Learn and practise the present simple tense in English.
A Study this example situation:- Nurses look aft er patients in hospitals.
- I usually go away at weekends.
- The earth goes round the sun.
- The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.
We say:
I work but he works | you go but it goes
they teach but my sister teaches | I have but he has
- I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
- I don’t go away very oft en.
- What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)
- Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.
In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn’t do etc.):
- ‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a shop.’
- He’s always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help.
- I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.
- How often do you go to the dentist?
- Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.
- Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.
Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something, you can say ‘I promise … ’; when you suggest something, you can say ‘I suggest … ’:
- I promise I won’t be late. (not I’m promising)
- ‘What do you suggest I do?’ ‘I suggest that you …’
In the same way we say: I apologise … / I advise … / I insist … / I agree … / I refuse … etc.