Present Simple Tense

The present simple tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English. It's used to express habits, general truths, repeated actions, and fixed arrangements.

When to Use the Present Simple

1. For habits and routines

   • I usually wake up at 7 AM every day.
   • She always drinks coffee in the morning.

2. For general truths and facts

   • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
   • The Earth revolves around the Sun.

3. For timetables and schedules

   • The train leaves at 9:30 PM.
   • The store opens at 8 AM tomorrow.

4. For instructions and directions

   • First, you press the button, then you wait for the light.
   • You turn left at the traffic light and continue straight.

How to Form the Present Simple

Affirmative Sentences

• I/You/We/They + verb (base form)

  • I work in a hospital.
  • They live in London.

• He/She/It + verb + s/es

  • He works in a hospital.
  • She lives in London.

Spelling Rules for Adding -s

1. Most verbs: add -s

   • work → works, play → plays, run → runs

2. Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -z: add -es

   • watch → watches, wash → washes, kiss → kisses, fix → fixes, buzz → buzzes

3. Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i and add -es

   • study → studies, try → tries, carry → carries

4. Verbs ending in vowel + y: just add -s

   • play → plays, enjoy → enjoys, say → says

Negative Sentences

Negative sentences in the present simple use "do not" (don't) or "does not" (doesn't) + the base form of the verb.

• I/You/We/They + do not (don't) + verb (base form)

  • I don't work on Sundays.
  • They don't live in Paris.

• He/She/It + does not (doesn't) + verb (base form)

  • He doesn't work on Sundays.
  • She doesn't live in Paris.

Questions

Questions in the present simple use "do" or "does" + subject + base form of the verb.

• Do + I/you/we/they + verb (base form)?

  • Do you work on weekends?
  • Do they live in Tokyo?

• Does + he/she/it + verb (base form)?

  • Does he work on weekends?
  • Does she live in Tokyo?

Common Time Expressions Used with the Present Simple

• always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
• every day/week/month/year
• on Mondays/Tuesdays/etc.
• in the morning/afternoon/evening
• at night/at the weekend
• once/twice a week

Examples in Context

• I work from Monday to Friday, but I don't work on weekends.
• She teaches English and loves her job.
• Do you like coffee?
• He doesn't understand the question.
• The museum closes at 6 PM today.
• How often do you visit your grandparents?

Interactive Practice Exercises

Complete these sentences using the present simple tense: