TENSES

Apuntes

TENSES EXPLANATIONS www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use. When should I use the Present Simple? Present Uses 1: 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.     2: Similarly, we need to use this tense for a situation that we think is more or less permanent. (See the present continuous for temporary situations.) • Where do you live?   • She works in a bank.   • I don't like mushrooms.     3: 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’. (See the present continuous for new, temp orary or annoying habits). • Do you smoke?   • I play tennis every Tuesday.   • I don't travel very often.  1 © www.perfect - english - grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use. 4: We c an 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’v...