present tenses 3: simple present use

general time: It always rains in November
We often use the simple present to talk about permanent situations, or about things that happen regularly, repeatedly or all the time.
What do frogs eat? (NOT What are frogs eating?)
It always rains here in November.
I play tennis eveiy Wednesday.
Alice works for an insurance company.
simple present: things that happen repeatedly
f
A
p- PAST
Now
FUTURE ^
simple present: permanent situations
not used for things happening just around the present
We do not usually use the simple present to talk about temporary situations or actions that are only going on around the present. Compare:
Water boils at 100° Celsius.
The kettle’s boiling – shall I make tea? (NOT The kettle-boils …)
It usually snows in January.
Look – it’s snowing! (NOT Look—It-snowsf)
I play tennis every Wednesday.
Where’s Bernard?present tenses : simple present He’s playing tennis, (NOT … He plays tennis.)
non-progressive verbs
However, the simple present is used for this ‘around the present’ meaning with verbs that do not have progressive forms (see progressive 2: non-progressive verbs).
I like this wine very much, (NOT I’m liking …)
I believe you. (NOT I’m believing you.)
talking about the future
We do not normally use the simple present to talk about the future.
I promise I won’t smoke any more, (NOT I promise I don’t smoke any more.) We’re going to the theatre this evening, (NOT We go to the theatre this evening.)
There’s the doorbell. present tenses : simple present I’ll get it. (NOT I get it.)
However, the simple present is used for ‘timetabled’ future events (see future 5: simple present).
His train arrives at 11.46. I start my new job tomorrow.
And the simple present is often used instead of will… in subordinate clauses that refer to the future. (For details, see tense simplification in subordinate clauses).
I’ll kill anybody who touches my possessions, (NOT … who will touch …) I’ll phone you when I get home, (NOT … when I’ll get home:)
The simple present is also used in suggestions with Why don’t you …?
Why don’t you take a day off tomorrow?
series of events: demonstrations, commentaries, instructions, stories
When we talk about series of completed actions and events, we often use the simple present. This happens, for example, in demonstrations, commentaries, instructions and present-tense stories (see present tenses 5: for more details).
First I take a bowl and break two eggs into it. Next… (not First Tam taking a bowl…)
Lydiard passes to Taylor, Taylor shoots – and it’s a goal!
How do I get to the station?present tenses : simple present You go straight on to the traffic lights, then you turn left,
So I go into the office, and I see this man, and he says to me …
how long?
present tenses not used
We use a perfect tense, not a present tense, to say how long a present action or situation has been going on. (see present perfect 6: present perfect or present? for details.)