Present simple tense: structure, usage, passive of present simple tense

What is the present simple? definition of simple present tense

Simple present tense is used to express an obvious fact or an action that takes place repeatedly according to habits, customs, and abilities. The present simple is the most basic and easiest to use in English.

Grammatical structure, simple present tense formulas

Structure of affirmative sentences in present simple

• For regular verbs: S + V(s/es) + O
• For the verb Tobe: S + be (am/is/are) + O

Structure of affirmative sentences in present simple

• For regular verbs: S + do not /does not + V_inf
• For the verb Tobe: Am/is/are + S + O?

Structure of affirmative sentences in present simple

• For regular verbs: Do/Does + S + V_inf?
• For the verb Tobe: S + be (am/is/are) + not + O

How to use present simple

The present simple is used to express an obvious fact; a truth; a rule  or an action that takes place repeatedly according to habits, customs, abilities .

Special note: add "S" or add "ES" to sentences with 3rd person singular subject

Particularly for the 3rd person (third) singular (He, she, it - Tom, John, Hoa ...), we need to note adding "s" after the verb in the affirmative. (V+s)

Eg: 

• He likes reading books.
• She likes pop music.

In addition to the "s" after the verb, we must pay special attention to the cases where the verb (Verbs) ends with the following letters, must add "ES".

S, X, Z, CH, SH, O (do, go) + ES

Eg:

• miss -> misses
• buzz -> buzzes

Eg: 

• He often kisses his wife before going to work

Adverbs used in the present simple

• Always, usually, often, not often, sometimes, occasionally, never;
• Everyday, every week/month/year..., on Mondays, Tuesdays, .... , Sundays.
• Once/twice/ three times... a week/month/y ear ...;
• Every two weeks, every three months (a quarter)

Simple present tense example

To better understand the present simple, how to use it, let's study some examples of the present simple as follows:

Example simple present affirmative sentences:

• She gets up at 6 o'clock
• She is a student.

Example of negative sentences in simple present tense:

• She doesn't eat chocolate.
• She is not a teacher

Example simple present tense interrogative sentences:

• Does she eat pastries?
• Is she a student?

Simple present tense formula

The present simple tense formula is listed in the following table:

Passive present simple

Using the passive voice for the present simple, you apply the passive formula according to the table below.

Some more examples of passive present simple sentences:

• Flowers is arraged by my grandma everyday

Exercises on passive sentences simple present tense

Exercise 1: Give the correct form of the verbs in brackets:

• 1. The broken table (repair) yesterday.
• 2. A new mobile phone (buy) next month.
• 3. Flowers (water) in the garden now.
• 4. English (learn) for 3 months by this weekend.
• 5. This movie (watch) yesterday.
• 6. This book (read) three times.
• 7. My motorbike (steal) yesterday.
• 8. My watch (break) last night.

Exercise 2: Change the following sentences into passive voice.

• 1. My sister cooks meals every day.
• 2. My mother cleaned the floor yesterday.
• 3. My friend has written ten emails for 2 hours.
• 4. My father is painting our house.
• 5. My sister was buying some food at 11 am yesterday.
• 6. My brother uses a pencil to draw beautiful pictures.
• 7. They had finished their work before you came yesterday.
• 8. I will call you If there is any important information.

Answers to exercises for passive sentences in present simple

Answers to lesson 1: Give the correct form of the verbs in brackets:

• 1. The broken table (repair) yesterday .-----> was repaired
• 2. A new mobile phone (buy) next month. -----> will be bought
• 3. Flowers (water) in the garden now. -----> are being watered
• 4. English (learn) for 3 months by this weekend. -----> will have been learned
• 5. This movie (watch) yesterday. -----> was watched
• 6. This book (read) three times. -----> has been read
• 7. My motorbike (steal) yesterday. -----> was stolen
• 8. My watch (break) last night. -----> was broken

Answers to lesson 2: Change the following sentences into the passive voice

• 1. My sister cooks meals every day. -----> Meals are cooked by my sister every day.
• 2. My mother cleaned the floor yesterday. -----> The floor was cleaned by my mother yesterday.
• 3. My friend has written ten emails for 2 hours. -----> Ten emails have been written for two hours by my friend.
• 4. My father is painting our house. -----> Our house is being painted by my father.
• 5. My sister was buying some food at 11 am yesterday. -----> Some food was being bought by my sister at 11 am yesterday.
• 6. My brother uses a pencil to draw beautiful pictures. -----> A pencil is used to draw beautiful pictures by my brother.
• 7. They had finished their work before you came yesterday. -----> Their work had been finished before you came yesterday.
• 8. I will call you If there is any important information. -----> You will be called if there is any important information.