Laura Mozo http. Jul 09, 2018 Teaching the present simple tense is one of the first, and most important tasks when teaching beginners. It's a good idea to teach the present simple of the verb 'to be' to begin with, and introduce simple adjectives to help students expand their understanding of the verb 'to be'. The simple present (also called present simple or present indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show repetition, habit or generalization. Less commonly, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the near future and, in some cases, actions happening now. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and simple present exercises. 56 fun classroom activities for the Present Simple tense 1. Make me say “Yes, I do” Students ask the teacher and then each other “Do you?” questions and get one point for each. Make me say “No, I don’t” Students ask “Do you?” questions and get one point for “No, I don’t” answers but no.

How to use the Present Simple for the future

The Present Simple talks about general present situations showing generally accepted facts or truth and also for showing habits and things that happen regularly, often, sometimes, always, never etc.

The Simple Present tense is sometimes used in other ways:

Present Simple for the future

Present Simple Exercises

– With a future time expression, to show an action that was previously planned or has a regular timetable (work, classes, trains etc)

– Informal reporting of what people say.

– Stories, and talking about stories in informal narrative.

– Formal correspondence.

– Here comes ….. etc

1. Talking about planned actions or events.

To learn the English language well we have to see that there is not just one Future tense. There are a number of different ways to talk about future actions or events.

The Simple present tense can be used to talk about future arrangements if a future time expression is also used, or it is understood from the context. (If there is no future time expression, people will usually understand the “habit” meaning.)

Compare:

Sandra starts work at 8:00. We understand that this is normal for Sandra

John starts work at 10:00 on Friday. We understand that this is a special situation for this Friday, it is programmed and is seen to be a timetabled event

Examples:

Quickly please children! Class starts in five minutes. (the class is programmed to start)

The train leaves at 8:43 on Friday (it has a fixed timetable)

Present Simple Tense

I get up at six o’clock next Tuesday, I have to be in London at 8:00

Past Simple

My mother leaves at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon. (her journey is already planned)

Mary and Helen can’t go with me next Wednesday.
They have training then.

For other uses of the Present Simple

To learn English grammar well you need to look, read and listen to as much standard English as possible. In this way you will get a good model of the English language and understand how we use English grammatical forms in the most natural way possible