Present Indefinite Tense: Definition and Examples

Definition Present Indefinite Tense:

The Present Indefinite Tense (also called Simple Present Tense) is used to describe habitual actions, universal truths, facts, or things happening regularly. It is also used for giving instructions, expressing feelings, and making general statements.

Formation:

  • For most verbs, the base form of the verb is used with I, you, we, and they.
  • For he, she, and it, an -s or -es is added to the base form of the verb.
A teacher pointing to a sentence on the board like “She reads every day” with students writing examples in notebooks.

The present indefinite tense (also called simple present) is used to express regular actions, facts, and general truths. It follows the structure: subject + base verb (+ s/es for third person singular).

Structure:

  • Affirmative: Subject + Base form of verb (add "s" or "es" for he/she/it)
    • Example: She runs every morning.
  • Negative: Subject + do/does not + base form of verb
    • Example: They do not play football.
  • Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + base form of verb?
    • Example: Does he read books?

100 Examples of Present Indefinite Tense

1. Habitual Actions (Describing things done regularly):

  1. I go to the gym every day.
  2. She watches TV every evening.
  3. He plays football on Sundays.
  4. We take the bus to work every morning.
  5. They attend classes regularly.
  6. She reads a book before bed.
  7. He drinks coffee every morning.
  8. I walk to school every day.
  9. You study hard for your exams.
  10. The dog barks at strangers.

2. Universal Truths (Describing facts or things that are always true):

  1. The sun rises in the east.
  2. Water boils at 100°C.
  3. Earth revolves around the sun.
  4. Plants need sunlight to grow.
  5. The moon affects the tides.
  6. Fire burns if touched.
  7. Time flies when you are having fun.
  8. The earth rotates on its axis.
  9. Ice melts at 0°C.
  10. The sky appears blue during the day.

3. General Facts (Things that are always the case):

  1. He works as a doctor.
  2. We live in New York.
  3. She teaches math at a high school.
  4. The train leaves at 8 AM.
  5. They sell fresh fruits at the market.
  6. She writes novels for a living.
  7. He speaks five languages.
  8. My brother drives a taxi.
  9. The library opens at 9 AM.
  10. They travel to different countries.

4. Feelings and Emotions:

  1. I love ice cream.
  2. She hates spiders.
  3. He feels happy when he plays music.
  4. We enjoy watching movies together.
  5. They prefer coffee over tea.
  6. I dislike rainy weather.
  7. She likes to paint.
  8. He loves reading books.
  9. We admire hardworking people.
  10. They appreciate good customer service.

5. Instructions:

  1. You mix the flour and sugar together.
  2. First, you boil the water.
  3. Then, you add the vegetables.
  4. After that, you stir the soup.
  5. Finally, you serve the dish hot.
  6. You press the button to start the machine.
  7. She writes the report every Monday.
  8. You need to follow the guidelines.
  9. He explains the lesson clearly.
  10. They organize the meeting well.

6. General Statements:

  1. Cats like to sleep in the sun.
  2. Birds fly in the sky.
  3. Teachers teach students in schools.
  4. Doctors treat sick people.
  5. The phone rings loudly in the office.
  6. Farmers grow crops in the fields.
  7. He runs five miles every day.
  8. People trust honest leaders.
  9. The river flows into the sea.
  10. They help the homeless regularly.

7. Daily Routines:

  1. I wake up at 6 AM every day.
  2. She brushes her teeth after breakfast.
  3. He reads the newspaper before going to work.
  4. We eat dinner at 7 PM.
  5. They exercise in the morning.
  6. She gets dressed and leaves for work.
  7. He checks his email every morning.
  8. I make coffee every day.
  9. She leaves the house at 8 AM.
  10. He takes a shower before bed.

8. Scheduled Events:

  1. The plane takes off at 9 PM.
  2. The concert starts at 7 PM.
  3. The shop closes at 10 PM.
  4. The train arrives at noon.
  5. The class begins at 9 AM.
  6. The movie ends at 11 PM.
  7. The bus leaves every 15 minutes.
  8. The exhibition opens next week.
  9. The flight departs at midnight.
  10. The festival begins in two hours.

9. Stating Opinions:

  1. I think this movie is great.
  2. She believes in hard work.
  3. He considers honesty the best policy.
  4. We feel that education is important.
  5. They assume the meeting will end soon.
  6. I agree with your point of view.
  7. She knows the answer to the question.
  8. He trusts his friends completely.
  9. We expect good results from the project.
  10. They suppose the weather will improve.

10. Describing Personality or Traits:

  1. He is a kind person.
  2. She is very intelligent.
  3. They are always helpful.
  4. You are very creative.
  5. We are hard workers.
  6. He seems confident in his work.
  7. She appears shy in social gatherings.
  8. The manager is very strict.
  9. The child is very curious.
  10. You are always punctual.