ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BASIC 4.
THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.
Specific Objectives
After studying this notes, the pupil will be able to:
i. identify the present tense; and
ii. describe how the present tense is used in expressing habitual actions, timeless and universal statements and scheduled future actions.
The present tense form of the verb is realised with an ending -s or -es, if the subject is singular.
For example;
a. He comes.
b. Mary writes.
c. The dog likes bones.
d. The locust destoys crops.
2. In the simple present tense, if the subject is plural the verb does not end in 's' or 'es'
For example:
a.They sleep
b.The men jump
c.The people enjoy themselves.
3.In commands, the verb does not take -s or -es. For example
a. Shut the door
b. Work hard
c.Get out
4.If 'to' is used with the verb, the verb does not require 's' or 'es'
For example
a. He has to jump.
b.She has to work hard
USES OF THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
1.Habitual actions
e.g
i. Esi reads every day.
ii.Joe sweeps every morning.
2.Timeless and universal statements
i. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
ii. Ghana is in Africa.
3.Scheduled future actions
i. Ama leaves for London tonight.
ii. We play a friendly match with Arsenal next week.
