I notice many people don’t know how to use verb tenses, so here is the first of a series on the subject. Let’s start with the present tenses. The present tenses refer to action taking place in the present, to a state of being, to an occurrence in the very near future, and to action that occurred in the past and continues into the present.

The simple present (or present simple) is the most basic, most common verb tense.

Here’s how you form the simple present:

I/You/We/They dance.
He/She/It dances.

I/You/We/They do not dance
He/She/It does not dance.

Do I/you/we/they dance?
Does he/she/it dance?

The simple present has three main functions.

1. Expresses facts and generalizations, including rules of nature. You can use the simple present to state a fact without a time reference.

In this case, you are describing or inquiring about a settled state of affairs which includes the present, but where the time reference is not important.

I process fund transfers.

Does your daughter go to school?

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

CCP populates and maintains the Business Authority Retention table.

“Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work. ” Robert Orben

“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” Pablo Picasso

2. Express habits and routines

I do not eat ice cream.

My team meets for lunch on Fridays.

2. Describes your feelings, thoughts and perceptions at the present moment.

I feel tired.

He looks like he had a long night.

I smell the coffee brewing. (Also: I can smell the coffee brewing.)

She hears the phone ringing. (Also: She can hear the phone ringing.)

Additional things to know about the simple present:

Use it to say how often you or others do things. Simple present is used with frequency adverbs such as always, never, often and sometimes. It can also express something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

We always wash the floor on Mondays.

IT backs up the servers daily.

Sometimes she smokes during the day.

My boss often comments on my work.

I often forget my purse.

The simple present has certain conventional uses in business writing. Use it to

Provide factual information about company activities

We teach people how to write clearly.

Gray Hills Region has a two-tier government structure with services provided by the Region and local area municipal governments.

Pencils and Pens Inc. supplies you with the tools you need to run your business.

Write mission statements

We provide quality HR services to attract, develop, motivate and retain a diverse workforce within a supportive work environment. We do this with an emphasis on customer service based on consultation and communication with the campus community.

ALHA represents over 320 nonprofit providers of long-term care and housing services for 65,000 elderly residents across Pennsylvania. The Association is committed to helping its members provide quality care efficiently and effectively for the individuals and families they serve. In an age of impersonal care, ALHA members put people before profits.

Talk about timetables and events scheduled in the past or the future.

The bus to Whistler leaves at 2:45 Monday to Friday.

The course starts at 8:30 am tomorrow.

The AODA regulations come into effect next month.

Provide a summary or abstract at the beginning of a report; define a document’s purpose.

I recommend we purchase the ABC copier.

The test results indicate that no additional hard drive memory is required to resolve the PC performance stability and performance issues.

This document outlines the on-call steps operations staff must take to resolve production problems quickly and effectively.

Do by saying. These verbs are also known as performative verbs.

I quit.

I apologize for being late.

Do you agree?

We guarantee you will be satisfied.

She promises to submit the proposal by Friday.

I enclose a return envelope for your convenience.

Performative verbs–a partial list