Simple Present Tense and the usage

Since childhood, we have learned Grammar rules. We tend to forget these rules and as a non-native speaker, we question our self. Where am I going to use this Tense?

You may be wondering why and when we should use this Simple Present Tense?

The answer is quite simple. Your Daily Routine.

We usually use simple present tense when we talk to someone about our daily activities.

For Examples:

• Our walk-up time, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• He ties his shoes.
• He goes to the office.
• She comes back from office.
• He does his exercise.
• We give time to read the Newspaper(s), Book.
• We watch television daily.

There are three main parts of this.

1. Affirmative

2. Interrogative

3. Negative

Let’s see these in detail.

1. Affirmative: 

Subject + Verb + (Object)*

• I walk in the Garden.

I (Subject) + walk (Verb) + Garden (Object) + “.”

“in” is a preposition and “the” is an article which will change as per the sentence. However, the sentence structure is going to be “Subject + Verb”.

“Object” is optional or depend upon the sentence.

Singular:

• He walks in the Garden.
• She walks in the Garden.
• It walks in the Garden.
• You walk in the Garden.

If you notice here we have followed “Subject + Verb” agreement. What is “Subject + Verb” agreement?

Whenever there is He, She and It or as an example; Ramesh, Priyanka, and Chair in the sentence. We need to add “S” to the verb.

Examples:

• Sheetal talks to her friend every day.
• Dinesh sings a song when he leaves his home.
• His neighbor’s Dog barks every day.

Here you have noticed that I have added “S” to the verb. However, in the case of Plural, we keep the base form of the verb. What is the “base form” here?

The base form is the original form of the verb for example: walk, talk, drink and sleep etc.

Note: This rule does not apply to “I” and “You” of the singular sentences. What is “singular”?

I, He, She, It, You* are singular forms.

*“You” appears for Singular as well as Plural.

Example: You are my best friend. Here you are using “You” for only one person.

Now, let’s see the Plural forms.

Plural:

• You walk in the Garden. (E.g. Many children walk in the Garden and you are speaking in front of them.)
• We walk in the Garden.
• They walk in the Garden. (E.g. Some old people are taking a morning walk and you are referring to them.)

Affirmative is used in Positive sentences.

2. Interrogative:

An interrogative form is a question form. Let’s see the formula

Do/Does + Subject + Verb + Object + “?”

Singular:

• Do I walk in the Garden?
• Does he walk in the Garden?
• Does she walk in the Garden?
• Does it walk in the Garden?
• Do you walk in the Garden?

Here, you have noticed that we have used “Do” as “I” and “you”, however, “Does” is used as “he”, “she” and “it”, Why? This is the rule of the English language.

Plural:

• Do you walk in the Garden?
• Do we walk in the Garden?
• Do they walk in the Garden?

Here, you can see that for the plural form we use “Do” to form questions.

3. Negative:

Negative is used, when there is “No” in the sentence. Which means we don’t do it or we avoid it.

Subject + Do/Does + Not + Verb + Object + “.”

Singular:

• I do not walk in the Garden.
• He does not walk in the Garden.
• She does not walk in the Garden.
• It does not walk in the Garden.
• You do not walk in the Garden.

We use “does” only for He, She and It or He(Man/Boy), She (Woman/Girl) and It (Animal, Thing, Small Baby) etc.

Plural:

• You do not walk in the Garden.
• We do not walk in the Garden.
• They do not walk in the Garden.

Note: We can use “don’t” or “doesn’t” instead of “do not” or “does not”. Native speakers are using “don’t” and “doesn’t” more often in the conversation.

I hope you understand this tense and the usage of it. Please leave your comments and feedback below.