Present Simple (Indefinite) in Proverbs and Sayings worksheet

Seven exercises on Present Simple (Present Indefinite) based on proverbs and sayings. Key included if necessary.

Exercise 1
Read these proverbs and sayings. Memorize them.  Pay attention to the forms of the third person singular of the verbs in the Present Simple Tense. Think of equivalents in your language.

Using Future Indefinite Tense through Dialogues

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This page shows different ways of using the Future Indefinite Tense (or Simple Future) through dialogues from English literature.
The Future Indefinite expresses an action that will take place in the future. It may be a single point action, an action occupying a whole period of time, a succession of actions, recurrent actions in the future or a permanent future action generally characterizing the person or thing denoted by the subject. The Future Indefinite may be associated with adverbs and adverbial expressions of time or time clauses.

Illustrative Examples:

1. Catherine and Frederic are in Switzerland. There was a snow storm the day before.

Catherine: I wish I could ski. It’s rotten not to be able to ski.
Frederic: We’ll get a bobsled and come down the road. That’s no worse for you than riding a car.
Catherine: Won’t it be rough?
Frederic: We can see.
Catherine: I hope it won’t be too rough.
Frederic: After a while we’ll take a walk in the storm.
Catherine: Before lunch, so we’ll have a good appetite.
Frederic: I’m always hungry.
Catherine: So am I.

(E. Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms)

Using Past Indefinite through Dialogues

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This page shows different ways of using the Past Indefinite (or Simple Past) through dialogues from English literature.

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The Past Indefinite is used to express a single action completed in the past. It is performed within a period of time which is already over. An indication of the past time is given or implied in the situation. The speaker is mostly interested in the circumstances of the action, not the action itself.

Illustrative Examples:

1. The children in the junior form have great difficulty in writing compositions, so the teacher is trying to teach them how to do it; they are writing together on the blackboard a composite account of the holiday.

The teacher: John, tell me something that you did.
John: Went to the seaside, miss.
The teacher: How?
John: Bus.
The teacher: By yourself?
John: No. Lot of us kids went. Us went with the Mothers’ Union, miss.
The teacher: Right. Now put all that into sentences that I can write on the blackboard. Well, come along. You can start by saying, “During the holidays I went to the seaside.” What shall we put next?
Anne: I went in a bus.
The teacher: Now what?
The teacher: I went with the Mother’s Union.
Another pupil: I went with some others.
Another pupil: I went on a Saturday.
Another pupil: I went with my sister.

(Miss Read. Village School)

Using Present Indefinite Tense through Dialogues

• Contents → Grammar in Dialogues → Using Present Indefinite 

This page shows different ways of using the Present Indefinite through dialogues from English literature.

The Present Indefinite mainly expresses permanent or recurrent actions in the present.

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a) We find permanent actions or states with durative verbs. They generally indicate continuous uninterrupted or repeated processes representing permanent features and relationships. They give a general characteristic to the person or thing denoted by the subject. Time indications are not obligatory in this case.

Illustrative Examples:

1. Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher stay at school after classes and talk about their likes and dislikes.

Tom: Do you love rats?
Becky: No, I hate them!
Tom: Well, I do, too — live ones. But I mean dead ones, to swing round your head with a string.
Becky: No, I don't care for rats much, anyway. What I like is chewing-gum!..
Tom: Do you? I've got some. I'll let you chew it awhile, but you must give it back to me.

(M. Twain. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)

The Indefinite Tenses

The Indefinite Tenses: grammar rules, usage and patterns.
present indefinite (or present simple)
future indefinite (or future simple)
past indefinite (or past simple)

The Present Indefinite

The Formation of the Present Indefinite

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I work. He works. She works. It works. We work. You work. They work.	Do I work? Does he work? Does she work? Does it work? Do we work? Do you work? Do they work?	I do not work. He does not work. She does not work. It does not work. We do not work. You do not work. They do not work.

The Present Indefinite is used to denote:
1) customary and permanent actions or states.

Affirmative Sentences 

Key example:
I study English. Ann studies English.

For study:
What do I do in the morning?         What does Ann do in the morning?

I get up at 7. I do morning exercises. I take a shower. I get my breakfast ready.

Ann gets up at 7. Ann does morning exercises. Ann takes a shower. Ann gets her breakfast ready.

What do I usually do?                        What does Ann usually do?

I seldom switch the TV on. I often play the piano. I usually read books. I always listen to the latest news. I often take a walk. I never have my supper late.

Ann seldom switches the TV on. Ann often plays the piano. Ann usually reads books. Ann always listens to the latest news. Ann often takes a walk. Ann never has her supper late.