1.Introduction :- Present Indefinite Tense
Present Indefinite Tense , also known as Simple Present Tense, is used to describe habitual truth, universal truth, scientific facts, scheduled event ,fixed plan, stative verbs, actions we do regularly etc.
𝟮. Helping verbs :- Do/Does
In Present Indefinite Tense , We have two helping verbs . 1. Do and 2. Does (1) Do is used with plural number noun subjects and with the personal pronoun I, we, you and they.
We can understand it with the following examples
1. I do not eat mango.
2. We do not play games in the morning
3.You do not help me.
4. They do not know me
5. Girls do not take tea.
(2) Does is used with singular number noun and the pronouns he, she and it.
Have a look on the following sentences to get it more clearly.
- He does not take coffee.
- She does not play in the morning.
- It rains in July in India.
- Aman plays games with his younger brother.
3. Main verb :Present indefinite Tense
Present Indefinite Tense is simple to use. However ,it can be confusing when used with third person, singular number subjects.
In Present Indefinite Tense we use either
(1) First form of verb or (2) First form of verb (+s or +es) .
1.Where to use first form of verb
If the subject of a sentence is plural number, we have to use first form of verb.
We can simplify the rule. With personal pronoun, I, we, you and they and the plural number nouns ,
we have to use only first form of verb. We can get it with the below given sentences.
- I play video games.
- We go to market on Sunday.
- You watch TV in the evening.
- They eat bananas in the morning.
These are the four personal pronouns , with them we use first form of verb.
- Girls go to library daily.
- The farmers grow crops in the field.
2. Where to use first form of verb(+s or +es.)
Many learners forget to add “s” or “es” in third person singular number verbs. As a result,
they make grammatical mistakes. To avoid it let’s get it carefully.
There are two conditions to use first form of verb (+s or +es.). Both conditions must be fulfilled.
Condition first :- The subject must be singular number
Condition second:- The subject must be third person.
If both conditions are fulfilled, we have to use first form of verb(+s or +es).
We can simplify the rule. We use first form of verb (+s or +es ) with singular number nouns
and the personal pronouns he, she and it. Let’s get it with examples:-
1. He takes coffee.
2. She cooks food.
3. It rains in July in India.
4. Seema goes to market on Sunday.
5. Aman watches TV daily in the evening.
6. My friend passes the exam with no extra efforts.
7. The mechanic fixes my car carefully.
8. The hen hatches her eggs on the ground.
Here in the above sentences you see , in sentence no 1, 2, 3 only “s” is added,
take – takes, cook – cooks and rain – rains
While in sentences no 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ” es ” is added.
The verbs are
go – goes, watch – watches , pass – passes , fix – fixes .
Subjects of above all sentence are singular number and third person.
But in sentences no. 1, 2 and 3 only “s” is added,
while in sentences no 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 “-es ” is added because the rule is:
If the subject is singular number and third person and the verb ends with o, s, ss, sh, ch, x, and
z, ” es ” is added.
4. Time adverbs: – Present indefinite Tense
Time adverbs are very useful in identifying the tense.
In Present indefinite Tense, the following adverbs are used.
always, never, usually, daily, seldom, often, generally, sometimes, regularly
frequently, every(day, month, year, etc.) each (day, month, year, etc.)
5. Sentence structure of present indefinite Tense
1. Affirmative sentence structure
Subject +verb Ist form/verb Ist form(+s or + es ) + object .
Note:- Helping verbs (do/does) are not used in affirmative sentences.
1. My brother learns English.
2. We go for a morning walk daily.
2. Negative sentence structure
Subject + do not /does not + verb Ist form + object.
1. They do not like onion.
2. He does not like football.
3. Interrogative Sentence structure
Interrogative sentences are of two types .
First type :- Starts with helping verb
(i) Do / Does + subject + Verb Ist form + object ?
Second type :- starts with “wh” word (interrogative word)
(ii)”Wh”word +Do/Does + subject + Verb Ist form + object ?
- Why does he go to market daily?
- When does she play games?
6. Uses of Present Indefinite Tense :-
As we have learnt , Present indefinitetense or Simple present Tense is used to describe
universal truth, habits, routines, actions we do regularly, facts, scientific facts ,
scheduled events , stative verbs as emotions, senses, possession.
Let’s get it with examples:
1. I practice yoga every morning. ( It shows habit, routine)
2. She checks emails at work regularly ( it show regularity)
3. Water freezes at 0° स। ( scientific fact)
4. The Moon gives light. ( universal truth)
5. The Sainik express departs at 7 PM. ( scheduled Event)
6. The class starts at 9 AM. ( fixed plan) .
7. We love music ( stative verb)
8. He hates smoking ( stative verb)
7. Exercise:- Test yourself
1. My father ————smoke/smokes daily.
2. The lion ————live/ lives in forest.
3. The cow ———eat/eats grass.
4. My friends ——-play/plays with me.
5. We ——–do not / does not ——-sing/ sings daily.
6. Girls ———–do not / does not water plants.
7. Why ——-do/ does he ——go/goes to market daily?
8. ——–do/ does i——–write/writes a story daily?
9. ——-do/ does your brother ——-take/takes tea?
10. Birds ——fly/flies in the sky.
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