Present simple

Present simple

We use the present simple to talk about:

• something that is true in the present: He lives in London.

• something that happens regularly in the present: I play football every weekend.

• something that is always true: The human body contains 206 bones.

Present simple

The present tense is the base form of the verb:

* I work in London. 

But with the third person singular (she/he/it), we add an –s:

* She works in London.

For most verbs we add -s to the base form to make the she, he, it (third person singular) form:

• come → comes

• order → orders

• travel → travels

• eat → eats

• walk → walks

When the verb ends in -ch, -ss, -sh, -x or -zz, we add -es.

• watch → watches

• miss → misses

• wash → washes

• buzz → buzzes

When the verb ends in a consonant + -y we change y to i and add -es.

• hurry → hurries

• study → studies

• reply → replies

But when the verb ends in a vowel + -y we just add -s.

• pay ​→ pays

• enjoy→ enjoys

Have, go, do and be are irregular.

• have = has

• go = goes

• do = does

• be = am / is / are

We often use adverbs of frequency like sometimes, always and never with the present simple:

• I sometimes go to the cinema.

• She never plays football.

We use do and does to make negatives with the present simple. We use doesn't for the third person singular (she/he/it) and don't for the others.

• I like tennis but I don't like football. (don't = do not)

• John doesn't live in Manchester. (doesn't = does not)

We use do and does to make questions with the present simple. We use does for the third person singular (she/he/it) and do for the others.

• Do you play the piano?

• Does Jack play football?

We use do and does with question words like where, what and when:

• Where do Angela and Rita live?

• What does Angela do?

• When does Rita usually get up?

Multiple Choice

They ....... to the market every day.

• went

• going

• go

• goes

Multiple Choice

.......... they go to school by bus?

• Does

• Do

• Did

Multiple Choice

I think the boys .......... the answer.

• know

• knew

• knows

• knowing

Multiple Choice

He .......... go to school on Sundays.

• doesn't

• do

• did

• didn't

Multiple Choice

They .......... books.

• read

• reads

• did read

• reading

Multiple Choice

The students ........ a lot of homework.

• has

• had

• having

• have

Multiple Choice

My friend and I never ....... together.

• go out

• going

• goes

Multiple Choice

Maria __________ in a bank.

• works

• worked

• working

• work

Multiple Choice

I ...... my face in the morning.

• washing

• wash

• washes

• washed

Multiple Choice

.......... he watch cartoons before he goes to school?

• Did

• Does

• Do

Multiple Choice

Mr Udom ........ his car every weekend.

• washes

• washing

• wash

• washed

Multiple Choice

.......... she play tennis on the weekends?

• Does

• Did

• Do

Multiple Choice

John and Paul .......... eat breakfast on school days.

• don't

• didn't

• doesn't

• not

Multiple Choice

I ...... my face in the morning.

• washing

• wash

• washes

• washed