The Present Simple- In 3 levels

In English, when teaching grammar, we often drip feed the information, at each level adding a little more complexity and more uses. Here, let’s examine the uses of the present simple, with explanations appropriate for an elementary (A1-A2) speaker, an intermediate (B1-B2) speaker and an advanced speaker (C1 and C2) speaker.

Level 1: Elementary

2 tables explaining the form of a regular present simple verb

Form:

The present simple positive is formed from the base form (the infinitive without “to”). In the 3rd person (he, she, it), we add an “s” or “es” depending on the ending of the verb

SingularPlural 
I workWe work
You workYou work
He/she/it worksThey work

The negative is formed by adding don’t or doesn’t in front of the base form.

SingularPlural 
I don’t workWe don’t work
You don’t  workYou don’t work
He/she/it doesn’t workThey don’t work

Use:

We use the present simple for habits and routines and things that are always true. For example:

  • I start work at 9am. I don’t start work at 10am
  • I am from the United Kingdom. I’m not from Spain
  • It is hot in the summer. It isn’t hot in the winter

The present simple indicates some sort of permanence, whereas the present continuous shows a temporary situation. 

2 tables explaining the formation of the present simple of the verb to be

Level 2: Intermediate

Here we can introduce some of the other uses for the present simple. 

State vs Action 

We can separate verbs in English into 2 categories. States and actions. Action verbs, as the name suggests are, typically, verbs we can see, for example, dance, work, and write. States on the other hand, are verbs that we typically cannot see, These fit into 4 categories: possession and size, opinion, emotions and feelings, and verbs of the senses

a table explain the idea of state verbs

States can only exist in the simple form, never in the continuous. So we can say “this computer belongs to me” but not “this computer is belonging to me”. Some verbs can be both actions and states, but there is a change in meaning. For example, “look” as a state means “resembles or seems”, whereas “look” as an action is the action of observing something. 

The present simple can also be used for the future, for timetabled events. So we can say “the rugby match starts at 5 o’clock on Saturday”, referring to a future match.

Level 3 – advanced

Remember how in the previous section how states verbs can’t exist in the continuous form and can only exist in the simple? Well part of being an advanced user is knowing how and when to break the rules learnt at lower levels. This is why in class I refer to the rules of English grammar as “guidelines” and I speak of things being true in general as there are always exceptions.

we talk about guidelines not rules

How to break the rule- 2 ways

We can use the continuous form of a state verb to emphasise the temporary nature of the state. Compare:

  • My parents visit a few times a year. My son loves seeing his grandparents
  • My parents are staying with us at the moment. My son is loving seeing his grandparents everyday. 

The first sentence is a general truth or fact, the second places the emphasis on the fact the visit is short and temporary 

We can also break the rule when it comes to mental state verbs. Some examples are find, regret, realise, and think. The present simple indicates that the opinion or decision is fixed and unchanging. The continuous indicates that we have recently started to change our opinion or that we are not sure of something. Compare these two sentences:

  • I realise that he made an error 
  • I am realising I may have trusted the wrong person.

In the first, that is the conclusion I have come to, that is my final thought on the matter. In the second, I am in the process of coming to a conclusion and am reevaluating something.

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Siobhan

Siobhan

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Siobhan

I am an ESL instructor with over 9 years experience helping students to reach their full language learning potential.

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