The Present Indefinite Tense in the narration of past events gives the sentence some extra expression. It is usually used informally.
- Two days ago I go through the forest and see those dark figures hidden behind jasmine bush.
- Last Sunday I play the piano and suddenly some huge bug falls on my head.
- A week ago he watches a concert of Michael Jackson and what does he realize!
- Yesterday night she receives that message and gets into a flat spin about it. She begins crying and nothing is to stop her.
Present Simple is used in stage directions to show actions taking place in a relative moment of speech.
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The reporter stands gazing fervently at Perkin for a second, then grasps his hand and shakes it vigorously.
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They go out.
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The curtain drops.
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The servant and the master enter the chamber.
Present Simple is used in complex sentences in subordinate clause after WHILE, BEFORE, AFTER, AS SOON AS, TILL, UNTIL.
- I’ll stay there until they come.
- He’ll have a party after he passes all his exams.
- Millie will definitely read all those books while she is on holiday.
- Before I leave you we’ll drink one for the road.
- I’ll get hold of this mansion as soon as she dies.
In a complex sentence we use the Present Simple Tense in the if- and when-clause if the Future Tense was used in the main clause.
- If she comes it will be a big scandal.
- When I go shopping I shall buy some food.
- We’ll be late if we don’t hurry up.
- I’ll invite Jill to the party when I send her an e-mail message tomorrow morning.
The Present Simple Tense is used to show the near future.
- She arrives tomorrow morning.
- Only two days more. Audrey goes on Wednesday.
- We play a duet on the piano in two days.
- The plane lands in 3 hours.
Present Simple is used with vocal action verbs, such as acknowledge, advise, deny etc.
- I refuse to deal with that selfish boor.
- We suggest a visit to a gallery.
- I apologize for being impolite.
- He promises not to touch anything here.
Those questions, which begin with “who” and ask for a subject of action, have the right word order and don’t need any auxiliary. The verb in such questions stands in the 3rd person singular.
- Who stands under that huge tree?
- Who dresses like you?
- Who wants to live forever?
- Who dares to love forever?
Adverbs, such as often, always, seldom, usually, sometimes, never and etc., stand in sentences to indicate the Present Simple Tense.
- They seldom play badminton in the yard.
- She often visits her dentist.
- We never get tired.
- He sometimes meets your children at the zoo.
- I usually go to bed very late.
Verbs, which express thoughts or feelings, normally stand in the Present Simple Tense.
- I want you to understand me.
- He hardly knows what happens next.
- Jean doesn’t seem much happy now.
- Do you hear me?
- Does she see that man over there?
In the colloquial speech “not” is usually added to the auxiliary, so the word combination “do + not” is transformed into “don’t”.
- Don’t forget to water flowers!
- He doesn’t play football at all.
- I don’t need you anymore.
- Kate doesn’t drink soda very often.
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