The English language has many verb tenses. They are an essential aspect of the English language, each of which serves a different purpose allowing speakers and writers to convey different meanings by indicating the time and duration of actions or events.
What are English simple Tenses?
One of the most fundamental English tenses is the simple tense. Simple tenses are used to describe an action or state that is happening in the present, past, or future. The three primary simple tenses in English are the present simple, past simple, and future simple. In this article, we will delve into the three types of simple tenses in English, how to form them, and when to use them.
Present Simple
The present simple tense is used to describe a habitual or routine action that is currently happening or always happens. It is the most basic tense in English, and its form remains the same regardless of the subject. To form the present simple tense, we use the base form of the verb, also known as the infinitive, without the use of any auxiliary verbs. For example:
I walk to work every day.
She brushes her teeth twice a day.
They play soccer every weekend.
In the present simple tense, we can also use the third person singular form of the verb with the suffix -s or -es. For example:
He watches TV every night.
She reads a book before bed.
It rains a lot in the winter.
Pronunciation
- We pronounce -s as /s/ after these sounds: /f/ laughs; /p/ drops; /k/ kicks; /t/ lets.
- We pronounce -s as /ɪz/ after /z/ loses; /ʤ/ manages; /s/ passes; /ʃ/ pushes; /ʧ/ stiches, and /ks/ mixes.
- We pronounce -s as /z/ after all other sounds: /b/ robs; /d/ digs; /l/ fills; /m/ dreams; /n/ runs; /ŋ/ rings; after vowels: sees; after vowel + w or r: draws, stirs.
Spelling
- Add -s to most verbs: drive/drives; play/plays; run/runs.
- Add -es to verbs ending in -o: do/does; -s: misses; -x: mixes; -ch/-sh: catches/pushes. If the base form ends in consonant + y, change the y to i before adding -es : hurry/hurries.
There are only two English verbs that have different conjugation in the simple present tense (to be / to have):
you/we/they are
he/she/it is
you/we/they have
he/she/it has
How to use negatives in English present simple?
Using negatives in English present simple is quite straightforward. To form a negative statement, you simply need to use the auxiliary verb "do" or "does" and add the word "not." Here's a quick guide on how to use negatives in English present simple:
Subject + do/does + not + main verb (in base form)
- For the subjects "I," "you," "we," and "they," use "do not" or the contraction "don't."
Examples:
I do not like pizza.
You do not work on Saturdays.
We don't have a car.
They don't play football.
- For the subjects "he," "she," and "it," use "does not" or the contraction "doesn't."
Examples:
He does not live here.
She does not cook dinner.
It doesn't rain much in this city.
Remember that the main verb should always be in its base form in present pimple negative sentences.
Only the simple present tense verb to be does not use the do auxiliary.
Examples:
She is not (isn't) ready yet.
I am not that man anymore.
Students are not (aren't) running.
When to use the present simple?
➤ Habitual actions or routines: Use the present simple to talk about actions or events that occur regularly or are part of a routine. These are often accompanied by adverbs of frequency, such as always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, or never.
Example: She usually goes for a run in the morning.
➤ General facts or truths: Use the present simple to express facts that are always true or generally accepted.
Example: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
➤ States or conditions: Use the present simple to describe a state or condition that is generally true or long-lasting.
Example: They live in New York.
➤ Scheduled events: Use the present simple to talk about events or actions that are planned or scheduled, particularly in the context of public transportation, timetables, or formal arrangements.
Example: The train leaves at 5:45 pm.
➤ Instructions or directions: Use the present simple when giving instructions or explaining how to do something.
Example: You add the eggs and then mix them with the flour.
➤ Newspaper headlines or summaries: Use the present simple to present news headlines or summaries of events.
Example: President signs new climate change agreement.
Past Simple
The past simple tense is used to describe a completed action or state that happened at a specific time in the past. To form the past simple tense, we add -ed to the base form of regular verbs. For irregular verbs, the past simple form is usually different and must be memorized (e.g., was/were, go/went, see/saw). For example:
I walked to work yesterday.
She played the piano when she was younger.
They visited their grandparents last weekend.
Regular past forms
Pronunciation
- We do not pronounce -ed as an extra syllable. We pronounce it as /d/ : I played /pleɪd/ Not */pleɪ-ɪd/*; I opened /əʊpənd/ Not */əʊpənɪd/*; I arrived /əɹaɪvd/ Not */əɹaɪvɪd/*; I married /mæɹid/ Not */mæɹi-ɪd/*.
- Verbs which end in the following sounds are pronounced /t/ in the past: /k/ packed; /s/ passed; /ʧ/ watched; /ʃ/ washed; /f/ laughed; /p/ tripped.
- A few verbs are pronounced and spelt /d/ or /t/: burned/burnt; dreamed/dreamt.
- Verbs ending in the sounds /d/ or /t/ have their past ending pronounced /ɪd/: added, decided, counted, excited, needed, posted, shouted, started, tasted, wanted.
Spelling
- If the base form ends in consonant + e, add -d: bake/baked; arrive/arrived.
- If the base form ends in consonant + y, change the у to i before adding -ed: carry/carried; bury/buried.
- If the base form ends in vowel + consonant, double the consonant if the last syllable is stressed: permit/permitted; transmit/transmitted; or the word has only one syllable: step/stepped;plan/planned.
Irregular past forms
- Some irregular verbs have the same form in all parts: hit-hit-hit, cut-cut-cut.
- Some change one part only: keep-kept-kept, make-made-made, sell-sold-sold.
- Some change two parts: break-broken-broken, know-knew-known.
There are only two English verbs that require a special lokk in the simple past tense (to be / to have):
you/we/they were
he/she/it was
you/we/they had
he/she/it had
How to use negatives in English past simple?
Using negatives in the English past simple is also easy to understand. To form a negative statement, use the auxiliary verb "did" and add the word "not". Here's a guide on how to use negatives in English past simple:
Subject + did + not + main verb (in base form)
For all subjects, use "did not" or the contraction "didn't."
Examples:
I did not like the movie.
You did not finish your homework.
He didn't go to the party.
She didn't call me back.
We did not play soccer yesterday.
They didn't travel last summer.
Note that the main verb remains in its base form, regardless of the subject.
Only the irregular verb to be does not use the did auxiliary.
Examples:
They were tired of waiting.
They were not (weren't) tired of waiting.
He was able to move.
He was not (wasn't) able to move.
When to use past simple?
➤ Completed actions in the past: Use the past simple to talk about actions or events that happened at a specific point in the past and are now finished.
Example: She visited her grandparents last weekend.
➤ Past habits or routines: Use the past simple to describe actions or routines that were habitual or regular in the past but are no longer true.
Example: He played soccer every Saturday when he was a child.
➤ Past states or conditions: Use the past simple to describe a state or condition that was true or existed in the past but no longer exists.
Example: They lived in London before they moved to New York.
➤ A series of past events: Use the past simple to describe a sequence of events that occurred in the past.
Example: She woke up, brushed her teeth, and had breakfast.
➤ Past facts or generalizations: Use the past simple to describe past facts or generalizations that were true in the past but may not be true now.
Example: People believed the Earth was flat centuries ago.
Future Simple
The future simple tense is used to describe a future action or state that will happen at a specific time. It is the least used of the simple tenses in English. To form the future simple tense, we use the auxiliary verbs "will / shall" with the base form of the verb. In formal style, the first-person singular and plural use the auxiliary shall, and the other persons use the auxiliary will. But in less formal style, will is used with all persons and will be used here. For example:
I will take a vacation next month.
She will graduate from college in two years.
We shall visit our grandparents during the summer break.
Forms of 'will' and 'shall'
- When we are referring to the Future, we use will with all persons (I, you, he, she, etc.), but in British English, we often use shall with I/we. I/We will see you tomorrow. Or: I shall/We shall see you tomorrow.
- In speech, we weaken shall to /ʃəl/. We often use 'll in place of will in speech and sometimes in writing, especially after vowels: I'll/He'll see you tomorrow. We also use 'll after consonants: Tom'll be here soon. When'll I see you?
- Negative short forms are: 'll not, won't (= will not) or shan't (= shall not): I'll not be there/I won't be there/I shan't be there tomorrow. In American English shall and shan't with a future reference are rare.
Uses of the 'will/shall' future
- Prediction: We invite prediction or we say what we think will happen: Who will win on Saturday? Tottenham will win on Saturday.
- In formal style we say what will happen for events that have been arranged: The wedding will take place at St Andrew's on June 20 27th.
- We use shall and will to express hopes and expectations: I hope she'll get the job she's applied for. She'll get the surprise. I expect she will
How to use negatives in English future simple?
Using negatives in the English future simple is quite simple as well. To form a negative statement, use the modal verb "will" and add the word "not". Here's a guide on how to use negatives in English future simple:
Subject + will + not + main verb (in base form)
For all subjects, use "will not" or the contraction "won't."
Examples:
I will not be home tomorrow.
You will not find the solution easily.
He won't attend the conference.
She won't buy that expensive dress.
We will not have a meeting next week.
They won't be happy about the decision.
Remember to keep the main verb in its base form in future simple negative sentences.
When to use future simple?
➤ Predictions or expectations: Use the future simple to talk about actions or events that you think will happen in the future.
Example: I believe it will rain tomorrow.
➤ Spontaneous decisions: Use the future simple to describe decisions made at the moment of speaking, without prior planning.
Example: I think I'll go for a walk later.
➤ Offers or promises: Use the future simple when making offers, promises, or assurances.
Example: I'll help you with your homework after dinner.
➤ Threats or warnings: Use the future simple to express threats or warnings about possible future events.
Example: If you don't study, you'll fail the exam.
➤ Future facts or generalizations: Use the future simple to describe facts or generalizations about future events.
Example: In the future, people will live on Mars.
Now you can start putting it into practice.
Continue learning
Simple tenses in English are easy to use and form, making them an essential part of the language. They allow us to describe actions that occur at a specific time, in the past, present, or future, and are used in everyday communication and writing. By mastering simple tenses, one can communicate more effectively and convey their intended message accurately. Practice using simple tenses in your everyday communication, and you will become more confident and proficient in your English skills.
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