Present Simple

This comprehensive lesson dives into the Present Simple Tense in English, featuring detailed examples and a quiz to test your knowledge.

auxiliary verbs present simple present tenses simple tenses tenses

"Present Simple" Tense in English Grammar

What is Present Simple Tense?

The Present simple (also known as the simple present, or present indefinite) is one of the most common tenses in the English language. It is used to talk about facts, habits, fixed situations, and routines.

Present Simple: Structure

The present simple form of almost all verbs is the basic form of that verb, except when they are used with a the third-person singular subject. Look at the examples:

I need a new laptop.

We want ice-cream for dessert.

Present Simple Structure: Third-Person Singular

To form an affirmative sentences with a present simple verb and a third-person singular subject, you need to add '-s' to the main verb. Here are some examples:

The cat drinks water from this bowl.

The main verb is 'drink' and the third person 's' is added to it since the subject is 'the cat.'

She eats dinner at 9 P.M.

The main verb here is 'eat,' and since the subject is 'she,' the verb changes to 'eats.'

Present Tense: Third-Person Spelling Rules

Most verb simply take '-s' at the end to agree with third-person singular subjects. However, there are some verbs whose spelling changes when '-s' is added. Let us take a look at the rules for such spelling changes:

If the verb ends with the letters -ch, -ss, -sh, -x or -zz, or -o, we add '-es' instead of '-s.'

watch → watches
kiss → kisses
wash → washes
go → goes
do → does

If the verb ends with the a consonant and the letter '-y,' we change '-y' to '-i' and then add '-es.'

cry → cries
fly → flies
study → studies

If the verb ends with a vowel and the letter '-y,' we simply add '-s.'

play → plays
say → says
stay → stays

Auxiliary Verbs

Present Simple with Verb 'to Be' and 'to Have'

'To be' and 'to have' are auxiliary verbs which have irregular forms in the present simple tense. Take a look at the table below for the conjugation of the verb 'to be' and 'to have' in the present tense

	To Be	To Have
I	am	have
He/She/It	is	has
We/You/They	are	have

My husband is an accountant and I'm a teacher.

We have a very big pool in our house.

Present Simple Auxiliary Verb: Do

In order to make questions or negative sentences in the present simple tense, we need to add an auxiliary do before the main verb. In the simple present, 'do' changes to 'does' when the subject is third-person singular. Keep in mind that "do" can also be the main verb. Take a look at this example:

I don't want to do my homework.

The first 'do' is an auxiliary verb and the second one is a main verb which means conducting/performing.

Present Simple: Negation

In the present simple tense, the auxiliary verb 'do' is used to form negative sentences. For first and second-person singular and plural, as well as the third-person plural subjects, we use 'don't'. For third-person singular pronouns, we use 'doesn't'.

	Auxiliary Verb
I/You/We/They	don't
He/She/It	doesn't

To negate a sentence with I/you/we/they as the subject, do not (don't) is added before the base form of the the main verb.

Jessica and Harry don't want to get married until they can afford a house.

If the sentence has he/she/it as the subject, does not (doesn't) is added before the base form of the main verb, without '-s.'

My sister doesn't wake up early.

However, if the main verb of the sentence is 'to be,' there is no need for adding the auxiliary 'do.' Simply add 'not' after the 'to be' verb to negate the sentence.

I am not a teacher.

Present Simple: Questions

As mentioned before, one of the functions of auxiliary verbs like 'do' and 'does' is making questions. To make yes/no questions, you need to start the sentence with the auxiliary 'do' or 'does'. The subject comes after it, followed by the main verb. Look at the examples:

They know each other. → Do they know each other?

Carolyn remembers me. → Does Carolyn remember me?

You can make wh- question by starting the sentence with wh-word and then using 'do'/'does.' The subject comes next, followed by the main verb.

I want to eat lunch at The Ledbury. → Where do you want to eat lunch?

However, if the main verb of the sentence is 'to be,' there is no need for adding the auxiliary 'do'/'does.' Simply move the 'to be' verb before the subject to form a question.

She is really angry. → Is she really angry?

Using Present Simple to Talk about a Frequent Action

Present Simple: Uses

Present simple is used in a number of contexts, including:

Facts That Are Generally True
Current States
Regular Actions or Habits
Sports Commentary
Schedules and Timetables
Narration
Newspaper Headlines

Facts That Are Generally True

We use the present simple when something is generally or always true. It means you cannot change them. When we say someone is dead we cannot change this fact at all. Remember general facts can refer to scientific facts, or things that cannot be changed easily. Take a look at these examples:

Water freezes at zero degrees.

The Earth revolves around the Sun.

We also use the present simple for a situation that is temporary (something that is true in the present). It means that these situations may change in the future, but they are true at the moment, such as people's habits or occupations. For example:

She only eats fish.

