Verbs Present Indefinite - how to use competently?

As you know, in classical English there are sixteen times, which are used depending on the specific situation. With the American version of it easier, here all times are not used, at best half. But now we will focus on the rules of the present time, which includes Present Indefinite, Present Continuous and Present Perfect, namely - Present Indefinite Tense.

Description of application

In general, if we talk about the description of the use of this time of this type, that is, Present Indefinite Tense, it is necessary to understand that it describes situations and actions that are immutable.

In other words, the Time of Present Indefinite can be used with reference to the descriptions of actions that occur, say, everyday, monthly, yearly, etc., that is, some permanent events.

Frequently occurring situations of use of Present Indefinite Tense

Speaking about the use of this time, we can give a few basic examples. For example, no one doubts that I go to school. This fact is permanent and does not require confirmation. It's like a self-evident concept. In the example, it looks like this: I go to school.

No less important aspect of the use of the Present Indefinite is the description of some truth that does not require confirmation. For example, this may be the concept of "I am a woman" (I am a woman). It is clear that this is something permanent and unchanging.

The third aspect, when using the time of Present Indefinite, can be called situations and events that describe the belonging of something to someone. For example, I have a dog (I have a dog). In this case, again, the descriptive process affects exactly what the dog is in general, and it will not go anywhere.

Further, when using the present definitive time, Present Indefinite will have to deal with the rules of constructing sentences and conjugating the main verbs. Here, not everything is so simple, because there are certain rules for changing endings depending on the person and the number.

Conjugation of the verb to be

The verb to be, as the main one in the sentence, has its own peculiarities of conjugation in Present Indefinite. As well as for other verbs, here there is a change of endings depending on the number and person. If you give the basic rules, it looks like it is shown in the table below.

By the way, that in affirmative sentences, that in the answers to interrogative sentences, the verb does not change. In the case of the denial of something or the same answer, the question is not added.

For example, to the question "Are you an actor?", The negative answer looks like No, I am not an actor (No, I'm not with a reduction).

Conjugation of the verb to do

With the verb to do the situation is somewhat simpler. The ending changes only if it is used in the singular third person (does). What is most interesting, the verb itself is used only in interrogative sentences and answers to them.

For example, the question "Do you have a dog?" In the English version using the construction of interrogative sentences in Present Indefinite looks like "Do you have a dog?" It can be answered "Yes, I do". In this case, the situation is affected with one more verb that requires explanation. In the simplest version, the question will look like "Do you walk every day?", And the answer is "Yes" or "No", depending on the situation (Yes, I do or No, I do Not or in the abbreviation No, I do not).

Conjugation of the verb to have

Now a few words about the use of the verb to have in the Present Indefinite. It causes a lot of controversy and still. The rules of classical English and the changed American are somewhat different. This concerns most of the interrogative sentences and answers to them.

So, for example, the same question "Do you have a dog?" In the American version looks like "Do you have a dog?", Although according to the English language the question should be built like "Have you a dog?"

As you can see from this example, there can be only one answer to the second question: Yes, I have. For the first variant of answers there can be two: either Yes, I do (the correct answer in terms of constructing the question, since the verb to do is the main one), or again Yes, I have.

If we talk about the use of these verbs in relation to a third person singular, only the main verb changes. The phrase "Does she have a dog?" In two variations can be constructed as "Does she have a dog?" (The ending of the main verb changes to "-es") or "Has she a dog?". As you can see, the end change occurs only in the main verb.

By the way, Americans do not worry about this. They generally tend to rebuild sentences so that it goes against the classical rules. Returning to the question of the dog, an American can easily say: Oh, you have a dog? ("Oh, do you have a dog?"). In principle, one can interpret such a statement of the question as an affirmative-interrogative sentence, although the verbs of Present Indefinite themselves do not change.

Rules for changing endings in basic verbs that indicate action

So far we have considered three main verbs. In principle, the same rules apply to other verbs that define the main action (adding "-s" or "-es" endings, and changing "-y" to "-ies"). Consider how to properly use them.

To correctly understand how endings of verbs change in the same Present Indefinite Passive, we will consider the basic rules. If the verb ends with "o" "S", "x", "ch" and "sh", the modified ending "-es" is used. In other cases, the ending "-s" is used. Pronunciation is also subject to change, and the construction of interrogative or affirmative sentences in the third person of the singular implies the use of the main verb with a modified ending (Who helps you? - She helps her brother - "She helps her brother").

For example, if the ending is after a deaf consonant, it is pronounced "es" ([s], lets, drops). If it is used after a consonant or a vowel, the pronunciation will be "z" ([z], plays). In the case of sounds in transcription [Ks, ʃ, s, z, dʒ, ʒ, tʃ], the ending is pronounced as "iz" ([iz], looses).

Change of the end of "-y" occurs on the condition that there is a consonant before it. For example, Study - Studies. However, "-s" is used with vowels: Pay-Pays, Stay-Stays.

Frequently used companion words and concepts

As it is already clear, the use of the time Present Indefinite describes the permanent events. It is not surprising that in the proposals there are often accompanying words that emphasize the situation itself. Typically, these words are usually, always, always, ever and ever, often.

Conclusion

As can be seen from all of the above, nothing complicated in the use of time or verbs associated with it, no. The main thing in this case is to clearly understand the situation, which will be described using the definitive time. Well, as you learn English to the rules for changing endings or conjugating verbs, you can quickly get used to it.