The Simple Present Tense

THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

a. Use: The simple present is used to describe a present situation: --> I work in Valencia (I do now and will do for the forseeable future). --> The Simons sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints. --> I am English (and I always will be English). The simple present is used to express general truths such as scientific fact, as in the following sentences: --> The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. --> The moon circles the earth once every 28 days. --> New technology makes it easier to learn English. The simple present is used to indicate a habitual action, event, or condition, as in the following sentences: --> I don’t wear white shoes (it’s my habit not to). --> My grandmother sends me new clothes each spring. --> Jesse polishes the menorah on Wednesdays. The simple present is also used when writing about works of art, as in the following sentences. --> Lolly Willowes is the protagonist of the novel Townsend published in 1926. --> The play ends with an epilogue spoken by the fool. The simple present can also be used to refer to a future event when used in conjunction with an adverb or adverbial phrase, as in the following sentences. --> Classes end next week. --> The publisher distributes the galley proofs next Wednesday. --> The lunar eclipses begins in exactly 43 minutes. 2. Spelling rules for adding s in the third person singular Some verbs change their spelling when s is added in the third person singular. a. Verbs ending in y The English letters a, e, i, o and u are generally referred to as vowels. The other English letters are generally referred to as consonants. When a verb ends in y immediately preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to ie before the ending s is added. In each of the following examples, the consonant immediately preceding the final y is underlined. Bare Infinitive study fly carry

Third Person Singular studies flies carries

However, when a verb ends in y immediately preceded by a vowel, the y is not changed before the ending s is added. In each of the following examples, the vowel immediately preceding the final y is underlined. Bare Infinitive say enjoy buy

Third Person Singular says enjoys buys

b. Verbs ending in o When a verb ends in o, the letter e is added before the s ending. For example: Bare Infinitive do echo go c. Verbs ending in ch, s, sh, x or z

Third Person Singular does echoes goes

When a verb ends in a sibilant sound such as ch, s, sh, x or z, the letter e is added before the s ending. For example: Bare Infinitive pass push watch fix buzz

Third Person Singular passes pushes watches fixes buzzes 3. Pronunciation of the es ending

A syllable is a unit of pronunciation, usually consisting of a vowel sound which may or may not be accompanied by consonants. When a verb ends in a sibilant sound such as ch, s, sh, x or z, the es ending of the third person singular is pronounced as a separate syllable. The reason for this is that these sounds are so similar to the sound of the es ending, that the ending must be pronounced as a separate syllable in order to be heard clearly. In each of the following examples the bare infinitive consists of one syllable, whereas the form of the verb used in the third person singular consists of two syllables. Bare Infinitive pass push catch mix

Third Person Singular passes pushes catches mixes

Similarly, when s is added to verbs ending in ce, ge, se or ze, the final es is usually pronounced as a separate syllable. In each of the following examples the bare infinitive consists of one syllable, whereas the form of the verb used in the third person singular consists of two syllables. Bare Infinitive race rage praise doze

Third Person Singular races rages praises dozes

However, when s is added to a verb ending in e preceded by a letter other than c, g, s or z, the final es is not pronounced as a separate syllable. In each of the following examples, both the bare infinitive and the form of the verb used in the third person singular consist of one syllable. Bare Infinitive make smile dine save

Third Person Singular makes smiles dines saves 4. The auxiliary Do

With the exception of the verb to be, verbs in modern English use the auxiliary do to form questions and negative statements in the Simple Present. The Simple Present of the verb to do is conjugated as follows: I do you do he does she does it does we do they do Auxiliaries are verbs which are combined with other verbs to form various tenses. It should be noted that when an auxiliary is combined with another verb, it is the auxiliary which must agree with the subject, while the form of the other verb remains invariable. When the auxiliary do is combined with another verb, the other verb always has the form of the bare infinitive.

a. Questions In order to form a question in the Simple Present of any verb other than the verb to be, the Simple Present of the auxiliary do is added before the subject, and the bare infinitive of the verb is placed after the subject. For example: Affirmative Statement I work. You work. He works. She works. It works. We work. They work.

Question Do I work? Do you work? Does he work? Does she work? Does it work? Do we work? Do they work?

b. Negative statements In order to form a negative statement, the Simple Present of the auxiliary do followed by the word not is placed before the bare infinitive of the verb. For example: Affirmative Statement I work. You work. He works. She works. It works. We work. They work.

Negative Statement I do not work. You do not work. He does not work. She does not work. It does not work. We do not work. They do not work.

In spoken English, the following contractions are often used: Without contractions do not does not

With contractions don't doesn't

c. Negative questions To form a negative question, the Simple Present of the auxiliary do is placed before the subject, and the word not followed by the bare infinitive is placed after the subject. However, when contractions are used, the contracted form of not follows immediately after the Simple Present of the auxiliary do. For example: Without contractions Do I not work? Do you not work? Does he not work? Does she not work? Does it not work? Do we not work? Do they not work?

With contractions Don't I work? Don't you work? Doesn't he work? Doesn't she work? Doesn't it work? Don't we work? Don't they work?