If a certain action is happening right now, or if it is happening regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it is sometimes called the present indefinite tense), we use the simple present tense. There are two ways to form the simple present tense, depending on the person.

When do you use simple present tense?

In general, we use simple present tense for two main reasons:

1. We use simple present tense when describing an action or state that is happening right now.

For example, the earth rotates.

When using verbs this way, it is common to use ‘stative verbs’ in the simple present tense. Stative verbs are verbs that refer to states rather than actions.. Generally, non-stative verbs are used in the simple present tense when a person is telling a story or writing a narrative.

However, we do often use both stative and non-stative verbs in the simple present tense to state facts because they are true right now as in dogs bark or I play basketball.

2. We use simple present tense to refer to an action or situation that happens regularly.

For example, Jessica attends her classes, tells us that she is regular in attending classes.

Something to keep in mind is that if a sentence is describing a temporary action or state that will continue into the future, we do not use a simple present tense verb. For example, the sentences My dog is getting fat or I am eating chips, are not using a verb in the simple present tense. Instead, these sentences use verb phrases that are in a verb tense known as the present continuous tense.

Examples-

1) Ana goes to buy flower every weekend

2) I go to school everyday

3) They talk too much

‍

‍