Present Simple

We use the present simple to express actions in the present that are:

Permanent situations

The examples below are not temporary situations. They may change but not anytime soon.

• • She works at the library.
  • We live in California.
  • I’m tall.

Schedules and fixed times

• The bus leaves at 9 am.
• School starts in September.
• All trains are suspended after midnight.

Facts

• The sky is blue.
• The earth is round.
• Water boils at 100 degrees C.

 

Frequency, routine, and repetitive actions

*We often use adverbs of frequency such as always, sometimes, often, usually, rarely and never with the present simple to describe how often we do something.

• He always eats lunch at 12 pm.
• I usually have coffee with my breakfast.
• I never eat junk food.

We only conjugate the present by adding an “s” to the end of the verb when the subject is “he, she, and it” in the affirmative form.

I, you, we, they	drive to work every day
He, she, it	drives to work every day

 

*The present simple has irregular verbs as well.

have = has

go = goes

do = does

*Verbs that end in a consonant + y add “ies”

Study = studies

Hurry = hurries

*Verbs that end in “O, CH, SH, SS, X, Z” add “es” in third person.

go = goes watch = watches wash = washes kiss = kisses fix = fixes quiz = quizzes

John goes to the supermarket. She quizzes her students every Friday.

 

Present Tense in the negative form

To make a sentence negative in the present, add “do not” or “does not” after the subject. We use does not for the subject “he, she, it”. We do not add “s” to the end of the main verb for “he, she, and it” in the negative form.

I, you,  we, they	do not to work every day
He, she, it	does not study every day.

 

Example:

He doesn’t studies every day. (incorrect)

He doesn’t study every day.    (correct)

Do not = don’t (contraction)

Does not = doesn’t (contraction)

 

Examples:

We drink coffee every day.

We don’t drink coffee every day.

 

Maria drinks coffee every day.

Maria doesn’t drink coffee every day.

 

You drink coffee every day.

You do not drink coffee every day.

 

Present tense in Question Form

To make a question, use do or does.

Yes, you do. Yes, I do. Yes, we do. Yes, they do. Yes, he does. Yes, she does. Yes, it does.

No, you don’t. No, I don’t. No, we don’t. No, they don’t. No, he doesn’t. No, she doesn’t. No, it doesn’t.

 

Click here for quizzes on the present simple.