Present Simple Lesson

Understanding the
Present Simple Tense

The present simple tense is one of the most fundamental and commonly

used verb tenses in English. It is used to express daily routines, general facts,

and scheduled events. Mastering this tense is crucial for effective

communication in both spoken and written English.

by Mario Bahamondes

Multiple Choice

Can you name one situation where you would use the present simple tense?

• • To describe a past event

  
  

• To talk about a routine

• To tell a story in the future

• To describe an ongoing action

When to Use the Present Simple
Tense

1

Daily Routines

To describe habitual actions, such as "I

wake up at 7 AM."

2

General Truths

To express universal facts, like "The

Earth orbits the Sun."

3

Scheduled Events

To talk about events with a fixed schedule, for example "The train leaves at 6 PM."

Multiple Choice

Give an example of a general truth that you can express using the present simple tense.

• I was swimming yesterday.

• I will go to the store tomorrow.

• Water boils at 100°C.

• She is reading a book now.

Forming Affirmative Sentences

Structure

Subject + Base Verb (add 's' or 'es' for he/she/it)

Examples

"She works in a bank."

"They play football on Saturdays."

Multiple Choice

How do you add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs in the present simple tense when the subject is he, she, or it?

• After ‘to be’ verbs

• Before the main verb

• To all verbs regardless of the subject

• To the base form of the verb for third-person singular subjects

Negative Sentence Formation

Structure

Subject + do/does not + Base Verb

Examples

"I do not like broccoli."

"He does not go to school on Sundays."

Multiple Choice

What auxiliary verb do you use with ‘I’ and ‘you’ to form negative sentences in the present simple tense?

• Did

• Do

• Does

• Will

Asking Questions

Structure

Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb?

Examples

"Do you speak English?"

"Does she enjoy reading?"

Multiple Choice

How do you form a question in the present simple tense if the subject is ‘they’?

• Does they play football?

• Do they plays football?

• Do they play football?

• Are they play football?

'Do' vs. 'Does'

1

Using 'Do'

Use 'do' with I, you, we, they.

2

Using 'Does'

Use 'does' with he, she, it.

3

The Difference

'Does' is used with singular third-person subjects, while 'do' is used with all other subjects.

Multiple Choice

In which case would you use ‘does’ instead of ‘do’ in the present simple tense?

• With ‘I’

• With ‘you’

• With ‘he’

• With ‘we’

Let's Practice!

Affirmative

"He likes pizza."

Negative

"He does not like pizza."

Question

"Does he like pizza?"

Affirmative

"They study English."

Negative

"They do not study English."

Question

"Do they study English?"

Multiple Choice

Convert the sentence “She works late on Fridays” to a question using the present simple tense.

• Does she works late on Fridays?

• Do she work late on Fridays?

• Does she work late on Fridays?

• Is she works late on Fridays?

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Wrapping Up

The present simple tense is a versatile and essential part of the English

language. By mastering its usage, you'll be able to communicate more

effectively in a wide range of everyday situations. Keep practicing, and the

proper application of this tense will soon become second nature.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to practice using the present simple tense in daily conversations?

• It helps to improve future tense skills.

• It is only used in formal writing.

• It is essential for effective communication.

• It is rarely used in English.daffas