Though the present simple is mostly used to show timeless actions or events, it does have different, less general uses. It can, for instance, show temporary states or be used in storytelling. As such, it is sometimes misunderstood to say it describes the time of hobbies through a repeated activity. It can be used for repeated activities, but it is important to recognise that this is an extension of its main use – for timeless actions or events. How, then, can something that is timeless also be used to show something that is repeated?
How the present simple shows repeated activities
The present simple can be used to demonstrate repeated activities. Present simple repeated activities occur as a general fact, the present simple does not indicate a particular time or event here, but can demonstrate how often something happens.
- I play golf every Wednesday. (A frequently occurring fact.)
- I sometimes study English. (An infrequent but recurring activity.)
These repeated activities do not have a beginning or end, even though they may specify a regularly reoccurring time (such as every Wednesday). They are therefore still timeless actions or events – with the added detail of specifying how often they occur.
Repeated events in the present simple are typically joined by adverbs of frequency, such as usually, often, always and sometimes. These adverbs usually come before the verb.
- Jane usually buys our milk.
- Elephants sometimes
To demonstrate schedules or specific times, a time may be placed after the verb, with frequency adverbs such as every or most.
- I run along the beach every Saturday morning.
- We meet in the town hall most
Frequency can also be shown with a preposition and noun phrase, for specific times that use fixed expressions, such as at the weekend, or when talking about specific days or dates, such as on the third Friday of the month.
- She works at the weekend.
- They deliver papers on Tuesday afternoons.
The important thing to take from this technique, in terms of use, is that all of these adverbs and times demonstrate frequency not a specific time. The present simple for repeated activities remains timeless in terms of showing a point in physical time (there is no beginning or end with these statements) – but presents a time for the purposes of showing how often something happens.
Hi Phil
I am wondering that if the simple present tense always indicates that actions or states are repetitive in the present or it has to be joined with the adverbs of frequency to show that.
1). For instance, I am happy, I am tired, the story is exciting and etc. are those statement indicate the states are repetitive or it just means those states are true in the present?
2). Another case is that when we use simple present to state facts without the adverbs of frequency, does actions in the simple present tense are repetitive? For example, AI is utilized in different fields, does the action of utilizing is repetitive or we just see it as a general truth.
I know the question may sound weird, and I may overthink about it, but I do appreciate your response, thanks!
Best regards,
Yichun
1/7/2023
Hi Yichun,
Generally speaking if there’s no extra indicator of frequency then the present simple will be treated as timeless. It can suggest that action recurs, but in a rule-based/regular way as opposed to with any particular repetitions (i.e. if we say something like “I enjoy films”, it suggests they are enjoyed often/regularly, particularly as we have a plural, but it doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about that frequency). As with everything in language though, context could change this; if there’s an understanding that we’re discussing frequency the simple tense could still be understood that way (for example if it’s answering a question that contains that information).
For you examples, in (1), without extra context these statements would only tell us it is true in the present. For (2), likewise it doesn’t tell us anything about frequency, only that this is done in general.
I hope this helps.
Phil
Hi Phil
Thank you so much for your explanation.
1). When you said “Generally speaking if there’s no extra indicator of frequency then the present simple will be treated as timeless.”, the extra indicator of frequency you mentioned are the adverbs of frequency like often, sometimes, always and etc., right?
2). Just double check what I understood, if there are no adverbs of frequency mentioned and no specific context indicating the frequency, the actions or states in simple present just tell us something in general or in the present, and it doesn’t mean that the actions or states continuous repeating itself multiple times in the present. Do I understand it right?
I really appreciate your help!
Best regards,
Yichun
1/12/2022
Hi Phil,
I am posting this comment to follow up with my last questions, since I’ve heard from you yet.
Besides those two questions I posted before, I am also wondering when you said ” EXTRA indicator of frequency, do you mean the simple present already has the indicator of frequency or meaning of frequency?
I look forward to hear from you, thank you in advance!
Best regards,
Yichun Li
1/16/2023
Hi Yichun,
Yes, sorry for the slow reply on the other questions; you’re correct, the indicators would generally be adverbs of frequency, though they could be phrases or clauses that provide similar information (for example you could indicate frequency with a time phrase like ‘On Wednesday evenings at 7pm,’, to the same effect as an adverbial like ‘every week’). And you’re correct, without that additional context, the present won’t indicate something repeating/recurring.
My use of ‘extra’ wasn’t to mean the present simple contains some of that information, just to emphasise that is additional context.
Phil
Hi Phil,
I am sorry that I just saw your reply. And when you said “And you’re correct, without that additional context, the present won’t indicate something repeating/recurring.” the present you used here means the present simple tense, right?
Thank you!
Best regards,
Yichun
1/30/2023
Hi Yichun,
Yes sorry, absolutely right, I meant present simple.
Phil