This tense is used for three purposes.

One is to represent a habit or a regular activity in the present.

This one is made to happen using action verbs. Such verbs represent a dynamic activity. One example is “dance.” You don’t stand still, but move, to dance.

The syntax in such a case is “subject v1 s/es object.”

The s/es is used for singular nouns. In regard to pronouns, this rule goes with he, she, and it. The rule also goes with indefinite pronouns such as something and everyone.

For instance, I eat food. Similarly, he eats food. In addition, Raj eats food. Moreover, someone calls you.

The syntax for the passive version of this rule is “subject is/am/are v3 object.”

Food is eaten by me.

Before you proceed, know the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb.

Verbs that need an object are transitive verbs. To illustrate, consider “Sam kills Jenny.” Here “kills” will not make much sense without “Jenny.”

Verbs that do not need an object are intransitive verbs. To illustrate, consider “I sleep.” “Sleep” does not need an object to make the meaning clear.

Note that some verbs can act as both transitive verbs and intransitive verbs.

I sing. (This one is to mention my ability.)

I sing romantic songs. (This one is to refer to the kind of songs I sing.)

Now, there is no passive version for a case with an intransitive verb.

For example, I swim. (This is the active voice version.)

The passive does not exist.

Another way the present indefinite tense is used is to represent a state or a condition in the present.

The syntaxes in this case are the following.

  1. subject is/am/are adjective

I am good.

subject is/am/are a/an countable noun

He is a doctor.

subject is/am/are uncountable noun

This is information.

subject is/am/are the countable/uncountable noun

He is the doctor. This is the information.

None of the above have passive versions.

The third way this tense is used is to broadcast news.

Prime Minister arrives tomorrow. (If you see, the present tense is used for the future.)

Now, let us know how the negative and interrogative versions are made.

English is not only about learning rules. Sometimes, it is about extracting rules from examples. Then, you use the rules to make new English.

Thus, for the negatives and the questions, I will give you only examples. Combine them with what you have learned previously in this post, and do further well in the tenses.

AffirmativeNegativeInterrogative
I eat food.I do not eat food.

I don’t eat food.		Do I eat food?

Do I not eat food?

Don’t I eat food?
He eats food.He does not eat food.

He doesn’t eat food.		Does he eat food?

Does he not eat food?

Doesn’t he eat food?
You are good.You are not good.

You aren’t good.

You’re not good.		Are you good?

Are you not good?

Aren’t you good?
You are taught by me.You are not taught by me.

You aren’t taught by me.

You’re not taught by me.		Are you taught by me?

Are you not taught by me?

Aren’t you taught by me?
Everyone likes you.No one likes you.

None like you.		Does everyone like you?
(You do not know anything about this person.)

Does anyone like you?
(You know the person, but you are not sure about his reputation.)

Remember in the passive version of a clause or a sentence with an indefinite pronoun, the “by object” part is not used.

Active Everyone likes you.

Passive You are liked. Do not use “you are liked by everyone.”

Homework

Make a sentence using each case described above. Post your responses in a comment. I will give you feedback for free.