How do we use the Present Simple?

We use the Present Simple to talk about regular or repeated actions or habits that we (always, sometimes, often, never) do. The Present Simple here includes part of (or all of) the past, the present and the future.

• I run 2 miles every morning before breakfast.
• I always cry when I watch a sad film.
• It sometimes snows in England in winter.

We use the Present Simple to talk about 'permanent' situations in our life. The Present Simple here includes part of (or all of) the past, the present and the future.

• I love apples.
• My brother lives in Oxford.
• They speak fluent English.

We use the Present Simple to talk about facts and things that are general truths.

• Vegetarians don't eat meat..
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius..
• The River Thames flows through London.

We use the Present Simple to talk about the future for an event that happens as part of a fixed timetable, programme, itinerary or calendar. Here, we think of something in the future as a fact that cannot change.

Note: We do not use the Present Simple for future personal arrangements or plans that we make.

• The meeting starts at 2.30.
• Your plane arrives at London Heathrow at 14.54 local time, and your connecting flight leaves at 15.45. You reach Paris at 18.03 local time.
• The children go back to school next week.
• Christmas Day this year is on a Thursday.

We use the Present Simple to talk about the future (instead of the Future Simple) after the following expressions of time and condition:

after / as long as / as soon as / before / if / in case / providing (that) / provided (that) / so long as / the moment (second, instant) / unless / until / when / while

• As soon as he comes in, I'll call.
• Provided it doesn't rain, we can eat outside.
• When I know the answer, I'll tell you.

We also use the Present Simple to talk about the future (instead of the Future Simple) after question words and relative pronouns

• I'll give a reward for anyone who finds my pen.
• You can start the meeting whenever you like.

We can use the Present Simple for actions that happen one after the other when we tell stories or jokes or give summaries of plays, books and films. We also use the Present Simple for actions that happen one after the other in commentaries, demonstrations, instructions (including directions in a play and asking for / giving directions in the street). These actions are completed as we speak. We use the Present Continuous to describe the background situation in which the Present Simple happens. This use of the two Present Tenses can make stories sound more dramatic, and makes the listeners feel that they are experiencing the story as we tell it.

• A man goes to the doctor and tells him that he's got a terrible spot on the top of his head. The doctor asks how long he's had this horrible thing, and the spot says, "About thirty-five years."

• In the film, this man called Kevin is going out with a girl called Stacy and they're living together. One day, Kevin meets his girlfriend's father who is working for the CIA, and Kevin tries to show him that …

• Haynes is looking around and he's signalling to Richards to move forward. Richards runs to the edge of the box. Haynes passes to O'Connell. O'Connell to Richards, who beats Girard and pushes the ball through to Williams, and Williams shoots, but it's a great save from the French goalkeeper.

• Watch carefully. Now first I take two eggs, and I break them into a bowl. Then I add some flour and a little butter and I mix them until …

When there are two actions in the present - but not a sequence of actions (i.e. not one action after the other) - we use the Present Continuous for the action that begins, continues through, and ends after the other (Present Simple) action.

The Simple Present action can happen at any time during the Present Continuous action, and the two actions can both happen at exactly the same time - parallel actions.

• I often buy a paper while I'm waiting for the underground.
• The phone sometimes rings when I'm having a meeting.
• He listens to me when I'm talking. (Parallel actions)

There are a number of verbs that are normally used in the Present Simple - not the Present Continuous - even when we are talking about the present moment. These verbs include:

• believe / forget / imagine / know / mean / realise / recognise / remember / suppose / think / understand / want / wish
• admire / adore / dislike / hate / like / love / prefer
• appear / like / look / resemble / seem
• feel / hear / see / smell / taste
• be / belong to / contain / cost / deserve / have (=possess) / include / need / owe / own / seem / sound

Sometimes we have to choose between the Present Simple and the Present Continuous:

1. When we are talking about an ACTION we use a verb in the Present Continuous. The action is not complete.
2. When we are talking about a STATE (a fact, decision, result of the action), we are more likely to use the Present Simple. The action is complete as we say it.

• I'm tasting the wine to see what it's like.
• This wine tastes wonderful!
• I usually enjoy parties, but I'm not enjoying this one.
• I'm slowly remembering who you are.
• I remember your name now.

The Present Simple is often used in newspaper headlines for past actions. The reason is to keep the headline short by using short words and short verb forms. In normal spoken or written language we would usually use a past verb form.

Newspaper headlines:

• Elephant kills keeper
• Pound sinks to lowest level

Spoken/Written language

• An elephant killed its keeper yesterday when it …
• The pound has sunk to its lowest level since …

We can use the Present Simple when we quote from letters, books etc.

• What does Sarah say in her letter?
  She says she's coming to London next Thursday.
• In Act I, Scene 2, Hamlet says …
• It says on the label not to take this medicine with alcohol.
• It says in today's paper that petrol's going up again.

The Present Simple is also used in some formal letter writing:

• We write to inform you …
• I enclose a cheque for £250 and would …
• I look forward to hearing from you.

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