Simple Tense: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know what the simple tense is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on simple tenses, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

Your writing, at its best

Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant

Start writing

What is the simple tense?

According to Walden, there are many different forms of verbs in the English language, from a simple form of the verb to complex:

  •   Past perfect progressive tense
  •   Conditional tense
  •   Simple future tense
  •   Conditional perfect tense
  •   Simple conditional tense
  •   Infinitive tense
  •   Past participle tense
  •   Future perfect progressive tense
  •   Present continuous tense
  •   To-infinitive tense
  •   Gerund tense or gerund phrase 
  •   Perfect passive tense
  •   Indicative tense
  •   Past perfect tense
  •   Imperative tense
  •   Present perfect continuous tense
  •   Present perfect progressive tense 
  •   Present perfect tense
  •   Future perfect tense
  •   Simple past tense
  •   Subjunctive tense
  •   Present indicative tense
  •   Present participle tense
  •   Conditional progressive tense
  •   Present progressive tense
  •   Simple present tense
  •   Conditional perfect progressive tense
  •   Present perfect progressive/continuous tense
  •   Bare infinitive tense
  •   Future progressive tense
  •   Past progressive/continuous tense

Today we will go over the simple tense. According to Grammar Monster, the simple tenses are the simple past tense, the simple present tense, and the simple future tense. The simple tenses express facts or habitual activities/habitual actions and do not specify if they are completed actions or ongoing. This can be negative or interrogative in verb tense, and can be used in first person, second person, or third person. These verb conjugations can express a single occurrence of a fact, unchanging situations, general truths, or the simple aspect of something. The base form of the verb for a regular verb is conjugated differently for the different first, second, and this person ways to express action. Sometimes an es, s, ies, or ss is added for the different conjugates.

What are examples of the simple tense?

Take a look at the below list of simple example sentences from EF, English Page, English Study Page  and English Study Here:

  •  Two boys played with a ball.
  •  I don’t wash the dishes.
  •  You children will be the future of this country.
  •  John cleans his hamsters’ cage on Tuesdays.
  •  He played the violin.
  •  They did not stay at the party the entire time.
  •  We were good friends.
  •  Mary forgot to turn off the light.
  •  The rain stopped an hour ago.
  •  The train does not leave at 10 AM.
  •  The sun rises at 7 AM.
  •  She doesn’t use a computer.
  •  You were at the station.
  •  We won’t go to the theater.
  •  Does she live in Paris?
  •  It usually rains every day I have an exam.
  •  He loves to play basketball.
  •  She likes bananas.
  •  Last night before bed I took a shower, moisturized my face, and brushed my teeth.
  •  I won’t leave until I’ve seen the manager!
  •  He is going to jump.
  •  I will go to London next week.
  •  They had a meeting with her colleagues.
  •  You are going to cry.
  •  We go to a gallery every Sunday.
  •  He cut his finger and went to hospital.
  •  Tomorrow, My father will apply for a new job.
  •  I will do the assignment next month,
  •  I forgot my wallet.
  •  The baby won’t eat his soup.
  •  He doesn’t teach math.
  •  We did a lot of shopping at the shopping mall.
  •  They bought 5 tickets for the concert.
  •  I liked the film.
  •  My cat runs very fast.
  •  We see them every week on Saturdays.
  •  It will stay in the outside.
  •  I missed the class last week.
  •  I am afraid you won’t remember me.
  •  They speak English in USA.
  •  She left the school.
  •  Does she drink coffee?
  •  She swims every morning.
  •  Alex changed his place.
  •  Amelia chose to stay with her father.
  •  Michael studied hard all year.
  •  I fell off of the monkey bars as a kid.
  •  Every child likes an ice cream.
  •  It discovered a new land.
  •  I run four miles every morning.
  •  He smoked a cigarette.
  •  He had a dog last year.
  •  It will rain tomorrow.
  •  I’ll do the washing-up.
  •  My daughter does the laundry.
  •  The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
  •   I will not attend the program because of my busy schedule.
  •  We ate meat with my best friend yesterday.
  •  Do you like spaghetti?
  •  It smells very delicious in the kitchen.
  •  I don’t like tea.
  •  It snows a lot in winter in Russia.
  •  They sleep in the afternoon.
  •  You don’t listen to me.
  •  Will you go to the concert of realistic songs?
  •  What shall I tell the boss about this money?
  •  They will play football in that field.
  •  I met my wife 20 years ago.
  •  I will sing different kinds of songs, especially modern.
  •  I like geography and science.
  •  She won’t watch the football match.
  •  The lyricist will write a realistic song.
  •  We played basketball last Sunday.
  •  We go to the gym club together.
  •  We live in Texas.
  •  I cancelled my meeting for tomorrow.
  •  Last year I traveled to Germany.
  •  A gardener swept up dead leaves.
  •  I enrolled in the pilates course.
  •  California is in America.
  •  Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
  •  He’ll carry your bag for you.
  •  She will cry.
  •  Did you play football yesterday?
  •  You will do exactly as I say.
  •  I will miss you when you move to another country.
  •  She plays basketball.
  •  We watched a movie last weekend.
  •  Did they lose the match?
  •  We listened to music.
  •  George came home very late last night.
  •  Did she clean her home?
  •  They were students last year.
  •  They lived in Spain.

Overall, the simple tense can be used to express habitual actions, general truths, or facts in the past, present, or future.

Sources:

  1. Verb Forms: “-ing,” Infinitives, and Past Participles – Grammar – Academic Guides | Walden University 
  2. Simple future tense | EF
  3. Examples of Simple Future Tense | Learn English 
  4. 50 Sentences of Simple Future Tense | English Study Here
  5. 90 Sentences of Simple Present Tense, Example Sentences | English Study Page  
  6. Simple Past Tense | ENGLISH PAGE 
  7. 50 Sentences of Simple Past Tense | English Study Here 
  8. Simple Tenses | What Are the Simple Tenses? | Grammar Monster 
mm

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

Recent Posts

Amen Meaning

Amen Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

Gentrification Meaning

Gentrification Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

Blasphemy Meaning

Blasphemy Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

AOC Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It