We use the present simple when
something is generally or always true.
-People
need food.
-It
snows in winter here.
-Two
and two make four.
Similarly, we need to use this tense
for a situation that we think is more or less permanent.
-Where
do you live?
-She
works in a bank.
-I
don't like mushrooms.
The next use is for habits or things
that we do regularly. We often use adverbs of frequency (such as 'often',
'always' and 'sometimes') in this case, as well as expressions like 'every
Sunday' or 'twice a month'.
-Do
you smoke?
-I
play tennis every Tuesday.
-I
don't travel very often.
We can also use the present simple
for short actions that are happening now. The actions are so short that they
are finished almost as soon as you've said the sentence. This is often used
with sports commentary.
-He
takes the ball, he runs down the wing, and he scores!
FUTURE USES
ÄWe use the present simple to talk about the future when we are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organization, not by us.
ÄWe use the present simple to talk about the future when we are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organization, not by us.
-School
begins at nine tomorrows.
-What
time does the film start?
-The
plane doesn't arrive at seven. It arrives at seven thirty.
We also use the present simple to
talk about the future after words like ' 'when', 'until', 'after', 'before' and
'as soon as'. These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time.
-I
will call you when I have time. (Not 'will have'.)
-I
won't go out until it stops raining.
-I'm
going to make dinner after I watch the news.
CONDITIONAL USES
We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals.
We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals.
-If
it rains, we won't come.
-If
you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
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