Present simple (I do)

Learn and practise the present simple tense in English.

A Study this example situation:

B We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

• 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

C We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:

• 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.

D We use the present simple to say how oft en we do things:

• 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.

E I promise / I apologise etc.

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.