Simple Present - Use

facts (something is generally known to be true) Level: elementary

The sun sets in the west.

The sun never sets in the east or south or north, but always in the west. Exercise

action in the present taking place once, never or several times Level: elementary

Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.

Colin plays football regularly - every Tuesday. In English, signal words are often used, e.g.: always, never, seldom, often, regularly, every Monday. Exercise

actions in the present taking place one after another Level: lower intermediate

She takes her bag and leaves.

First one action takes place and then the other. Exercise

action set by a time table or schedule Level: lower intermediate

The train leaves at 9 pm.

Although the action takes place in the future, it takes place regularly and is set by a time table. Exercise

verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions and mental activityLevel: intermediate

I love her. Ich liebe sie.

When you love someone, that's a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action (like running for example). Whenever you want to express a state, possession, sense or emotions, use the simple form (not the progressive). The following words all belong to this group: be (state) believe (mental activity) belong (possession) hate (feeling and emotion) hear (senses) like (feeling and emotion) love (feeling and emotion) mean (mental activity) prefer (mental activity) remain (state) realize (mental activity) see (senses) seem (feeling and emotion) smell (senses) think (mental activity) understand (mental activity) want (feeling and emotion) wish (feeling and emotion) Exercise

Exercise on lyrics (mixed)

Exercise on useful phrases (mixed)

go to Signal Words ►