Usually when someone asks you about something which is going on in the present then you would respond in the simple present tense. Simple Present tense is related to events, actions, and conditions which is happening in the present right now. The essential functions of Simple Present Tense are to state the action that is happening right now and to state the action that happens regularly or unceasingly(that is why Simple Present is sometimes also called Present Indefinite Tense). So, In this article, we will learn more about Simple Present Indefinite article)Tense, its definition, its structure, rules, use & examples in detail. 

What is Simple Present Indefinite Tense?

The definition given by the Cambridge Dictionary is, “The simple present tense is used to refer to events, actions, and conditions that are happening all the time, or exist now.” When the verb defines/denotes an activity that is going on in the present time or is a regular event, then the verb is used in the Simple/Indefinite Present Tense form.

Structure of Simple Present Indefinite Tense

The structure of the Simple Present tense can be fundamentally understood by analyzing its three different forms, affirmative or positive, negative, and interrogative sentence. Have a look over the structure in the following table.

                                                                            Structure of Simple/Indefinite Present Tense
TypeFormula & RulesExamples
Simple Present TenseSubject + Verb in the base form(V1)+ -s/es (if singular) + the rest of the sentenceRimmy plays in the park

Examples of Simple Present(Indefinite) Tense

  • Ramesh eats bread and butter before going to school.(रमेश स्कूल जाने से पहले रोटी और मक्खन खाता है।)
  • Alisa watches cartoons every day.(अलीसा हर दिन कार्टून देखती हैं।)
  • Roopam drinks milk every night before going to bed.(रूपम रोज रात को सोने से पहले दूध पीती हैं)
  • Juhi goes to the gym daily.(जूही रोजाना जिम जाती हैं)
  • Dipali smokes.(दीपाली धूम्रपान करती है)
  • Shilpi reads the newspaper every day.(शिल्पी रोज अखबार पढ़ती है।)

Structure of Sentences in Simple Present(Indefinite) Tense

Simple/Indefinite Present Tense sentences can be in three forms, that is, Positive or Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative sentences. Below is the structure of all three forms and examples to make you understand better.

Affirmative/Positive Sentence Structure:

Structure of Affirmative/Positive Sentences
Subject + Verb in the base form(V1)+ -s/es (if singular) + the rest of the sentence

Examples of Affirmative/Positive Sentences:

  • He writes letter(वह पत्र लिखता है)
  • Radhika gets up every day at 6 am(राधिका रोज सुबह 6 बजे उठ जाती हैं)
  • She dances well.(वह अच्छा डांस करती है।)

Negative Sentence Structure:

Structure of Negative Sentence
Subject + do/does not+ Verb(V1)+ rest of the sentence

Examples of Negative Sentences:

  • The Sun does not set in the east.(सूर्य पूर्व दिशा में अस्त नहीं होता है।)
  • All the cars do not stop at this crossing. (इस क्रॉसिंग पर सभी कारें नहीं रुकती हैं।)
  • Meena does not teach social studies in a school. (मीना एक स्कूल में सामाजिक अध्ययन नहीं पढ़ाती है।)

Interrogative Sentence Structure:

Structure of Interrogative Sentence
Do/does + Subject + Verb(V1) + rest of the sentences?

Examples of Interrogative Sentences: 

  • Does the sunset in the east? (क्या सूर्यास्त पूर्व दिशा में होता है?)
  • Do all the cars stop at this crossing? (क्या इस क्रॉसिंग पर सभी गाड़ियाँ रुकती हैं?)
  • Does Meena teach social studies in a school? (क्या मीना स्कूल में सामाजिक अध्ययन पढ़ाती है?)

Uses of Simple Present(Indefinite) Tense

Some of the uses of Simple Present Tense are-

1. To express a habitual action,

2. To express a general truth,

3. In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present,

4. In a vivid narrative, as a substitute for Simple Past,

5. To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed programs.

In addition to these uses, some of the other uses are-

1. It is used to introduce quotations,

2. It is used instead of the Simple Future Tense, in the clause of time and of condition.

3. As in broadcast commentaries on sporting events, the simple present is used. 

Examples of Uses of Simple Present(Indefinite) Tense

1. To Express a habitual action:

  • He drinks tea every morning.(वह रोज सुबह चाय पीता है।)
  • I get up every day at five o'clock. (मैं रोज पांच बजे उठता हूं।)
  • My watch keeps a good time(मेरी घड़ी एक अच्छा समय रखती है)

2. To Express General Truth:

  • The sun rises in the east. (सूरज पूरब में उगता है।)
  • Honey is Sweet.(शहद मीठा होता है)
  • Fortune favors the brave (भाग्य वीरों को ही सहारा देता है)

3. In Exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present:

  • Here comes the bus! (यहाँ बसें आती हैं!)
  • There she goes! (वह वहाँ चली जाती है!)

4. In a vivid narrative, as a substitute for the Simple Past:

  • Sohrab now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustam. (सोहराब अब आगे बढ़ता है और रुस्तम को भारी झटका देता है।)
  • Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital. (तुरंत सुल्तान अपनी राजधानी के लिए रवाना होता है।)

5. To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed program:

  • The next flight is at 7.00 tomorrow morning.(अगली फ्लाइट कल सुबह 7.00 बजे है।)
  • The match starts at 9 o'clock. (मैच 9 बजे शुरू होता है।)
  • The train leaves at 5.20. (ट्रेन 5.20 बजे निकलती है।)
  • When does the coffee house reopen? (कॉफी हाउस कब खुलता है?)

