The simple present tense is used to describe present state. Certain verbs , usually called stative verbs, often appear in these sentences. The most common stative verb is be (am, is, are). For example: Statement: He is a doctor.
Negative: Mary isn't a good friend.
Questions: Are there good beaches around here?

2. Other Stative verbs

Some stative verbs refer to state of feeling or attitude. Some of them are love, like, prefer, appreciate, hate, detest, care, mind, need, wish, etc. For example: Amanda wishes she is rich. Do you mind if I open the door? I don't care whether it rains or not.

Other stative verbs refer to state of ownership, possession and measurement such as have, own, possess, belong to, contain, consist of, involve, weigh, measure, cost, etc. For example: How much does a good computer cost? The book does not contain the information I need. Stative verbs of state of mind: remember, recall, forget, mean, understand, agree, feel, guess, know, etc.
Stative verbs of sense perception: hear, see, feel, smell, notice, etc.
Stative verbs of appearance: look, appear, seem, sound, taste,

Click here to see more stative verbs.

3. Uses of the Present tense

A: to make a statement about actions that are continuing or things happening repeatedly.
e.g. Jean lives in France. Mary watches television each evening.
B: to give instructions/directions.
e.g. You take the first left then take the next right.
C: to tell jokes and stories.
e.g. A man comes into the pub and he says ............
D: to ask a simple question using do/does.
e.g. Do you like English food? Does your father speak English?
E: short answers to a simple question.
e.g. Do you enjoy English food? Yes, I do.

4. Habits, Routines, and Timeless Truths--the Simple Present Tense.

The simple present tense is also used for current habits, routines, and truths. These are actions that are repeated over and over again. For example: Water freezes at 0 Celsius.(truth)
I always take the 7:00 a.m. bus to go to work. (routine).
Frequency adverbs are usually used with this tense for repeated actions. Some of them are always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never, etc.
The most common position for frequency adverbs is immediately before the simple present tense verb. For example: My boss frequently blows his nose.
Adverbial phrases of frequency usually go at the end of the sentence. For example: all the time, from time to time, every now and then, once in while, every day, etc.

5. The present continuous tense

This tense is used for two main types of actions:
1. A temporary action happening now (but it will stop in the future). For example: Allen is winning the game.
2. A definite plan for the future. Bob is leaving for Seattle on Friday.

5. Drawing Conclusions from evidence--Modal Verbs

Modal verbs can be used when you draw conclusions from evidence. Thye indicate that the things are probable, possible, or impossible.

• Probable: must
• Possible: may, might, could
• Possible not: may not, might not
• Probably not: must not
• Impossible: cannot, could not
• Ability: can
• Inability: can't