Present Simple
Present Simple
In this lesson we are going to talk about present simple tense with other verbs. The verb “be” was discussed in a previous lesson.
1. When Do You Use the Present Simple?
You use the present simple to talk about:
1.1. Daily routines
Things you do every day or often.
- “I brush my teeth every morning.”
- “He goes to school at 8.”
Things you do again and again.
- “She drinks coffee every day.”
- “We watch TV in the evening.”
1.3. Facts and general truths
Things that are always true.
- “Water boils at 100°C.”
- “The sun rises in the east.”
1.4. Permanent situations
Things that do not change often.
- “I live in London.”
- “She works as a nurse.”
(especially for transport or classes)
- “The bus leaves at 6:30.”
- “The class starts at 9.”
2. Positive (Affirmative) Sentences
(I am going to use the verb 'eat' as an example)
2.1. Basic Structure
Subject + verb + rest of sentence
Example:
- ”He eats pizza.”
- ”She eats pizza.”
- ”It eats pizza.”
- ”You eat pizza.”
- ”We eat pizza.”
- ”They eat pizza.”
With I, you, we, they, the verb stays in its base form.
Examples:
- I eat...
- You eat...
- We eat...
- They eat...
With he / she / it, we add -s or -es to the verb.
This is called the third person singular.
Examples:
- He eats...
- She eats...
- It eats...
2.4. Spelling Rules for the 3rd Person Singular
Add -s
Most verbs:
- work → works
- live → lives
- sit → sits
Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o
- go → goes
- watch → watches
- fix → fixes
If the verb ends in consonant + y:
- study → studies
- carry → carries
- play → plays (vowel + y)
There are a few irregular verbs
- have → has
- do → does
3. Negative Sentences
To make a negative sentence, we use:
do not (don’t) or does not (doesn’t)
3.1. Structure
Subject + do / does + not + base verb
3.2. Examples
With I / you / we / they:
- I do not eat... / I don't eat...
- You do not eat... / You don't eat...
- We do not eat... / We don't eat...
- They do not eat... / They don't eat...
- He does not eat... / He doesn't eat...
- She does not eat... / She doesn't eat...
- It does not eat... / It doesn't eat...
After doesn’t, the verb has NO -s
✓ “She doesn’t work here.”
x “She doesn’t works here.”
Use the verb “be” (am / is / are) to describe or identify, not to show an action.
- Feelings
→ “She is happy.” - Identity / jobs
→ “He is a teacher.” - Location
→ “They are at home.” - Description
→ “The room is clean.”
Use the present simple (other verbs) to talk about actions, habits, and things that happen regularly.
Examples:
- “She works here.”
- “They live near the park.”
- “I drink coffee every morning.”
Easy way to remember
- Be → What is it like?
- Other verbs → What does it do?
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge with interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises
Present simple (affirmative, negative, questions)
A1Ready to practice Present simple (affirmative, negative, questions)? Take these exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic
Present simple (affirmative, negative, questions)
A1Present Simple
30 wordsbe
verb
To exist or to have a particular identity or quality.
I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
have
verb
To possess or own something.
I have a dog.
do
verb
To perform an action or activity.
I do my homework every evening.
go
verb
To move or travel from one place to another.
I will go to the store later.
get
verb
To receive or obtain something.
I will get a gift for my birthday.
make
verb
To create or construct something.
She will make a cake for the party.
say
verb
To express something in words; to speak or communicate
She always knows what to say in difficult situations.
see
verb
To perceive with the eyes; to notice or observe.
I can see the mountains in the distance.
eat
verb
To consume food or drink.
I like to eat apples.
take
verb
To grab or hold something.
I will take the book from the table.
come
verb
To move toward or approach a person or place.
Please come to my party this Saturday.
want
noun
A desire or wish for something.
He has a want for adventure.
know
verb
To have information or understanding about something.
I know the answer to the question.
like
verb
To find something enjoyable or agreeable.
I like to read books in my free time.
sit
verb
To rest in a seated position.
Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
stand
noun
A position or place where something is placed or located.
I found a stand for my plants in the garden.
give
verb
To transfer possession or control of something to someone else.
I will give you my book tomorrow.
walk
play
noun
A theatrical performance or a dramatic work.
We went to see a play at the theater last night.
drink
noun
A liquid that can be swallowed as refreshment or nourishment.
Can I have a drink of water?
work
noun
Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result.
She has a lot of work to do before the deadline.
talk
noun
A conversation or discussion about a particular subject.
We had a long talk about our future plans.
help
noun
Assistance or support that makes a task easier.
I need some help with my homework.
need
noun
A requirement or necessity for something.
We all have a need for love and support.
call
verb
To contact someone by phone or to shout out to someone.
I will call you later tonight.
think
use
find
verb
To discover something after searching or looking for it.
I need to find my keys.
try
ask
verb
To request information or an answer from someone.
I will ask her if she wants to join us.