Permanent situations

My dad works in Saudi Arabia.

My sister wears glasses.

He lives in the French Alps near the Swiss border.

3 General truths. Statements that are always true. Laws of nature.

Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.

Love makes the world go round.

The bus takes longer than the train.

Summer follows spring.

Gases expand when heated.

4 Future reference. This use is often related to timetables and programmes or to events in the calendar.

The next train leaves at two fifteen in the morning.

It's Tuesday tomorrow.

The exhibition opens on January 1st and closes on January 31^st.
The concert begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.30.
We use the Present Simple especially when we are talking about journey, travelling plans and itinerary.

We leave London at 10.00 next Tuesday and arrive in Paris at 13.00. We spend two hours in Paris and leave again at 15.00. We arrive in Rome at 19.30, spend four hours in Rome. (itinerary).

5 Observations and declarations in the course of conversation. Mostly with the verbs describing opinion and feelings: hope/assume/suppose/promise/demand/ assure/ predict/ propose/ warn/ swear/ bet/ suggest/ admit/ say/ claim/agree

I promise everything will be all right.

I bet you were nervous just before your driving test.

It says here that the police expect more trouble in the city.

I declare this exhibition open.

We live in difficult times - I agree.

It is used, chiefly with the verb say, when we are asking about or quoting from books, notices or very recently received letters:

What does that notice say? - It says, 'No parking’.

What does the book say? - It says, 'Cook very slowly.'

I see you 've got a letter from Ann. What does she say? - She says she is coming to London next week.

Summaries of events. Plots of stories, fims, etc.

At last the boy meets his friends, they talk for some time and he agrees to go with them.

In narratives to express past actions more vividly.

It was so unexpected. You see, I came home late last night, turned on the light – and whom do you think I see? Jack, old Jack, sleeping in the chair. I give a cry, rush to him and shake him by the shoulder.

The structures: HERE COMES..., THERE GOES...

There goes our bus.

Here come the students of our group.

Giving or asking for instructions.

What do we do next? What happens next?

Where do we go now? How do I get to the station?