Present simple

English conjugation sheet · ∅ + ∅/s

Form ∅ + ∅/s

1Property of a specific subject

Characteristic (stative verb)

He knows everything about cars.
She loves classical music.

Habitual action (dynamic verb)

She drinks coffee every morning.
He commutes to London by train.

2Property of a generic subject — present of general truth

Generic value of articles

∅ Dogs are loyal to their owners. (all dogs)
A dog is loyal to its owner. (any dog, typical, representative)
The lion is a predator. (the species, prototypical character)

Proverbs & proverbial statements

Every cloud has a silver lining.
Actions speak louder than words.
A little kindness goes a long way.
You can't please everyone.
It 's always best to be sincere.

Scientific truths

Water boils at 100 °C.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.

3Future event

Certain (already scheduled, fixed)

The train leaves at 6:15.
Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year.

Uncertain (with will / shall / verbal periphrases)

She will probably come tomorrow.
Shall I open the window?
It's going to rain this afternoon.

4Current event as a succession of events

Recipe

You take two eggs, you beat them, then you add the flour.

Instructions

You turn left at the lights, then you follow the road for a mile.

Live commentary (sports match)

He passes to Mbappé, who shoots — and scores!

Narrative present

I’m at the checkout, I reach for my wallet, and I realize it’s gone. (personal anecdote — storytelling style)
The sun rises over the city. Mark grabs his coffee, checks his phone, and sees the missed call that changes everything. (contemporary narrative or novel)

5Current event as an isolated action

Here / there + verb + subject (unexpected occurrence)

Here comes the bus!
There goes our last chance.

Verbs of communication

He says he won't come.
She tells me you've been promoted.

Performative verbs with I (when "saying" is "doing")

I promise I'll be there. (a promise is made at the moment the speaker says this)
I swear I didn't know. (the act of swearing / the oath is performed by this verb in the present simple with I)
I hereby declare the session open. (the session opens at the moment these words are uttered)

Newspaper headlines

Prime Minister Resigns Over Scandal.
Scientists Discover New Species in Amazon.

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All the conjugation sheets

Present (∅/s)

Present simple∅ + ∅/sProperty of a subject (characteristic, habit), general truths, future event, succession of events, one-off action.Present BE-INGBE-ING + ∅/sUnaccomplished action, temporary or exceptional situation, frame for a one-off action, explanation, planned future, modal uses with not and always.Present perfect simpleHAVE-EN + ∅/sResult of an accomplished action, assessment, experience gained by the subject, explanation, hot news.Present perfect BE-INGHAVE-EN + BE-ING + ∅/sUnaccomplished action, temporary or exceptional situation, perceptible traces in the present of a past action.

Preterite (-ED)

Preterite simple∅ + -EDTemporal value, modal value (unreal), both at once, politeness value.Preterite BE-INGBE-ING + -EDTemporal value, modal value (unreal), politeness value.Past perfect simple or BE-INGHAVE-EN (+ BE-ING) + -EDPresent perfect values shifted to the past, anteriority, discourse strategy, reported speech, past unreal, tentative use.

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