Simple Present

We use this tense when we are talking about facts or things we do often (habits). When describing a habit, these types of sentences give an idea of time. To do this, they include words like always, sometimes, usually, often and never. This gives the reader or listener an idea of how often the habit happens.

Example;

I eat fufu every Friday.

Rama usually eats fufu on Fridays.

For regular verbs, the simple present tense is usually formed by adding –s to the end of the verb when speaking in the third person singular. When we are speaking in the 1st and 2nd person singular it stays in the base form. Take a look at the examples below.

To conjugate the verb ‘eat’

I eat mangoes every day.

You eat mangoes every day.

He/She eats mangoes every day

We eat mangoes every day.

They eat mangoes every day.

We only add an –s to the end of the verb ‘eat’ when speaking the third person singular (he/she). For verbs ending in a consonant + y (e.g. dy), we form the simple present tense for third person singular by changing the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and adding ‘es’.