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, temporary or annoying habits).

• Do you smoke?
• I play tennis every Tuesday.
• I don't travel very often.

4: 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, or in demonstrations.

• He takes the ball, he runs down the wing, and he scores!
• First I put some butter in the pan and turn on the cooker.

Future Uses
5: We 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 organisation, not by us.

• School begins at nine tomorrow.
• What time does the film start?
• The plane doesn't arrive at seven. It arrives at seven thirty.

6: 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
7: We use the present simple in the first and the zero conditionals. (See the conditionals section for more information.)

• If it rains, we won't come.
• If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

taken from http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-use.html

Test your knowledge on the simple present. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you have done in the test.

Test

Form of Affirmative Sentences - Part 1

Choose the correct form.

1. We sometimes readreads books.
2. Emily gogoes to the disco.
3. It often rainrains on Sundays.
4. Pete and his sister washwashes the family car.
5. I always hurryhurries to the bus stop.

Form of Affirmative Sentences - Part 2

Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. I (to like)  lemonade very much.
2. The girls always (to listen)  to pop music.
3. Janet never (to wear)  jeans.
4. Mr Smith (to teach)  Spanish and French.
5. You (to do)  your homework after school.

Simple present with 'have' and 'be'

Fill in the correct form of the verbs.

1. We (to have)  a nice garden.
2. She (to be)  six years old.
3. Simon (to have)  two rabbits and five goldfish.
4. I (to be)  from Vienna, Austria.
5. They (to be)  Sandy's parents.

Negative Sentences

Make negative sentences.

1. My father makes breakfast. → 
2. They are eleven. → 
3. She writes a letter. → 
4. I speak Italian. → 
5. Danny phones his father on Sundays. → 

Questions

Make questions.

1. you / to speak / English → 
2. when / he / to go / home → 
3. they / to clean / the bathroom → 
4. where / she / to ride / her bike → 
5. Billy / to work / in the supermarket → 

Signal Words

Find the signal words for simple present.

1. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    now  last Monday  often
2. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    sometimes  at the moment  yesterday
3. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    last Friday  every Friday  next Friday
4. Which is not a signal word for simple present?
    never  already  usually
5. Which is not a signal word for simple present?
    Listen!  first ... then ...  seldom

Before submitting the test, check the following:

• Got the spelling right?
• Put in the full stop or question mark where required?
• Used the correct key to type the apostrophe (Shift and #)?

In the test we cannot give you a second try. Such careless mistakes would therefore cost you valuable points.