Positive | Negative | Interrogative | |||||||
I we you they | work like do | I we you they | do not (don’t) | work like do | Do | I we you they | work? like? do? | ||
he she it | works likes does | he she it | does not (doesn’t) | Does | he she it |
The Present Simple tense denotes:
1. Repeated actions indicated by adverbials of frequency such as often, always, usually, seldom, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, as a rule, every day (month), every other day (week, month, etc.), once a week. | Heoften workstill midnight. My brother playstennis every other day. She is never latefor classes. Do you generally speakEnglish in class ? I sometimes meet your father at the station |
2. Universal truths (laws of nature) and permanent characteristics, situations or states. | The sun setsin the west. She teachesEnglish at school. Do you likerainy weather? His parents livein London. |
3. Present actions and states, going on at the moment of speechwith the so-called stative verbs which include a)verbs of sense perception: see, hear, notice, taste, smell, etc. b) verbs of mental activity: understand, think, believe, remember, know, forget, mean, suppose, recognize, etc. c) verbs of feelings and emotions: like, dislike, hate, love, wish, want, prefer, care, etc. d) verbs of possession: have, belong, own, possess, etc. | It smellslike a hospital in here. The meat tastesspicy. I don't see anyone in the room. Do you recognizeme ? What doeshe mean ? Who doyou thinkwill win the game? Do you knowwhat he is speaking about? I prefer dogs to cats. Which of these dresses doyou likebest? Do you wantanything to drink ? – Iwanta glass of juice, please. Jill really hateshouse work. Who doesthis car belong to? They havea big new house. |
4. Scheduled facts and events such as flights, train arrivals, departures, itineraries | The flight leavesat 2p.m. (according to the timetable) You arrivein Basel at 6.30 a.m. local time. (according to the itinerary) |