Present Indefinite Tense: 5 unique usages

Do you guys know why you should master the Present Indefinite tense? 😉

Because the Present Indefinite tense is the most used tense in the English language. Knowingly or unknowingly, we all are using this tense. Now, it’s time to know what the Present Indefinite tense, also known as the Simple Present tense, is, and how to use it correctly.

What is the Present Indefinite tense?

Present Indefinite tense definition: The Present Indefinite tense is a verb form that is used to state facts, repeated actions, habits, and interests. We use this tense to talk about what we do, what we like, what we dislike, and what our goals and ambitions are.

The Present Indefinite tense examples:

• I teach English.
• Rahul works at a mall.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Most people make excuses for their failures.
• Jyoti likes to paint in her idle time.
• Ashish calls himself Pollyanna.
• She prefers coffee to tea.
• Jon loves playing cricket in the morning.
• His mother is a classical dancer.
• Virat Kohli is the captain of the Indian cricket team.
• You are my love.
• My father hates smokers.
• She doesn’t talk to anyone.
• Jon stays with his girlfriend.

Note: scroll down to the end to check the Present Indefinite tense structures!

Different usages of the Present Indefinite tense

Now, let’s look at all the situations where the Present Indefinite tense is used.

1. Repeated actions

This is most common way to use the Present Indefinite tense. Whenever we talk about things that we do repeatedly, we use the Present Indefinite tense.

Some of the things I repeatedly do:

• I wake up daily.
• I speak.
• I take a bath.
• I smile.
• I laugh.
• I go outside.
• I watch TV.
• I study English.
• I take a walk.
• I sleep daily.
• I eat food.
• I make grammar lessons.
• I talk to my family members and friends.
• I listen to songs in the evening.
• I give English classes to my students.

Note: You can also talk about the frequency at which these actions take place. We use the following adverbs of frequency to do so:

Daily/everyday, always, usually, normally/generally, often/frequently, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never

• I daily eat food.
• Jon talks to his mother rudely sometimes.
• They often get late to the classes.
• We never take shortcuts.

2. Universal facts/truths

We commonly use the Present Indefinite tense to talk about the things that are universal facts, already proven. Here are some examples:

• The sun rises in the east.
• Plants give us oxygen.
• Water freezes at zero degree celsius.
• Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India.

3. Likes and dislikes

To talk about what you like and dislike, we use the Present Indefinite tense. Study the following examples:

• She likes to play chess.
• I love talking to people.
• My brother does not like partying.
• Jyoti paints whenever she gets idle time.
• Riya hates waking up early in the morning.
• Monu enjoys playing with kids.
• My younger sister abhors studying Mathematics.

4. Hobbies and interests

Use the Present Indefinite tense to talk about your interests and hobbies. Here are some examples that talk about the interests and the hobbies of the speaker:

• I write poems before hitting the hay. (hobby)
• My father reads newspaper every morning. (hobby)
• Izzy enjoys watching fighting. (interest)
• Shruti is crazy about video games. (interest)
• Ashi meditates daily. (hobby)
• Most of my friends are passionate about bodybuilding. (interest)

5. Goals, wishes and ambitions

We also use the Present Indefinite tense to talk about goals, wishes, and ambitions. Here are some examples:

• I want to open a school for the poor. (goal)
• Our parents just want to see us happy. (wish)
• Riya wishes to be a pilot. (wish)
• Max wants to be a motivational speaker. (goal)
• They want to see me lose. (wish)
• He dreams of having his own company by 2022. (goal or ambition)

6. To describe or rename a noun

This is one of the most used, if not the most, usages of the Present Simple tense. Here, we use the ‘to be’ form of verbs (IS, AM, ARE) to describe or rename the subject of a sentence.

Subject = Jon
Linking verb = is
Subject complement (noun phrase) = an artist

Here, we are giving information about the subject ‘Jon’ by giving it a name. To rename the subject, we can use a noun, noun phrase, or noun clause (usually a noun phrase).

Subject = Jon
Linking verb = is
Subject complement (adjective phrase) = extremely smart

In this example, we are giving information about the subject by describing it. Note we can use an adjective or an adjective phrase to describe the subject.

More examples:

• Jon is our coach.
• Simi is smart.
• We are a threat to them.
• I am a teacher.
• You are the love of my life.
• Your father is a great teacher.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

Zero conditional sentences use both conditional and result clauses in the Present Indefinite tense and indicate general truths (often scientific) or things that are generally true.

Structure: IF/WHEN + Sub + V1 + object/modifier + Main clause (present indefinite)

Examples:

• When/if you heat water, it freezes.
• If you don’t eat food, you die.
• Rahul does not talk to anyone when he is sad.
• When she drinks too much, she dances like a mad person.
• When someone touches his food, he gets mad.
• If you eat excessively, you get obese.
• If they don’t give your order in 15 minutes, you don’t take the money.

The result clause can be an imperative sentence.

• If you need money, call my father.
• Take the day off if you want to recover fast.
• If you don’t feel, let’s go to a doctor.
• If she does not enjoy your company anymore, part your ways with her.

Note: an imperative sentence indicates an order, request, or command.

The Present Indefinite tense structures

1. Affirmative sentence

Use the following structure when the subject is plural:

Subject

V1

object/modifier (optional)

Use the following structure when the subject is singular:

Subject

V1 + s/es

object/modifier (optional)

Examples:

• They love me.
• My students are brilliant.
• She calls me every day.
• Rahul wishes to be a doctor someday.

2. Negative sentences

Use the following structure when the subject is plural:

Subject

do + not

V1

object/modifier (optional)

Use the following structure when the subject is singular:

Subject

does + not

V1

object/modifier (optional)

Singular subjects	he, she, it & singular noun names
Plural subjects	I, you, we, they & plural noun names

Examples:

• They don’t love me.
• My students don’t give up.
• She doesn’t call me everyday.
• Rahul doesn’t want to be a doctor.

3. Interrogative sentences

Use the following structure when the subject is plural:

Do

subject

V1

object/modifier (optional)?

Use the following structure when the subject is singular:

Does

subject

V1

object/modifier (optional)?

Examples:

• Do you love me?
• Do they work hard?
• Does she call you everyday?
• Does he enjoy working here?

Examples:

• Do they not work hard?
• Does she not call you everyday?

But avoid asking negative questions as they create confusion. Always ask positive questions!

Words used in the post!

• Idle time = refer to the time when you have nothing to do, free time
• Pollyanna = a person that is excessively optimistic
• Hitting the hay = to sleep

If you prefer watching videos to reading posts, click on this video to master the present indefinite tense:

Important posts to go through:

• What is a phrase in English?
• What is a clause in English?