Present Simple

Present simple

Affirmative, Negative, Questions, Short answers, Exercises

Present Simple

We use PRESENT SIMPLE to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

I take the train to the office.

The train to Tabriz leaves every hour.

Sara sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

The President of The USA lives in The White House.

A dog has four legs.

We come from Iran.

3. For habits.

I get up early every day.

Mina brushes her teeth twice a day.

They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

It rains a lot in winter.

The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

Don’t forget : in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject

Verb

The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they speak / learn

English at home

he / she / it

speaks / learns English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of
that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

go – goes

catch – catches

wash – washes

kiss – kisses

fix – fixes

buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

marry – marries

study – studies

carry – carries

worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

play – plays

enjoy – enjoys

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all
verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We
use Don't when the subject is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb
to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the
affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the negative
sentence. We will see the reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken
English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in
the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.

Subject

don't/doesn't Verb*

The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they don't

have / buy
eat / like etc. cereal for breakfast
he / she / it

doesn't

* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive
without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.

Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it
begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.

Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

You don't speak Arabic.

Saman doesn't speak Italian.

We don't have time for a rest.

It doesn't move.

They don't want to go to the party.

She doesn't like fish.

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in
Spanish though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put
at the beginning of the question.

Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?

You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it
a question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?

When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the
affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in
the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the question.
We will see the reason why below.

Word Order of Questions with Do and Does

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English
using Do or Does.

Do/Does Subject

Verb*

The Rest of the sentence

Do

I / you / we / they have / need

want etc.
a new bike?
Does

he / she / it

*Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive
without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.

Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it
begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.

Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

Do you need a dictionary?

Does Maryam need a dictionary?

Do we have a meeting now?

Does it rain a lot in winter?

Do they want to go to the party?

Short Answers with Do and Does
In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct
questions as follows:

Sample Questions
Short Answer
(Affirmative)

Short Answer
(Negative)

Do you like chocolate?

Yes, I do.

No, I don't.

Do I need a pencil?

Yes, you do.

No, you don't.

Do you both like chocolate? Yes, we do.

No, we don't.

Do they like chocolate?

Yes, they do.

No, they don't.

Does he like chocolate?

Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

Does she like chocolate?

Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.

Does it have four wheels?

Yes, it does.

No, it doesn't.

Multiple Choice

What is the present simple form of the verb "to be" for the 3rd person singular?

• AM

• IS

• WAS

• WERE

●●●●●●RReeaaddTThheeoorryy..OOrrgg©©22001100

EEnngglliisshhFFoorrEEvveerryyoonnee..OOrrgg©©22000088

Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.

Example: I (play) play the guitar.

Example: Jessica (play) plays the guitar.

1)

2) Tommy (live) _______ at 107 Pine Lane.

3) Juana (cook) _______ dinner for her family.

4) They (eat) _______ lunch at 12:00.

5) Nina (take) _______ medicine when she is sick.

6) I (like) _______ chocolate.

7) He (drive) _______ a nice car.

8)We (want) _______ to see a movie tonight.

9) Mr. Anderson (teach) _______ chemistry at Hill High School.

10) They (study) _______ English at school.

11) I (want) _______ to go home now.

12) Bill and Calicia (drive) _______ to the mountains every year. every year.

13) We (eat) _______ pasta once a week.

14) It (snow) _______ here in December.

15) When Dax (take) _______ a shower, he (wash) _______ his hair with shampoo.