PRESENT TENSE / Simple Present / -er, -ar
INTERMEDIATE GRAMMAR REFERENCE
Present Tense
Use: The simple present is used to describe a common action.
In this usage, time expressions (time adverbs) are used, such as:
Adverbs of Frequency
- Always
- Usually
- Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Seldom
- Hardly ever
- Never
In addition to the information provided in the Elementary section:
The Present Simple is used in newspaper headlines:
Oldest woman alive wins an Olympic race.
It is used in conditional sentences:
If you train a lot, you can lose weight.
When making suggestions:
Why don’t we try this one?
When the subject is in the form of a question:
Who does homework on Sundays?
For describing habits and routines:
She usually gets up at seven o’clock.
I always read a book before I sleep.
He never plays football.
We usually spend our summers in Istanbul.
For continuous states and facts:
John lives in Izmir.
The Earth turns around the sun.
A million people pass through the station every day.
Reminder: In English, we use the simple present to express common habits and characteristics that have become routine. As mentioned in the early lessons, let’s not forget that for subjects He-She-It, we add -s, -es, or -ies to verbs.
For the third person singular (He-She-It), we add -s, -es, or -ies to the end of verbs:
- -s
- -es
- -ies
Examples of verbs with -s, -es, and -ies usage:
-s
- Start-s
- Play-s
- Love-s
-es
- Brush-es
- Finish-es
- Watch-es
-ies
- Dry-ies
- Carry-ies
- Try-ies
Pay attention to the usage of -s, -es, and -ies in verbs. The meaning is the same for all three, but they are used differently depending on the structure of the word.
He starts his work at nine o’clock. (He starts work at nine.)
She brushes her teeth every day.
She studies very hard for the lessons.