Present Simple

The present simple is one of the most common verb tenses in English.

We use it to talk about things that happen regularly or things that are always true.

This lesson focuses on the present simple with main verbs such as work, eat, and live.

1. When Do We Use the Present Simple?

We use it for...	Example
Daily routines	I brush my teeth every morning.
Habits	She drinks coffee every day.
Facts and general truths	The sun rises in the east.
Permanent situations	They live in Canada.

2. Positive Sentences

The structure depends on the subject.

Subject	Structure
I / You / We / They	Subject + base verb
He / She / It	Subject + verb + -s / -es / -ies

3. Negative Sentences

To make a negative sentence, use do not (don’t) or does not (doesn’t).

Subject	Structure
I / You / We / They	Subject + don't + base verb
He / She / It	Subject + doesn't + base verb

4. Questions

To make a question, use do or does before the subject.

Subject	Structure
I / You / We / They	Do + subject + base verb?
He / She / It	Does + subject + base verb?

Wh-questions

Use question word + do/does + subject + base verb?

• Where do you live?
• What does she do after school?
• When do they start work?

When the question word is the subject, do not use do or does:

• Who lives here?
• Who works with you?

Short answers

Question	Positive	Negative
Do you eat pizza?	Yes, I do.	No, I don't.
Does she work here?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn't.

5. Spelling Rules for the 3rd Person Singular

For he / she / it, the verb usually changes. Here are the main spelling rules.

Add -s

Most verbs:

work → works
live → lives
sit → sits

Add -es

Verbs ending in -s, -z, -zz, -sh, -ch, -x, or consonant + o

go → goes
do → does
watch → watches
fix → fixes
pass → passes
buzz → buzzes

Change -y to -ies

If the verb ends in a consonant + y (for example: study, carry), change -y to -ies.

study → studies
carry → carries

Exceptions

Remember these common forms:

• have → has: She has a dog.
• go → goes: He goes to school by bus.
• do → does: She does her homework.

The verb be is also irregular (I am, you/we/they are, he/she/it is) and follows different rules; see the separate be lesson.

Pronunciation of the Third-Person -s

The spelling is always -s/-es, but it can sound different. Listen and repeat:

Sound	Examples
/s/	works, sits
/z/	lives, plays
/iz/ (an extra sound)	watches, passes, buzzes

6. Frequency Adverbs and Time Expressions

Frequency adverbs show how often something happens:

How often?	Adverb
100% of the time	always
most of the time	usually
many times	often
some of the time	sometimes
almost never	rarely
0% of the time	never

They go before a main verb: I usually walk to school. With be, they go after be: She is always friendly. In negatives and questions, put the frequency adverb after don’t/doesn’t or after the subject: I don’t usually walk to school. / Does she often walk to school?

Never already has a negative meaning. Do not say I don’t never walk to school. Say I never walk to school.

Ask about frequency with How often + do/does + subject + base verb?: How often do you play tennis? / How often does she call her grandmother?

Time expressions usually go at the end: He plays football every Saturday. / We study English in the evening.

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Use the present simple for regular actions: I always read before bed. Use the present continuous for something happening now: I am reading now. See the Present Continuous lesson for more.

7. Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct
She work here.	She works here.
Does she works here?	Does she work here?
He don’t like coffee.	He doesn’t like coffee.
I no like coffee.	I don’t like coffee.

8. Quick Summary

Sentence type	Pattern
Positive (I / you / we / they)	Subject + base verb
Positive (he / she / it)	Subject + verb + -s / -es / -ies
Negative	Subject + don't / doesn't + base verb
Question	Do / Does + subject + base verb?