Marcus works in a bank.

Alex is a mechanic.

Current States

State verbs in English are used to describe a state of being, such as emotions, thoughts, possession, senses, or characteristics. These verbs are often used in the present simple tense. In addition, linking verbs can also be used in the simple present tense to describe emotions or mental states. Here are the examples:

She believes in the afterlife.

"believe" is a stative verb

He feels terrible about the date.

"feel" is a linking verb

I am happy to see you honey.

The simple present tense is used to express interest or disinterest in something or express preferences. Some verbs that are commonly used to express such attitudes include 'dislike', 'hate', 'abhor', 'detest', 'like', 'love', and 'enjoy'. For example:

I love playing the piano.

I hate cheese.

Regular Actions or Habits

'Present simple tense' is also used to talk about frequent actions in the present time. In this case, adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, often, frequently, sometimes, and never are commonly used for more clarification.

I usually drink tea at 5 pm.

Maria is always late for the art class.

She never sleeps at 10.

The present simple tense can also be used to talk about hobbies and habits that are repeated regularly. For example:

I swim in the pool whenever I am bored.

She cooks different types of soups on Mondays.

I play tennis every Tuesday.

Sports Commentary

The present simple tense is also used in sports commentary to describe short actions that are completed as soon as they happen. It's important to remember that these actions occur in a brief period of time. If the actions are ongoing or take place over a longer duration, we should not use the simple present tense. Look at the examples:

He shoots and he scores!

Here's Jackson back to throw... and down he goes, as Gabe Wilkins gets there.

Schedules and Timetables

The present simple tense is often used to talk about schedules and discuss events that occur at fixed times. Here are the examples:

The exam starts at 10:00 a.m.

The bus leaves at 8:05 this morning.

Narration

We can use the present simple tense to talk about the past when we are narrating a story or series of events. In this case, you have to keep in mind that the story took place in the past, but you are narrating it in the present.

The other day I was watching TV when suddenly Terry calls me and tells me he needs money.

Frodo lives in the Shire. He has a best friend called Sam.

Newspaper Headlines

We often see the present simple in news headlines to report past events. For example:

Man rescues child from lake

Clause Types that Require Present Simple Verbs

Zero Conditionals

As it was mentioned earlier, the present simple tense is used to talk about facts that are generally true. Zero conditionals are also used to talk about facts that are generally true. So, the present simple tense is commonly used in zero conditionals.

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

First Conditionals

The present simple tense is also used in the condition clause of first conditionals.'First conditional' is used to talk about future events that will happen if a condition is met. Here are the examples:

If it rains, we will cancel our date.

They will marry if his grandmother comes back to the city.

Subordinate Clauses

The present simple tense is also used to talk about the future after words like 'when,' 'until,' 'after,' 'before' and 'as soon as.' These are sometimes called subordinate clauses of time. So, keep in mind that the simple present tense is used in subordinate time clauses to talk about the future. For example:

I'll talk to John when I see him.

I won't go out until it stops raining.

Imperatives

The present simple tense is used in imperatives to give instructions or commands. The subject of the clause is always 'you' which is typically implied but can sometimes be expressed for emphasis. For example:

You clean your room now!

Parents usually use the present simple tense a lot to give orders.

First, take a right. After that turn left. Then go straight.

Review

Verbs in the simple present tense might be regular or irregular. regular verbs follow a certain pattern when used with a third-person singular subject, but irregular verbs have specific forms that do not follow the normal pattern.

Here are irregular verbs:

	To Be	To Have
I	am	have
You, We, They	are	have
He, She, It	is	has

Regular verbs typically take -s at the end when used with third-person singular subjects, but may have variant spellings.

	Positive	Negative
I, You, We, They	eat	do not eat / don't eat
He, She, It	eats	does not eat / doesn't eat

Present simple verbs are commonly used in specific contexts:

General facts
Regular actions and habits
Current States
News headlines
Sports commentaries
Narration of events and stories
Schedules

Quiz:

Which sentence is correctly formed in the present simple tense for a third-person singular subject?

He walk to school every day.

She studies English on weekends.

It playes outside in the morning.

She watchs a movie every night.

Complete the table with the correct forms of the verb based on the Present Simple tense rules.

Subject	Verb (base form)	Sentence
I	be	I happy.
She		She carries the groceries.
It	play	It in the yard.
We		We run in the park.
They	watch	They a movie.

Which option correctly negates the sentence: "She likes chocolate"?

She not like chocolate.

She do not like chocolate.

She does not like chocolate.

She does not likes chocolate.

Sort the words to make a negative sentence.

coffee

morning

you

every

drink

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence.

not eat lunch at noon.

she like reading books?

Sarah

not have a pet.

they enjoy playing soccer?

not like to wake up early every day.

does

don't

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