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Formation and use of signal words for the simple present tense

The Simple Present tense will be covered as soon as you start learning English. It is the fundamental tense in the English language, so you should get to know it well. It is employed to discuss current actions, conditions, or events.

To help you understand the Simple Present tense quickly, we'll demonstrate how to construct it, explain when to use it, and provide you with a few example sentences and key words.

On this page you will find

» Forming the Simple Present
» Use of the Simple Present
» Example sentences in Simple Present
» Signal words for the Simple Present

Forming the Simple Present tense

Regular verbs are formed into the present tense by using the infinitive, which is the fundamental form of the English verb. An -s or an -es are only added in the third person singular. You might be familiar with the proverb "He, She, It, the S must go with." Two common verbs in the conjunctive are shown below. You'll be able to see how simple it is to comprehend the present tense.

Regular verbs of the Simple Present tense in English

To talk

I

talk

You

talk

He/She/It

talks

We

talk

They

talk

Example sentences in Simple Present tense

We talk about our hobbies.
He talks about his favourite food.
I talk about my new job.

To walk

I

walk

You

walk

He/She/It

walks

We

walk

They

walk

Example sentences in Simple Present tense

I walk to my parents.
Maria walks a Ten thousand steps every day.
We walk to the restaurant close by.

Irregular verbs in Simple Present tense

Besides the easy-to-understand regular verbs, there are also some irregular verbs in Simple Present tense. These do not follow a uniform structure and unfortunately have to be learned by heart. However, the list of irregular verbs in the Simple Present tense in English is relatively manageable compared to other languages. This will help you master English quickly despite this small obstacle. It should be noted that only the third person singular is irregular in the Simple Present tense.

Take a look at the following examples of irregular verbs in Simple Present tense.

Irregular verbs in Simple Present tense

To be

I

am

You

are

He/She/It

is

We

are

They

are

Example sentences

I am at work.
You are already at the restaurant.
He is a doctor.
She is from Spain.
We are happy.
They are in the park.

To have

I

have

You

have

He/She/It

has

We

have

They

have

Example sentences

I have a car.
You have my wallet.
He has his phone in his hand.
She has some free time.
We have a break.
You have too much money.

To go

I

go

You

go

He/She/It

goes

We

go

They

go

Example sentences

I go to work in the morning.
You go to school.
He goes to the cinema.
She goes to the forest.
We go to the next bench.
They go to the kitchen.

The use of the Simple Present tense

The Simple Present is used to describe things that are happening right now, such as states, actions, or events. When making generalizations or stating facts, the Simple Present has another application. To find out when to use the Simple Present, look at the list below:

  • Regular, recurring actions
  • General statements
  • Present or permanent states
  • Descriptions of characteristics
  • Scientific facts

Remember that signal words are frequently used in conjunction with the Simple Present when using it in English. These will aid you in understanding when to use the English Simple Present, especially if you are a beginner.

Simple Present tense examples arranged by use case

General statements

The earth revolves around the sun.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Dogs bark.
Cats chase mice.
I work in a hospital.

Regular action

You go to the park every week.
I play tennis every monday.
Peter plays chess every day.
They eat twice a day.
He watches a film every night.

Permanent conditions

I live in Malta.
He has a brother.
They like ice cream.
She speaks three languages.
I own two cars.

State facts

The sun is a star.
The sky is blue.
Water is wet.
The grass is green.
Coffee contains caffeine.

Signal words for the Simple Present tense

Signalword

Example

Always

I always go to work.

Usually

He usually goes to the gym in the morning.

Often

She often takes the bus to work.

Sometimes

Sometimes, she walks to the bus station.

Rarely

We rarely stay up late during the week.

Never

He never drinks coffee after 5pm.

Every day/week/month/year

I brush my teeth every morning and every night.

On Mondays/Tuesdays/etc.

We have a team meeting every Monday at 10am.

In the morning/afternoon/evening

I always have a cup of tea in the morning.

At night

She likes to read a book in the evening.

Now

Now he goes to the next station.

At the moment

At the moment he does his homework.

Currently

At the moment they learn maths.

Today

Today I study at home.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow you have to clean the kitchen.

Next week/month/year

Next week is my holiday.

In the future

In the future I'll eat healthier.

In general

In general, I feel good.

Generally speaking

Generally speaking, exercise is good for your health.

To be honest

To be honest, I don't like pizza.

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