一、考查其基本用法
一般现在时主要表示经常性或习惯性的动作、说话时某人或某物的特征或状态，以及客观真理。常与always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, every day等时间状语连用。如：
1. —You’re drinking too much.
—Only at home. No one ________ me but you. (北京春)
A. is seeing B. had seen
C. sees D. saw
【分析】答案选C。由语境可知“我只在家里喝得多”是平时的习惯，“除你之外，没有人看见”也就是指平常的情况。(from
www.nmet168.com)
2. I ________ ping-pong quite well, but I haven’t had time to play since the new year. (全国卷)
A. will play B. have played
C. played D. play
【分析】答案选D。由语境可知，“乒乓球打得好”，是“我”现在具有的技能。
3. —Don’t you like the material? —Yes, it ________ very soft. (全国卷)
A. is feeling B. felt
C. feels D. is felt
【分析】答案选C。feel表示“(某物)摸起来”，无进行时态和被动语态，排除A和D；由don’t可知，指这种原料现在的特征，用一般现在时。
4. —Can I help you, sir?
—Yes. I bought this radio here yesterday, but it ________. (全国卷)
A. didn’t work B. won’t work
C. can’t work D. doesn’t work
【分析】答案选D。由问句和but可知，this radio现在坏了，用一般现在时表示现在所处的状态。work指机器设备的运作。
二、考查其将来性用法
一般现在时在表时间或条件的状语从句中表示将来，还可表示按计划或时刻表将要发生的动作(常有时间状语)。如：
1. The plane for Australia takes off at two. 去Australia的飞机两点起飞。
2. —Can I join the club, Dad?
—You can when you ________ a bit older. (全国卷)
A. get B. will get
C. are getting D. will have got
【分析】答案选A。在时间状语从句中用一般现在时表示将来。
3. It ________ long before we ________ the result of the experiment. (02上海春)
A. will not be; will know B. is; will know
C. will not be; know D. is; know
【分析】答案选C。It will not be long before…(不久之后…就…) 是固定句型，主句用一般将来时，before引导的时间状语从句用一般现在时表示将来。