The present indefinite (simple)

1.

THE PRESENT
INDEFINITE (SIMPLE)
formation and use

2.

The formation of the Present Indefinite
V/Vs
Affirmative
I work
auxiliary verbs Do/Does
Interrogative
Do I work?
Negative
I do not work
He works
Does he work?
He does not work
She works
Does she work?
She does not work
We work
Do we work?
We do not work
You work
Do you work?
You do not work
They work
Do they work?
They do not work

3.

The use of Present Indefinite
1. Customary repeated actions.
The Browns go to the seaside every summer.
2. Actions and states characterizing a given person.
She has many accomplishments: she sings and plays the piano beautifully.
3. Universal thruths, something which is eternally true.
Magnet attracts iron.
4. Actions going on at the present moment (with verbs not used in the Continuous
form)
I hear somebody knock. Go and open the door.

4.

use of the Present Indefinite
5. A future action:
a. in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the conjunctions when, until,
before, after, as soon as, as long as, if, unless, on condition that, provided.
…Robert, will you lend me a pen or two before you go?
b. with verbs of motion, such as to go, to come, to leave, etc. The future action
regarded as something fixed.
The train leaves at 10 o’clock.
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