Present Simple Tense

Present Simple Tense

Use the present simple for things you do often and for things that are always true. You also use it for timetables and for facts and feelings, like I like this song.

Structure

These patterns are for most verbs. The base form is the verb without -s (for example play). For the verb be, see the section below.

• Positive: subject + base form. Add -s for he, she, it. Example: I work. She works.
• Negative: subject + do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) + base form. Example: I don't like fish. She doesn't work here.
• Yes/no question: Do or Does + subject + base form? Example: Does he like pizza? Short answers: Yes, he does. No, he doesn't. Yes, I do.
• Question with a question word: question word + do or does + subject + base form? Example: Where do you live?

Do and does are helper verbs.

How the Grammar Works

1. With I, you, we and they, use the base form. Example: They work.
2. With he, she and it, add -s or -es to the verb. Example: She works.
   • Most verbs: add -s. He reads. She plays.
   • Verbs that end in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z or -o: add -es. She watches TV. He goes home.
   • Consonant + y: change y to -ies. He studies English.
   • Two special verbs: have becomes has, and do becomes does. She has a dog.
3. For a negative, put do not or does not before the verb. The verb has no -s. Example: She does not work.
4. For a question, start with Do or Does. The verb has no -s. Example: Does she work?

Common Use Cases

• Habits: I walk to school every day.
• Facts that are always true: Fish live in water.
• Timetables: The train leaves at 9 AM.
• Feelings and states: I like this song. I know him.
• Frequency words go with the present simple: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays. Always, usually, often, sometimes and never go before the verb. Example: She always eats breakfast.

The Verb Be

The verb be is different. Do not use do or does with it.

• Positive: I am, you/we/they are, he/she/it is. Example: She is happy.
• Negative: add not. Example: She is not (isn't) happy. They are not (aren't) here. I am not tired.
• Question: put am, is or are first. Example: Is she happy? Are you happy? Short answers: Yes, she is. No, I'm not.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• She play tennis. - correct: She plays tennis. With he, she and it, the verb needs -s.
• Does she plays tennis? - correct: Does she play tennis? After does, the verb has no -s.
• She doesn't plays. - correct: She doesn't play. After doesn't, the verb has no -s.
• He don't like fish. - correct: He doesn't like fish. Use doesn't with he, she and it.
• She studys English. - correct: She studies English. After a consonant, y becomes -ies.
• She be happy. - correct: She is happy. Use am, is or are.
• Do you happy? - correct: Are you happy? Do not use do with be.

Comparison with Related Grammar

The present simple is for things that happen again and again. The present continuous (am/is/are + verb with -ing) is for things that happen now.

• She plays tennis on Sundays. (a habit)
• She is playing tennis now. (right now)

Verbs like like, know and want use the present simple even for now. Say I like this song.

Example Sentences

• She reads books every evening.

• We do not play soccer on Mondays.

• Does he like pizza?

• The train leaves at 9 AM.

• They do their homework after dinner.

• Where do you live?

• She is not at home.

• Fish live in water.

When to Use This Rule

Use the present simple for habits, facts, timetables and feelings. Use am, is, are for the verb be.