SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Composed by

Aries Utomo

Borneo University of Tarakan

·      Simple Present Tense (SPT) is used for:

1.        Habitual

2.        Fact

3.        Argument

·      In 3^rd Person Singular, Verb must be included –s/-es (e.g. Work – Works, Do-Does)

Example of Verbal:

(+) POSITIVE SENTENCE:

I/WE/YOU/THEY + Verb 1 + Complement

1.      I get up at 6.30 am every morning.

3^rd Person Singular

HE/SHE/IT+ Verb 1 –s/-es + Complement

1.      He works at LG Corporation.

2.      On Sundays, Noni cooks Fried rice for her breakfast

(-) NEGATIVE SENTENCE:

I/WE/YOU/THEY + Do not (Don’t) + Verb 1 + Complement

1.      I do not get up at 6.30 am every morning

3^rd Person Singular

HE/SHE/IT+ does not (Doesn’t) + Verb 1 + Complement

1.      He does not works at LG Corporation

2.      On Sundays, Noni does not cook Fried rice for her breakfast

(?) INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE:

Do I/WE/YOU/THEY + Verb 1 + Complement +?

1.      Do you get up at 6.30 am every morning?

Short Answer:

Yes, I do.

No, I do not.

3^rd Person Singular

Does HE/SHE/IT+ Verb 1+ Complement+?

1.      Does he work at LG Corporation?

2.      Does Noni cook Fried rice for her breakfast on Sundays?

Short Answer:

Yes, Noni does.

No, Noni does not.

Notes for 3^rd person singular (He, She, It) :

·         If the verb ends in –ss,-sh,-ch,-x or –o, add –es to the base from:

Kiss-Kisses, Finish-Finishes, Watch-Watches, Mix-Mixes, Go-Goes

·         If the verb ends in consonant+y change y to i and add –es:

            Study-Studies, Try-Tries

REFERENCES:

English today. 2010. Simple Present Tense.(www.studyenglishtoday.net/present-simple-tense.html). Retrieved  in Sept 28, 2012 at 18:4.

Hartanto, John.S dkk.2003.Accurate, Brief, and Clear English Grammar.Penerbit Indah: Surabaya.