In this article, we are going to talk about the usage and formation of the Present Simple tense. At the end, you can find links to practice exercises and Online courses that will help you understand better the usage of the English Grammar
1. To talk about something that is happening now or happens regularly. In other words, a routine.
George practices the violin every day.
I feel great!
Katie goes to work every day.
2. To talk about habits and facts
John loves Mary
George studies Greek
Most verbs keep the root form of the verb.
The affirmative Present Simple tense formula is:
Subject + Root form of Verb
For example the verb Play:
I Play
You Play
He Plays
She Plays
It Plays
We Play
You Play
They Play
1. Most verbs and verbs ending with a vowel and -y, the third-person singular ends with –s.
For example:
Play – Plays / Stay – Stays / Keep – Keeps
2. The third-person singular ends in –ies, when verbs end with a consonant and -y,
For example:
He/She/It studies
3. Verbs ending with o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, the third-person singular (He/She/It) ends with –es :
For example:
Do – Does / Search – Searches / Finish – Finishes / Bath – Bathes – Pass – Passes / Laugh – Laughes / Buzz – Buzzes
A, E, I, O, and U. The letter Y is sometimes considered a sixth vowel because it can sound like other vowels.
B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z, and usually W and Y
I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
We are
You are
They are
In the negative form of Present Simple tense we use the helping verb Do and Does in the Third-Person singular (He/She/It).
The formula is:
Subject + do/does + root form of verb
Example Verb: Play
I do not play
You do not play
He does not play
She does not play
It does not play
We do not play
They do not play
The short form of the negative Present Simple is:
Do not → Don’t
Does not → Doesn’t
For example the verb Play:
I don’t play
You don’t play
He does not play
She does not play
It does not play
We don’t play
They don’t playNegative S
We use the helping verb Do and Does in the Third-Person singular (He/She/It) in the interrogative form of Present Simple tense similarly to the Negative. The difference is that when asking a question, the sentence begins with Do or Does.
Do/Does + Subject + root form of verb
Important notes:
For example the verb Play:
Do I Play?
Do You Play?
Does He Play?
Does She Play?
Does It Play?
Do We Play?
Do You Play?
Do They Play?
