The Present simple tense

TENSES OF VERBS

Tense refers to the changes that take place in a verb according to the time of action.

Kinds of Tenses

There are three main tenses:

present tense

past tense

future tense

The above tenses are subdivided into others i.e.

1. Present tense

• Present simple tense
• Present continuous tense
• Present perfect tense
• Present perfect continuous tense

2. Past tense

• Past simple tense
• Past continuous tense
• Past perfect tense
• Past perfect continuous tense

3. Future Tense

• Future simple tense
• Future continuous tense
• Future perfect tense
• Future perfect continuous tense

Present tense

The Present simple tense

This tense is used to show actions that happen regularly e.g. every day, every week, every month, every year.

The common adverbs used are:sometimes, usually, always, often, rarely, normally, occasionally, frequently.

Note:

1. Verbs remain in their infinitive for the first person, the second person and plural subjects.
2. Verbs add s, es, ies, for any singular subjects except ‘you’.

Examples:

She/ He / It sees                                            They/ you/ the girls see

“           fixes                                                                 “             fix

“             vanishes                                                          “             vanish

“             buries                                                               “             bury

“             bolts                                                                 “             bolt

Examples

1. They play football every month.
2. Winnie goes to school every week daily.

Try this interactive activity and have fun with the tenses.