The present simple (Part II)

The present simple: affirmative and positive forms

• In the affirmative, the present simple has the same form as the infinitive in all persons except the 3^rd person singular (he, it, Catherine, the flat, etc.). We add (s) in the 3^rd
  person singular. For example we can say:

Catherine gets up at 6:30 a.m.

She likes nursing.

• With verbs that end in o, ch, sh, ss (go, watch, wash, catch, kiss, etc.) we add es and not just (s) in the the 3^rd person singular.

For example:

He goes to work at 9.

Maria usually catches the bus.

• With some verbs that end in y (cry, study, fly, try, etc.) the (y) changes to ies in the 3^rd person singular.

Maria always tries to wake up at 5 a.m.

• But with verbs with a vowel before y (buy, play, say, etc) we simply add (s).

But Maria says she likes nursing.

The present simple (Part I)

Uses of the present simple

We use the present simple to talk about:

• Habits or regular activities and situations

Example: Peter gets up at 6:30 a.m. They work together. I study classic music.

• Facts and attitudes that are generally or always true.

Karen likes nursing. Nurses don’t have an easy life.

We don’t use the present simple to talk about things that are in progress now, that are temporary. We don’t say: hey look! It rains. We have to use the present continuous, so we can say: Look! It’s raining.