The simple present in English doesn't only serve to talk about the immediate present. In reality, this grammatical tense fulfills two distinct main functions: expressing a property or describing an event. Understanding this distinction allows for much more precise and natural use of the simple present.
Property: characteristics and habits
Attributing a property to a specific subject
The simple present allows us to associate a characteristic or habit with a given subject. Characteristics are expressed with state verbs:
- The soup tastes delicious.
- She knows the answer to the question.
Habits are expressed with action verbs:
- He wears glasses.
- They visit their grandparents every Sunday.
In these cases, the simple present doesn't describe a specific moment, but a reality that is stable over time.
Expressing general truths
The simple present also serves to state general truths, applicable to an entire category rather than a specific individual. With a generic subject (the article a/an, the, or ∅ designates an entire category):
- Plants need sunlight to grow.
- A zebra has black and white stripes.
- The cod has a lifespan of up to 25 years.
In proverbs:
- A rolling stone gathers no moss.
- One is never too careful.
For scientific truths:
- The Earth revolves around the Sun.
- Water boils at 100°C.
- The human body is made up of approximately 60% water.
Events: scheduled actions and narratives
Certain future events
The simple present can express a future event when it is scheduled, immutable, or certain:
- The train departs at six-fifteen.
- The shop closes at 6pm.
- The sun sets at 8:30 pm tomorrow.
This simple present indicates a future without subjectivity, unlike the use of will or be going to. Will is used for uncertain events or to express volition:
- I'll be here until the event is over.
- He will support you no matter what happens.
Be going to is used for intentions or predictions:
- I am going to exercise regularly to improve my health.
- She is going to miss her flight.
Succession of events
The simple present allows narrating a series of punctual actions that unfold in the order they are stated. Instructions (recipes, assembly):
- Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetables and saut? until they are tender.
Live commentary (sports, ceremonies):
- The quarterback throws a perfect pass downfield. The receiver leaps and makes an incredible catch. The referee signals a touchdown.
Narrative present (novels, synopses):
- She stands at the edge of the cliff. The ocean below crashes against the rocks. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
That is how the present simple can refer to a past event: to bring a narrative to life, and immerse the reader or listener in the heart of the story.
Isolated current event
In certain specific contexts, the simple present describes an action occurring at the moment of speaking: With here/there and subject-verb inversion (unexpected emergence):
- Here comes your best friend!
With a performative verb (the verb accomplishes the action by being stated):
- I wish you all the best in your new job.
With a communication verb:
- She says she will be here by noon.
In press headlines:
- Local hero saves family from house fire
Conclusion
The simple present in English is not limited to describing the present. It expresses properties (characteristics, habits, general truths) and events (scheduled futures, successions of actions, isolated moments). Mastering these nuances allows for precise use of this tense and helps understand why, in English, we can say "The train departs at 6pm" to talk about the future or "Here comes the bus!" for an immediate event.