Present Simple Tense – A Complete Lesson for All Levels

Welcome to our comprehensive series on the Present Simple tense (वर्तमान साधारण काल / haal ka seedha waqt), one of the most essential tenses in the English language. This guide is structured into detailed lessons to help learners at every stage—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—fully understand and use this tense effectively in both writing and speech.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Present Simple Tense

What Is Present Simple?

The Present Simple tense is used to describe:

• Habitual actions (आदतें / aadatein): Things you do regularly.
• Universal truths (सर्वमान्य सत्य / musallam sach): Facts that are always true.
• General facts (सामान्य तथ्य / aam tathya)
• Scheduled events (निर्धारित कार्यक्रम / muqarrar intezam)

Examples:

• I go to school. (मैं स्कूल जाता हूँ / Main school jaata hoon.)
• The sun rises in the east. (सूरज पूर्व में उगता है / Sooraj poorv mein ugta hai.)

Why Is It Important?

The Present Simple forms the foundation for English conversation and comprehension. Whether describing your daily routine or stating facts, this tense is essential for effective communication.

Lesson 2: Basic Usage and Sentence Structure

Affirmative Sentences (सकारात्मक वाक्य / sakaratmak vaakya)

Structure: Subject + Base Verb (V1) [+ s/es for he/she/it] + Object

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence	Hindi Meaning
I	eat	I eat breakfast at 8 am.	मैं सुबह 8 बजे नाश्ता करता हूँ / Main subah 8 baje nashta karta hoon.
She	eats	She eats breakfast at 8 am.	वह सुबह 8 बजे नाश्ता करती है / Woh subah 8 baje nashta karti hai.

Negative Sentences (नकारात्मक वाक्य / nakaratmak vaakya)

Structure: Subject + do/does not + Base Verb

Subject	Auxiliary	Example Sentence	Hindi Translation
I	don’t	I don’t like tea.	मुझे चाय पसंद नहीं है / Mujhe chai pasand nahi hai.
He	doesn’t	He doesn’t work here.	वह यहाँ काम नहीं करता / Woh yahan kaam nahi karta.

Interrogative Sentences (प्रश्नवाचक वाक्य / prashnavachak vaakya)

Structure: Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb + ?

Example	Hindi Translation
Do you like coffee?	क्या तुम्हें कॉफ़ी पसंद है? / Kya tumhe coffee pasand hai?
Does she study English?	क्या वह अंग्रेज़ी पढ़ती है? / Kya woh angrezi padhti hai?

Lesson 3: Intermediate Applications of Present Simple

1. Using Stative Verbs (भावनात्मक क्रियाएं / jazbaati fail)

These verbs describe mental states or feelings and are rarely used in continuous form.

Examples:

• I know her. (मैं उसे जानता हूँ / Main use jaanta hoon.)
• They believe in honesty. (वे ईमानदारी में विश्वास रखते हैं / Wo imandari mein vishwas rakhte hain.)

2. Common Time Expressions

Frequently used with Present Simple:

• Always (हमेशा / hamesha)
• Usually (आमतौर पर / aam taur par)
• Never (कभी नहीं / kabhi nahi)
• Sometimes (कभी-कभी / kabhi-kabhi)
• Every day (हर दिन / har din)

Examples:

• He always helps others. (वह हमेशा दूसरों की मदद करता है / Woh hamesha doosron ki madad karta hai.)

3. Instructions and Headlines

Present Simple is often used in giving instructions or in news headlines.

Examples:

• Open the book. (किताब खोलो / Kitaab kholo.)
• India wins the match. (भारत ने मैच जीत लिया / Bharat ne match jeet liya.)

Lesson 4: Advanced Usage and Exceptions

1. Emphatic Present Simple

Used for emphasis by adding do/does before the verb.

• I do want to help you. (मैं सच में तुम्हारी मदद करना चाहता हूँ / Main sach mein tumhari madad karna chahta hoon.)

2. Future Time Clauses

Even though it refers to the future, the Present Simple is used with words like when, after, until, etc.

Examples:

• I’ll wait until she comes. (मैं तब तक रुकूंगा जब तक वह नहीं आती / Main tab tak rukunga jab tak woh nahi aati.)

3. Scheduled Future Events

Describing timetables and scheduled events.

• The train leaves at 10 pm. (ट्रेन रात 10 बजे जाती है / Train raat 10 baje jaati hai.)

Lesson 5: Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. She _____ (go) to school daily.
2. They _____ (not/like) cold drinks.
3. _____ you _____ (play) football?

Answers:

1. goes
2. do not like / don’t like
3. Do, play

Translate into English:

1. मैं हर दिन अखबार पढ़ता हूँ।
2. क्या वह अंग्रेजी बोलती है?
3. वे रविवार को चर्च जाते हैं।

Answers:

1. I read the newspaper every day.
2. Does she speak English?
3. They go to church on Sunday.

Lesson 6: Common Mistakes and Corrections

Mistake	Correction	Hindi Explanation
He go to school.	He goes to school.	He/She/It के साथ verb में -s/-es जोड़ा जाता है।
They doesn’t come.	They don’t come.	“They” के साथ “don’t” इस्तेमाल होता है।
Do she know the way?	Does she know the way?	“She” के लिए “does” इस्तेमाल करें।

Lesson 7: Tips for Mastery

1. Daily Practice: Write five sentences using Present Simple about your routine.
2. Flashcards: Create flashcards for verbs and their third-person forms.
3. Watch & Listen: Listen to English dialogues and identify Present Simple usage.
4. Join a Study Group: Practice Present Simple with peers.
5. Self-Quiz: Test yourself regularly using sample exercises.

Lesson 8: Summary and Final Words

The Present Simple tense (वर्तमान साधारण काल / haal ka seedha waqt) helps you express routines, facts, emotions, instructions, and even future events. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your grammar, mastering this tense will elevate your English communication.