Test yourself with our free English language quiz about 'Present Simple'. This is a free beginner English grammar quiz and esl worksheet. No sign-up required. The Present Simple Tense in English. Use the Present Simple tense (“I go”, “He goes” etc) to talk about facts, things that are always true, or for routines and habits. For example: In England it often snows in winter. (a fact) I live in London (true – I don’t change my house every day).
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
– 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)
I get up at six o’clock next Tuesday, I have to be in London at 8:00
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
Present Simple And Present Continuous
Present Simple Exercises
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