Present Simple Tense. Use #2: Facts or Generalisations
The present simple can also indicate that the speaker believes that a fact was true in the past, in the present, and will be true in the future. We must remember that it is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. The present simple is also used to make generalisations about people or things.
Example: Cats like milk. – Кошки любят молоко.
Here we talk about general facts about cats. (It may not be true for specific cats or dogs, of course.)
Example: London is in the United Kingdom.- Лондон находится в Великобритании.
Here we talk of a geographical fact. Note that with the verb “to be” we do not use the auxiliary verb “to do” in questions and negative statements. Also note that “is not” is contracted to “isn’t” and “are not” is contracted to “aren’t”.
Example: London is a small city. – Лондон- небольшой город.
That London is a small city is presented here as a fact. It does not matter that this is untrue.
