Learn how to use the simple present tense and practice with the 3 forms (affirmative, negative and interrogative). Download 3 worksheets.

The simple present tense

1/6/2020

Category: Verb tenses

One of the most important parts of English grammar is verb tenses, and the simple present tense is the most common verb tense in English.

The simple present tense is used:

To describe repeated or regular actions/habits ( I work in a bank ).
To state general truths or facts (Water boils at 100°C).
To describe future facts or actions set by a timetable (The train leaves at 7 am).
To express opinions, states, feelings, possession or things that happen inside our heads (I want that red dress, I love you, etc.).

Form

Affirmative: [VERB] (+ s/es/ies in third person)
Examples:

I work in a bank.
You get up early every day.
She works in a bank.
She studies at university.
He goes to the movies every Wednesday.
It rains every afternoon in summer.
We play baseball on Friday nights.
You travel together as a happy couple.
They pay with cash.

Negative: do not / does not (in third person) + [VERB]
Examples:

I do not speak Portuguese.
She does not speak Portuguese.
You don’t like apples.
He doesn’t like apples.

Negative contractions:

do not = don’t
does not = doesn’t

Interrogative: Do / Does (in third person) + SUBJECT + [VERB]
Examples:

Do you work in a bank? Yes, I do / No I don’t.
Does she work in a bank? Yes, she does / No, she doesn’t.

You can add a question word (why, where, when, how long, who, how, etc.) before do or does to ask for more information.
Examples:

What do you do?
Where does he work?
When does she do her homework?
How long do tigers live?
Who do you think you are?
How do we hear?

The spelling for the verb in the third person singular differs depending on the ending of the verb

In the third person singular (he, she & it) the most of the verbs always end in -s.
Examples: