The Present Simple Tense

Uses:

1. Habits;

I get up at 7 o'clock every day.

2. Natural laws;

The sun rises in the morning. (permanent truths)

3. In time clauses (those introduced by conjunctions such as: when, as soon as, until, before, after, the moment that, now that, by the time that);

When she arrives, I will call him up.

4. Describing activities, planned beforehand (principally travel) in the future and according to a fixed timetable with the verbs of going and coming, such as: go, come, leave, arrive, get, return, embark, take off, sail, fly.

The 'Queen Mary' sails next Monday.

Special Notes

Common adverbs are associated with the Present Simple (always, often, sometimes, usually, generally, seldom, frequently, whenever); and adverbial phrases such as: every day (week, etc), once, twice, a week (month, etc).

She often sings in her bath.

He visits his relatives whenever he can.

They go to the movies twice a week.