the future:

There are two flíghts to Tokyo next Thursday.There is a JAL flight that leaves Heathrow at 20.30and gets in at 06.20, and there is a British Airways flightthat departs at 22.00 and arrives at 08.50.

Programmes andtimetables