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LESSON 2 - RULES - PRESENT SIMPLE


We use Present Simple to talk about
1) Things that happen regularly
2) Facts
3) Stative Verbs

1) TIME EXPRESSIONS for things that happen regularly are:every ....
once a ....
twice a ....
on Tuesdays .....
in winters ....
OR
always, frequently, often, usually, regularly, generally, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never.

Time Expressionsthat have more than one word, we put at the end of the sentence.
e.g. I go to school every day.
e.g. I play tennis three times a week.

Time Expressions that are one word, we put before themain verb.
e.g. I always do my homework.
e.g. We don't usually spend so much money.

If the main verb is BE (am, is, are), we put the Time Expression after it.
e.g. I am never late.

2) Whenwe have a sentence that is a general fact, we don't use any time expression and we have to know that it refers to PRESENT SIMPLE.
e.g. The sun shines in the east.
My father works ina factory.
We live in Tel-Aviv.

3) Stative Verbs are verbs that do not take the Progressive form, therefore, whenever you have a stative verb use the Simple form.

a) senses:hear, sound, see, smell, taste, feel.
b) feelings: love, hate, like, dislike.
c) thoughts: think, know, want, wonder, forget, remember, need, believe, hope, seem, mean, prefer, understand.d) possession: have, has, own, belong to.
e) measurement: cost, weigh, equal, measure.

e.g. I want to eat now.
I have a headache now.


Sometimes you don't use these verbs in theirregular meaning. When you use these verbs in another meaning you can use them in the Progressive form.

I am seeing John tonight. Vs. I see you now.
He is smelling the wine. Vs. The wine smellsgood.
The cook is tasting the food. Vs. The food tastes good.
He is feeling better. Vs. The cloth feels smooth.
I am thinking about what to do. Vs. I think that he is right.
I an having...