Simple Present - Grammar Exceptions

Grammar Exceptions

Here is the most important English rule: Almost every rule is about 90% valid!

What?!

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. It is certainly one of the most frustrating things about learning English. All that hard work to learn the correct grammar and then you read or hear something like this:

"Peter does want to come this summer. It's just that he can't get off work."

As an excellent student the first thought that comes into your mind is; wait a minute, that first sentence is a positive sentence. Does want can't be correct. It should be; Peter wants to come this summer. Of course, according to what you have learned you are correct. However, in certain instances you can use both the auxiliary and principal verb together to form a positive sentence. We allow this exception to add extra emphasis. In other words:

"Peter really wants to come this summer."

You all have plenty of great class, grammar, exercise, and work books that provide all the information necessary concerning the rules of English. I would therefore like to focus on the exceptions to those rules in my grammar features.

This feature will concern the various uses of and exceptions to the simple present.

 You all know that we usually use the simple present to express:

1. Habitual actions
2. Opinions and preferences
3. Truths and facts

You also know that the standard construction is the following:

1. Affirmative: Tom goes to the beach on Saturdays
2. Negative: Mary doesn't like to eat fish on Fridays.
3. Interrogative: Do they work in New York?

Here are some simple present exceptions/extra possibilities

Exception 1 - To give emphasis to the action

In order to add stress to a positive sentence we can use the auxiliary verb "do/does". We often use this exception when we are contradicting what someone else has said.

Example:

A: I don't think Peter wants to come with us this summer. He told me that he wouldn't be able to come, but I think he just doesn't want to come with us.
B: No, that's not true. Peter does want to come. It's just that he has too much work and can't get away from the office.

Exception 2 - Simple Present as Future

The simple present can also be used for the future!!!
We use the simple present to express future, scheduled, events with verbs that express beginning and end, or departure and arrival. The time expression is necessary.

Example:

A: When does the train for Paris leave?
B: It leaves at 7 tomorrow morning. (tomorrow morning - time expression)

Exception 3 - First Conditonal

We use the simple present in time clauses when talking about future events. The when is expressed with the simple present. The result is expressed with a future form, usually the future with will. Time clauses are introduced by time signifiers such as when, as soon as, before, after etc. The construction is the same as the first conditional except that we use a time signifier such as "as soon as" instead of "if".

Example:

A: When are you going to come and see the new house?
B: We will come as soon as we finish the Smith project.

Exception 4 - Time Lines or Biographical Outlines
We often use the simple present when we write time lines or biographical outlines - even if all the events take place in the past!

Example:

1911 - Pete Wilson is born in Seattle, Washington.
1918 - Pete begins to play the saxophone
1927 - Pete is discovered by Fat Man Wallace
1928 - Fat Man Wallace arranges Pete's first concert with Big Fanny and the Boys in New York
1936 - Pete goes to Paris

Exception 5 - In Subject Questions

In the question form we usually use the auxiliary verb "to do". However, if the question word/words (usually who, which or what) express the subject and not the object of the sentence, the question is asked using positive sentence structure with a question mark. By the way, this is true of other tenses as well!

Example 1:

Regular: Who do you work with? (some people prefer "With whom do you work?")

Here we want to know the object of the action.


Exception: Who works with you?

Now the want to know the agent (the subject) of the action.

Example 2:

Regular: Which toothpaste do you use?


Exception: Which brands of toothpaste use fluoride?

Exception 6 - Position of Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency such as regularly, usually, normally, always, often, sometimes, never etc. are generally put before the main verb. However, they can also be put at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Example:

Regular: John usually arrives home at 5 o'clock.

Also possible: Usually John arrives home at 5 o'clock OR John arrives home at 5 o'clock usually.

Note: some teachers do not consider the other possibilities correct! However, if you listen carefully to native speakers, you will also hear these forms used.

Exception 7 - Position of Adverbs of Frequency with To Be
The verb "to be" also causes special problems. If the adverb of frequency is placed in the middle of the sentence (as is usually the case) it must follow the verb "to be".

Example:

Regular: Fred often eats in a bar and grill.

To be: Fred is often late to work.

Exception 8 - Negative Adverbs of Frequency
This is one of the strangest uses of adverbs of frequency. Negative adverbs of frequency used in the initial position of a sentence must be followed by question word order! These adverbs include rarely, never, and seldom.

Example:

Regular: Patricia rarely finishes work before 7 p.m..

Initial placement: Seldom does John play volleyball.

The above exceptions are certainly not the only exceptions! However, they are some of the most common exceptions. I hope this discussion has helped you.

Source: ESL.About adapted by Leonidas Zazelis