In addition to these uses, they are used,

1. It is used to introduce quotations:

  • Keats says, “ A thing of beauty is a joy forever". (कीट्स कहते हैं, "सुंदरता की चीज हमेशा के लिए खुशी है"।)

2. It is used, instead of the Simple Future Tense, in clauses of time and of condition:

  • I shall wait till you finish your lunch.(मैं तब तक प्रतीक्षा करूँगा जब तक आप अपना दोपहर का भोजन समाप्त नहीं कर लेते।)
  • If it rains we shall get.(अगर बारिश हुई तो हमें मिलेगा।)

Exercise1: 

Translate Simple Present(Indefinite)Tense sentences from English to Hindi-
ExerciseAnswers
He writes articles on different topics.वे विभिन्न विषयों पर लेख लिखते हैं।
She reads various kinds of books.वह तरह-तरह की किताबें पढ़ती हैं।
Tina plays football every day.टीना रोज फुटबॉल खेलती हैं।
Pooja prefers coffee to tea.पूजा चाय की बजाय कॉफी पसंद करती है।
Pratik goes to the library every day.प्रतीक प्रतिदिन पुस्तकालय जाता है।
Rekha comes for shopping in this market.रेखा इसी मार्केट में शॉपिंग करने आती हैं।
We watch movies in this theatre.हम इस थिएटर में फिल्में देखते हैं।
Riya always shops in that market.रिया हमेशा उस बाजार में खरीदारी करती है।
She sings different kinds of songs, especially modern ones.वह विभिन्न प्रकार के गीत गाती है, विशेषकर आधुनिक गाने।
He loves to listen to melodious songs.उन्हें मधुर गाने सुनना बहुत पसंद है।
He loves to explore the world.वह दुनिया को एक्सप्लोर करना पसंद करता है।
The girl plays basketball on that field.लड़की उस मैदान पर बास्केटबॉल खेलती है।
The singer writes romantic songs.गायक रोमांटिक गीत लिखता है।
The poet writes realistic poems.कवि यथार्थवादी कविताएँ लिखता है।
Do you love to listen to realistic quotes?क्या आप यथार्थवादी उद्धरण सुनना पसंद करते हैं?
I do not like to fight.मुझे लड़ना पसंद नहीं है।
She is a peace-loving person.वह एक शांतिप्रिय व्यक्ति हैं।
I exactly know how to protest against injustice.मुझे ठीक-ठीक पता है कि अन्याय का विरोध कैसे करना है।
Does Gaurav like to watch cricket?क्या गौरव को क्रिकेट देखना पसंद है?
I love my parents and my elder sister.मैं अपने माता-पिता और अपनी बड़ी बहन से प्यार करता हूं।

Exercise2: 

Translate Simple Present(Indefinite)Tense sentences from Hindi to English-
ट्रेन सुबह साढ़े छह बजे असम के लिए रवाना होगी।The train leaves for Assam at 6.30 AM.
वह अपना जिम लगभग नियमित रूप से करते हैं।He does his gym almost regularly.
राहुल हमेशा अपनी बहन से लड़ता है।Rahul always fights with his sister.
वह बाजार में आलू बेचता है।He sells potato in the market.
वह अक्सर अपनी मां की मदद करती है।She helps her mother often.
मेरे भाई को फल पसंद नहीं है।My brother does not like fruits.
मिताली को ड्रम बजाना पसंद नहीं है।Mithali does not like to play drums.
लड़कियां दोपहर में फुटबॉल नहीं खेलती हैं।Girls do not play football in the afternoon.
रश्मि और उनकी बहन को हमारे साथ घूमना पसंद नहीं है।Rashmi and her sister don't like hanging out with us.
चौकीदार इन दिनों गेट पर नहीं खड़ा होता है।।The watchman does not stand at the gate these days.
Related Links
Present TenseTense Chart
Present Perfect TensePresent Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense

 

Simple Present Tense- FAQs

Ans. The definition given by Cambridge Dictionary is, “The simple present tense is used to refer to events, actions, and conditions that are happening all the time, or exist now.” When the verb defines/denotes an activity that is going on in the present time or is a regular event, then the verb is used in the simple present tense form.

Ans. The rule for Simple Present Tense is, Subject + Verb in the base form/third person plural form + the rest of the sentence. For eg. Alisa watches cartoons every day.

Ans. Some of the examples are, Ramesh eats bread and butter before going to school, Alisa watches cartoons every day. Roopam drinks milk every night before going to bed, Juhi goes to the gym daily, Dipali smokes, Shilpi reads the newspaper every day.

Ans. Uses of Simple Present Tense are: To express a habitual action, To express a general truth, In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present, In a vivid narrative, as a substitute for Simple Past, To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed programs.

Ans. The two rules which are followed in the simple present tense are that verb should appear in the base form and the verb should be used in the plural.

Ans. No, there is no difference between Simple present Tense and Indefinite Present Tense, both are same. There are two main essential functions of Simple present Tense, that is, to state the action which is happening right now and to state the action which happens regularly or unceasingly(that is why Simple Present is sometimes also called as Present Indefinite Tense).

Important Links