Simple Present
Form:
We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive. Run,
come, buy, learn.
In general, we add 'S' in the third person.
The spelling of 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
Use
The simple present tense is used 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 work every day.
- The train to London leaves every hour.
- Prince sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
2. For facts.
- The President of The USA lives in The White House.
- A Cat has four legs.
- We come from Germany.
3. For habits.
- I get up early every day.
- Sunny brushes his teeth twice a day.
- They travel to Bochum 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 Spanish at work.
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 the third person) disappears in
the negative sentence. We will see the reason why
below.
Negative Contractions
Don't
Doesn't = Does not
Isn't = Is not
Aren't = Are not
I don't like meat = I do not like meat.
- You don't speak Arabic.
- John doesn't speak Italian.
- We don't have time for a rest.
- It doesn't move.
Questions in the Simple Present Tense
1. With be, put am/ are/ is first
- Are you Swedish?
2. With all other verbs, use do/does
- Does it cost a lot?
3. With question words (who, what, where,
how, etc.), add do/does to the question word
- Where does he work? How do they get to work?
4. If the question word is the subject, do
not use do/does.
- Who works for a multinational?
5. Indirect questions can start with
expressions such as,
Can I ask...?, Do you know...?, Could you
tell me...?
- Do you know where the report is?
Examples of Questions with Do and
Does: