PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT SIMPLE

1. 5. IN SPORTS COMMENTARIES (to refer to events in the present)

   • Smiths serves the ball but Johnes misses it.

2. 3. DESC. OF HABITUAL ACTIONS, things that happen repeatedly

   • I get up early./ I sometimes stay up till 5 o'clock in the morning.

3. 1. REF. TO PERMANENT TRUTHS OR LAWS OF NATURE; STATEMENTS THAT ARE ALWAYS TURE

   • Winter follows autumn./ The sun rises in the eat and sets in the west.

4. 2. REF. TO PREMANENT SITUATIONS OR STATES which are true in the present period of time and may continue indefinitely

   • My father works in a bank./ She speaks four languages.

5. 4. IN DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS (alternative to imperative)

   • First (you) boil some water./ You open the cover and take out the jammed piece of paper.

6. 8. IN DRAMATIC NARRATIVES AND SUMMARIES OF PLAYS/ STORIES (to ref. to events in the past)

   • In Act I, Hamlet meets the ghost of his father.

7. 6. TO REF. TO EVENTS IN THE FUTURE (often with relation to timetables, programmes)

   • The concert begins at 7.30./ The new terms starts next week./ We leave tomorrow at 11.15 and arrive at 17.50.

8. 7. IN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES (to ref. to events in the past)

   • HEAVY SNOW STOPS TRAFFIC/ MASS MURDERER ESCAPES