Simple Present Tense

Simple present tense

Let's sharpen our knowledge by reviewing again the material about the simple present tense!

What is simple present tense?

​This page will present the simple present tense:

1. its form

2. its use

Before you continue the lesson, read the following passage and try to see how the verbs are formed and used.

  

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​"James is a taxi driver. He drives a taxi. But on Sundays he doesn't drive his taxi. He stays at home."

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The forms of simple present tense

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​the negative form

​the affirmative form

​Remember the verbs in the third person singular (he, she and it) always take an "s". For example, "he plays, she sings, it works..."

Examples:

• Nancy and James speak good German.

• Nancy works in a restaurant downtown.

​I, you, we, they	​Play
​He, she, it	​Plays

​Examples:

• No, I don't speak German.

• No, she doesn't work in a restaurant downtown

​I, you, we, they	​do not/ don't
​He, she, it	​does not/ doesn't

The forms of simple present tense

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​the INTERGATIVE form

Examples:

• Do you speak good German?

• Does Nancy work in a restaurant downtown?

DO​	I, you, they, we​	play?​
​Does	he, she, it​	play?​

​the use of simple present tense

Subject | Subject

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• To give your opinion - I like ice cream. I don't like spicy food.

• To talk about schedules - The library opens at eight. It doesn't open at 7.

• To talk about daily habits (routine actions) - Sara eats a cheese for breakfast every day. She doesn't eat cereal.

• To give facts - The earth circles the sun. The moon doesn't circle the sun.

​the third person singular form of simple present tense

Subject | Subject

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​All the verbs take an "s" in the simple present when conjugated in the third person singular (he, she, it) form:

​

Examples:

1.  I visit my parents every summer holiday. But my wife visits her parents every weekend.

2.  My brother meets his girlfriend everyday.

So the rule is:

Singular Person in Simple present tense
​He / she / it + Verb + S

​Have or has in simple present tense

Subject | Subject

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​I, you, we, they	​have	​the book
​he, she, it	​has	​the book

​Example:

• I have two sisters and two brothers. But she has one sister and two brothers.

​things to remember about simple present tense

Subject | Subject

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1. In the interrogative forms, we use "do" or "does". Do you like the house?" Does she go to school?"​	​3. Don't is the short form of "do not". You can say either: I do not speak Italian, or I don't speak Italian.
​2. Verbs never take an "s" in the the negative and interrogative forms. Does he speak German?" Do they play soccer?" She doesn't like ice cream.	​4. Doesn't is the short form of "does not". you can say either: He does not listen to jazz music, or He doesn't listen to jazz music.