Definition & Examples

The simple present tense is used to talk about actions that are happening regularly, habitually or currently. It can also be used to talk about general truths and permanent states. The simple present tense is formed by using the base form of the verb (without “to”). Here are some examples:

I eat breakfast every day. (regular action)
The sun rises in the east. (General truth)
She speaks French fluently. (Permanent state)

The simple present tense sentence structure is as follows:

Subject + Verb (base form) + Complement

Examples:

I play tennis every Saturday.
She studies at the library every evening.
They live in London.

For third person singular subjects (he, she, it), the verb form changes to the base form + -s (or -es) in the present tense.

Examples:

He works at a software company.
She walks to work every day.
It rains a lot in this city.

The key words used to indicate the simple present tense are:

Always
Every (day, week, year, etc.)
Usually
Often
Sometimes
Never

Examples:

I always wake up early on weekdays.
She usually eats healthy food.
They often go to the park on weekends.
He never drinks coffee.

一般现在时-中文解析

习题-Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the simple present tense:

I __________ (like) coffee in the morning.
Answer: like

They __________ (study) for their exams every day.
Answer: study

She __________ (teach) English at a language school.
Answer: teaches

He __________ (work) as a software engineer.
Answer: works

The sun __________ (rise) in the east every morning.
Answer: rises

We __________ (have) dinner together every evening.
Answer: have

The birds __________ (sing) beautifully in the morning.
Answer: sing

He __________ (speak) French fluently.
Answer: speaks

She __________ (drive) to work every day.
Answer: drives

They __________ (watch) TV in the evening after dinner.
Answer: watch

Here are ten exercises in the form of single-choice questions with four options each:

He _________ to work every day by car.
A. go
B. goes
C. is going
D. has gone
Answer: B

They _________ tennis every Sunday.
A. play
B. plays
C. are playing
D. have played
Answer: A

She _________ the piano very well.
A. play
B. plays
C. is playing
D. has played
Answer: B

I _________ breakfast at 7 o'clock every morning.
A. eat
B. eats
C. am eating
D. have eaten
Answer: A

The sun _________ in the east.
A. rise
B. rises
C. is rising
D. has risen
Answer: B

I _________ to bed at 10 o'clock every night.
A. go
B. goes
C. am going
D. have gone
Answer: A

They _________ in New York.
A. live
B. lives
C. are living
D. have lived
Answer: A

He _________ French fluently.
A. speak
B. speaks
C. is speaking
D. has spoken
Answer: B

She _________ to work every day by bike.
A. go
B. goes
C. is going
D. has gone
Answer: B

I _________ a lot of water every day.
A. drink
B. drinks
C. am drinking
D. have drunk
Answer: A