A1Grammar

Master the Present Simple Tense: Your Guide to Easy English Grammar

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Welcome to your easy guide to understanding and using the Present Simple tense in English! If you’re just starting to learn English, or want to brush up on your basic grammar, you’re in the right place. This lesson will help you understand what the Present Simple is, how to use it, and give you lots of practice. Let’s get started and boost your spoken English practice!

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What is the Present Simple Tense?

The Present Simple tense is one of the first tenses you’ll learn in English for beginners. It’s used to talk about things that are generally true, habits, routines, and things that happen regularly. Think about your daily life – the things you do every day, every week, or always. That’s often the Present Simple!

In simple terms, we use it to describe:

  • Habits and routines: Things you do regularly.
  • General truths and facts: Things that are always true.
  • Schedules and timetables: For future events that are fixed.

How to Form the Present Simple Tense

Forming the Present Simple is quite easy, but there are a few important things to remember, especially with the verb ‘to be’ and in the third person singular (he, she, it).

Affirmative Form (+)

For most verbs, the affirmative form is simply the base form of the verb (the infinitive without ‘to’).

Subject + Base Verb

  • I eat breakfast every day.
  • You work hard.
  • We live in London.
  • They study English.

Important! Third Person Singular (He, She, It)

For he, she, and it, we usually add -s or -es to the base verb.

Subject (He/She/It) + Base Verb + -s/-es

  • He plays football.
  • She reads books.
  • It rains a lot here.

When to add -es?

We usually add -es when the verb ends in: -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o

  • He watches TV. (watch + -es)
  • She kisses her baby. (kiss + -es)
  • It goes to school. (go + -es)

For verbs ending in consonant + -y, we change the -y to -ies.

  • study → studies (She studies English.)
  • cry → cries (He cries sometimes.)
  • fly → flies (It flies in the sky.)

Negative Form (-)

To make the Present Simple negative, we use do not (don’t) or does not (doesn’t) before the base form of the verb.

Subject + do/does + not + Base Verb

  • I do not (don’t) like coffee.
  • You do not (don’t) understand.
  • We do not (don’t) want to go.
  • They do not (don’t) speak Spanish.

Third Person Singular (He, She, It)

For he, she, and it, we use does not (doesn’t).

  • He does not (doesn’t) play the guitar.
  • She does not (doesn’t) eat meat.
  • It does not (doesn’t) work.

Question Form (?)

To form questions in the Present Simple, we use Do or Does at the beginning of the sentence, before the subject, and then the base form of the verb.

Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb…?

  • Do I need help?
  • Do you like pizza?
  • Do we know them?
  • Do they live here?

Third Person Singular (He, She, It)

For he, she, and it questions, we use Does.

  • Does he play sports?
  • Does she work in a bank?
  • Does it rain often?

When to Use the Present Simple Tense

Let’s look at the main uses of the Present Simple tense with examples to help you understand. This is key for spoken English practice!

1. Habits and Routines

We use the Present Simple to talk about things we do regularly, habits, and daily routines. Think about your daily routines English vocabulary here!

  • I wake up at 7 am every day.
  • She drinks coffee in the morning.
  • They go to the gym after work.
  • He watches TV in the evening.
  • We eat dinner at 8 pm.

2. General Truths and Facts

We use the Present Simple to talk about things that are always true or are general facts about the world.

  • The sun rises in the east.
  • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  • Dogs bark.
  • Fish live in water.
  • The Earth revolves around the sun.

3. Schedules and Timetables (Future Meaning)

We can also use the Present Simple to talk about future events that are scheduled or on a timetable, especially for public transport, events, etc.

  • The train leaves at 9:00 am tomorrow.
  • The movie starts at 7:30 pm.
  • Our English class begins next week.
  • The plane arrives at 10:15 pm.

4. States, Not Actions

The Present Simple is often used with verbs that describe states, feelings, or opinions, rather than actions. These are sometimes called stative verbs. Examples include: like, love, hate, want, need, know, believe, understand, remember, belong, seem, be, have (for possession).

  • I like ice cream.
  • She loves music.
  • They believe in ghosts.
  • He knows the answer.
  • We have a car.

Time Adverbs with the Present Simple

We often use adverbs of frequency with the Present Simple to say how often we do something. These adverbs usually go before the main verb (but after ‘to be’). Common adverbs include:

  • always
  • usually
  • often
  • sometimes
  • rarely/seldom
  • never
  • every day/week/month/year
  • once/twice/three times a week/month/year

Examples:

  • I always drink coffee in the morning.
  • She usually goes to bed early.
  • They often eat out.
  • He sometimes plays video games.
  • We rarely go to the cinema.
  • I never smoke.
  • I go to the gym every day.
  • She visits her parents once a month.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to practice what you’ve learned! Complete the sentences below using the Present Simple tense. Choose the correct form of the verb in brackets.

  1. I ___________ (drink) tea every morning.
  2. She ___________ (live) in Paris.
  3. They ___________ (play) football on Sundays.
  4. He ___________ (not like) vegetables.
  5. ___________ you ___________ (speak) English?
  6. The bus ___________ (leave) at 10 am.
  7. Water ___________ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
  8. She ___________ (study) English every day.
  9. We ___________ (not have) a car.
  10. ___________ he ___________ (work) here?

Answers

  1. I drink tea every morning.
  2. She lives in Paris.
  3. They play football on Sundays.
  4. He does not like / doesn’t like vegetables.
  5. Do you speak English?
  6. The bus leaves at 10 am.
  7. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  8. She studies English every day.
  9. We do not have / don’t have a car.
  10. Does he work here?

How did you do? Practice makes perfect! The more you use the Present Simple tense, the easier it will become. Keep practicing your English grammar and basic English verbs!

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