Present Simple
The present simple tense describes actions that are regular, habitual, or generally true. It's used for facts, routines, and things that are always or usually true.
Before this, learn: to be - Present SimplePersonal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
1.Structures
1.1to be - Forms
These are the present simple forms of the verb to be
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | I am | We are |
| 2nd person | You are | You are |
| 3d person | He/She/It is | They are |
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1.2to be - Structures
To form the present simple tense with the verb to be, follow these basic rules.
S = Subject
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S+am/is/are +... | I am always at home on Sunday. |
| - Negative | S+am/is/are+not +... | He is not/isn't at work now. |
| ? Question | (QW)+am/is/are+S+...? | Where are you? Are you at the railway station? |
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1.3Other Verbs - Structures
To form the present simple tense, follow these basic rules.
S = Subject
3d person singular = he/she/it
don't = do not
doesn't = does not
QW = question word
Important: Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z: add -es ( watch → He watches)
Verbs ending in a consonant + -y: change -y to -ies (study → She studies)
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S + Verb(+-s/-es in 3d person singular) + ... | I drink tea every morning. He drinks tea every morning. |
| - Negative | S + don't/doesn't(3d person singular) + Verb +... | We don't like fast food. She doesn't like fast food. |
| ? Question | (QW) + do/does(3d person singular) + S + Verb +...? | Where do you buy food? Do you often buy food? Where does he buy food? Does he always buy food? |
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1.4Modal Verbs
To form the present simple tense, follow these basic rules.
S = Subject
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S + modal Verb + Verb+... | I can help you. He can help you. |
| - Negative | S + modal Verb + not + Verb +... | You mustn't call me this name. She mustn't call me this name. |
| ? Question | (QW) + modal Verb + S + Verb +...? | What should I do? Should I read this article? What should she do? Should she read this article? |
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2.Use
2.1Permanent Situations, Habits, Routines
often with adverbs of frequency: always, sometimes, ever, never, usually, often etc.
| Example |
|---|
| I live near here. |
| We go on business twice per year. |
| He normally/always/often... drinks cocktails on weekends. |
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2.2Facts That Are Always True
Universal truths, general facts
| Example |
|---|
| Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. |
| Light travels faster than sound. |
| Plants need sunlight to grow. |
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2.3Schedules and Itineraries
Timetables and plans, planned events and timelines, programs and agendas etc. Often with transport or official events (conferences, business trips etc.)
| Example |
|---|
| The plane departs at 12:30. |
| On day 5 we fly to Paris. |
| The concert starts in an hour. |
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2.4States
With non-progressive (stative) verbs, such as to want, to know, to love, to like, to understand etc.
| Example |
|---|
| I don't belong to this party now. |
| I want to go home right now. |
| I believe you. |
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2.5Declarations, Promises, Demonstrations, Instructions
| Examples | |
|---|---|
| Declarations | I declare today is a holiday! We start our game now. I say this is the best book! |
| Promises | I promise to keep your secret. He promises to play with you. |
| Demonstrations | Now, I press the button, and the machine starts. First, I take the card and place it on the table. |
| Instructions | What do we do now? Where do we start? We begin with a quick review of the rules. |
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3.Frequently asked questions
When do you use the present simple tense?
You use the present simple for habits and routines, permanent situations, facts that are always true, and fixed timetables. For example: "I drink tea every morning" (habit), "I live near here" (permanent situation), "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius" (fact) and "The plane departs at 12:30" (timetable). It is also used with verbs for states, such as want, know and like: "I want to go home."
Do/does or am/is/are: which one do you use in the present simple?
In the present simple, am, is and are belong to the verb to be; other verbs use do or does in questions and negatives. So say "I agree", not "I am agree", and "I like pizza", not "I am like pizza", because agree and like are verbs. In the negative, say "He doesn't love her", not "He isn't love her", and in questions, "Do you like coffee?", not "Are you like coffee?"
Does he go or does he goes: which is correct in the present simple?
"Does he go?" is correct: after does or doesn't the main verb has no -s, because does already carries the he, she, it ending. Say "Where does she work?", not "Where does she works?", and "She doesn't like coffee", not "She doesn't likes coffee". The same is true for do and don't: "They don't play tennis."
When do you add -s or -es to a verb in the present simple?
You add -s or -es when the subject is he, she, it or one person or thing: say "He works", not "He work". With I, you, we and they the verb has no ending: "I work", "They work". Add -es after -ch, -sh, -s, -x or -z ("She watches TV"), and change a consonant + y to -ies ("He studies"). Go, do and have become goes, does and has.
Do you use do or does with modal verbs like can and must in the present simple?
No, modal verbs like can, must and should don't take do or does: use not after the modal, and put the modal first in questions. Say "He can't drive", not "He doesn't can drive", and "Can he swim?", not "Does he can swim?" Modal verbs also never take -s, and the next verb has no to: "She can help you", not "She cans help you" or "She can to help you".
