The simple present tense is used to talk about our everyday activities – things that we do regularly or at specific intervals. Before you start learning this tense form, think about things you do every day.
When do you get up in the morning?
I get up at six o’clock.
What do you do in the morning?
I go for a walk in the morning.
When do you have breakfast?
I have breakfast at 9 am.
When do you go to work?
I go to work at 9.30 am.
What do you do?
I teach science at a private school.
Where do you live?
I live in Singapore.
When do you have lunch?
I have lunch at about one o’clock.
When do you go to bed?
I go to bed at 10.30 pm.
There is an important point to consider. In the simple present tense, when the subject is a singular noun (e.g. boy, girl, teacher or John) or a third person singular pronoun (he, she, it), the verb takes the marker –s.
Jane gets up at five o’clock. (NOT Jane get up at five o’clock.)
Vicky works at a bank. (NOT Vicky work at a bank.)
She earns a six figure salary. (NOT She earn a six figure salary.)
The verb does not take the marker -s when the subject is a plural noun (e.g. books, trees, pens, dogs, boys) or pronoun (they, we, you).
The first person pronoun ‘I’ also doesn’t take the marker –s.
I run a beauty parlor. (NOT I runs a beauty parlor.)
You sing well. (NOT You sings well.)
They work at bank. (NOT They works at a bank.)
