The simple present tense of a verb is used to express an action that occurs in the present, a habitual action, or a general truth or fact.

Read each sentences. Take note of the verbs in italic face.

• Manny Pacquiao makes all of us proud to be Filipinos.

• He starts and ends each bout with a prayer.

• He tries his best to win all the time.

• Filipinos flock to the boxing arena every time he has a fight.

• Many people think that Manny Pacquiao is a modern-day hero.

The verbs makes and thinks in the above sentences indicate a general truth or fact.

A truth or fact is something that is commonly known to be true or accepted; a fact that cannot be denied or changed.

Example:

• Earth rotates on its axis.

It is a known fact that the Earth rotates on its axis - this cannot be denied or changed.

In the same manner, it is a fact that Manny Pacquiao makes us all proud to be Filipinos as far as professional boxing is concerned.

Examples:

• He starts and ends each bout with a prayer.

• He tries his best to win all the time.

• Filipinos flock to the boxing arena every time he has a fight.

The sentences above have verbs - starts, ends, tries, and flock - that show habitual action.

A habitual action is an action that is done regularly or habitually.

Example:

• The pupils attend the flag ceremony every Monday morning.

Attending the flag ceremony is an action that the pupils do habitually - that is, every Monday morning.

In the same manner, the verbs in the above sentences indicate actions that Manny Pacquiao and the Filipinos do every time the former has a boxing match.

The simple present tense of a singular verb is formed by adding -s or -es (-s form).

When a singular verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant, we first change y to i, then add -es.

The simple present tense of a plural verb is formed by retaining its original form (base form).

Examples:

• Filipinos flock to the boxing arena every time he has a fight.

• Many people think that Manny Pacquiao is a modern-day hero.

The verbs flock and think are in the base form. This means they are in the original form without anything having been added to them.

The base form is used with plural nouns and the pronouns I, you, we, and they.

Examples:

• Manny Pacquiao makes all of us proud to be Filipinos.

• He starts and ends each bout with a prayer.

• He tries his best to win all the time.

The verbs makes, starts, ends, and tries are in the -s form. The -s form is used with singular nouns and the pronouns he, she, and it.

To form the -s form of a verb, we add -s or -es. But for verbs that end in y preceded by a consonant, we change y to i, then add -es.

Examples:

• The boy works hard. (work + s)

• Vincent pays his electric bill every month. (pay + s)

• Sheila goes to school every day. (go + es)

• Marco flies a kite with his friends. (fly -> fli + es)

Time expressions like every day, every morning, always, and today are used to indicate that the verb is in the present tense.