UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE: A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF EXPLANATIONS IN LEADING ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEXTBOOKS

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of how the Present Simple tense is explained across several of the most widely used English grammar textbooks, including Raymond Murphy’s English Grammar in Use, Betty Schrampfer Azar’s Fundamentals of English Grammar, Michael Swan’s Practical English Usage, and O’Dell & Broadhead’s English Grammar: Understanding the Basics. The discussion focuses on the similarities and differences in their approaches, highlighting how each author defines the functions, structures, and usage contexts of the Present Simple tense. The article demonstrates that while the tense is considered elementary, its explanation varies significantly depending on pedagogical goals. The analysis aims to provide learners and teachers with a clearer, multidimensional understanding of the Present Simple.