Simple Present Tense

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A1-A2 Level (Beginner / Elementary)

Definition:
The Simple Present Tense describes:

1. Habits or routines
2. General truths or facts

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + base verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it)
  • I/You/We/They work.
  • He/She/It works.
• Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb
  • I/You/We/They do not (don’t) work.
  • He/She/It does not (doesn’t) work.
• Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb?
  • Do you work?
  • Does she work?

Examples:

• I drink coffee every morning.
• Water boils at 100°C.
• He doesn’t like bananas.
• Do they play football?

Key Notes:

• Use -s/-es for third person singular (he/she/it).
• Use time expressions: always, usually, often, sometimes, never.

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B1-B2 Level (Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate)

At this level, the Simple Present is used for:

1. Routines & habits

   • I go to the gym three times a week.

2. Permanent situations

   • She lives in London.

3. General truths / scientific facts

   • The sun rises in the east.

4. Scheduled events in the near future (timetables)

   • The train leaves at 7 pm.

5. Narrative style (sports commentary, stories)

   • Messi scores in the 65th minute.

Common mistakes:

• Forgetting -s/-es for he/she/it.
• Confusing with present continuous: “I am going to school” vs “I go to school.”

Examples with nuance:

• He always forgets his keys. (habit)
• My father works at a bank. (permanent job)
• The Earth orbits the Sun. (fact)
• The movie starts at 9. (timetable)

Intermediate nuance:

• Stative verbs (like, love, know, want) usually don’t take continuous form:
  • Correct: I love chocolate.
  • Incorrect: I am loving chocolate.

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C1 Level (Advanced)

At an advanced level, the Simple Present conveys:

1. Emphasis / commentary

   • Literary style: “In this scene, Hamlet confronts his uncle.”
   • Sports commentary: “Ronaldo passes to Benzema.”

2. Conditional / hypothetical with timeless truths

   • If you heat ice, it melts.
   • When water reaches 100°C, it boils.

3. Instructions & manuals

   • First, you insert the battery.
   • Then, press the start button.

4. Critiques & reviews

   • The movie presents a compelling story.

Examples:

• Shakespeare writes in iambic pentameter.
• If a machine overheats, it shuts down automatically.
• To make tea, you boil water and add leaves.

Key nuance at C1:

• Simple present can give a more formal, timeless feel in writing.
• Often paired with conditional clauses or universal truths.

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C2 Level (Proficiency / Mastery)

At this level, the Simple Present is not just for routine; it’s used for:

1. Sophisticated academic or formal writing

   • “This paper demonstrates the impact of climate change on marine life.”

2. Expressing timeless truths with rhetorical style

   • “History teaches that power corrupts.”

3. Narrative immediacy (literary effect)

   • “He walks into the room and faces the consequences of his actions.”

4. Fixed structures in idioms, proverbs, and sayings

   • “Actions speak louder than words.”

Advanced examples:

• The study reveals a pattern previously unnoticed.
• Democracy requires vigilance from all citizens.
• In these novels, the protagonist often confronts moral dilemmas.

C2 insight:

• The simple present is versatile: it can compress time, add authority, or dramatically enhance narrative style.
• Subtle distinction from present continuous or past tense gives your writing a precise, polished tone.

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✅ Summary Table of Usage

Level	Uses	Example
A1-A2	Habits, routines, general truths	I drink tea. She works in a bank.
B1-B2	Permanent situations, timetables, narration	The train leaves at 6 pm. He always forgets his keys.
C1	Instructions, conditional, formal commentary	To start, press the button. If ice melts, water forms.
C2	Academic writing, literary style, proverbs	History teaches that power corrupts. The study reveals patterns.

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