Usages and grammar explanations for the simple present tense.
The simple present tense is one of the most commonly used and basic tenses in English. It is used to describe actions that are habitual, general truths, fixed arrangements, and some other specific situations.
Formula
Affirmative: Subject + V1 (+ 's)
I/You/We/They | V1 |
He/She/It | V1 + 's |
I play tennis.
She plays tennis.
It rains a lot here.
Negative: Subject + Do/Does + Not + V1
I/You/We/They | do + not+ V1 |
He/She/It | does + not + V1 |
I do not like broccoli. = I don't like broccoli.
He does not play tennis. = He doesn't play tennis.
Question: Do/Does + Subject + V1
Do | I/You/We/They + V1 |
Does | He/She/It + V1 |
Do you speak English?
Does she work here?
Time Expressions
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never, every day/week/month/year, every morning/afternoon/evening/night, every Monday/Friday, on Mondays/Fridays, at night/noon, in the morning/afternoon/ evening, once a week, twice a week, three times a month, four times a year, every other day, now and then, from time to time, hardly ever.
Usages
To talk about actions that happen regularly or habitually.
I like to play football.
I wake up at 7 AM every day.
He watches TV in the evening.
We go to the gym three times a week.
She reads the newspaper every morning.
Our teacher gives us homework every class.
To talk about facts that are generally true or unchanging at the present time.
My name is Tom.
He lives in London.
My parents speak three languages.
This restaurant serves Italian food.
She teaches mathematics at a local school.
To talk about scientific facts or natural phenomena that are always true.
The sun rises in the east.
Fire needs oxygen to burn.
The earth revolves around the sun.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
Sound travels faster in water than in air.
To talk about future events or fixed arrangements that are usually part of a timetable.
Our flight departs at noon.
The movie starts at 7 PM tonight.
The bus arrives at the station in ten minutes.
The store reopens after renovations on March 1st.
To give instructions or directions.
Wash your hands.
You turn left at the next corner.
Press the red button to start the machine.
Go straight ahead until you reach the park.
To describe feelings or mental states at the moment of speaking.
She wants a cup of tea.
I feel tired after that long walk.
I think you are absolutely right.
He doesn't understand the problem.
To describe a series of actions, especially in a story, match, etc.
She opens the door, sees the surprise, and...
He passes the ball to his teammate and runs forward.
To report past events in news headlines.
President announces new policy.
Fire destroys historic buildings in the city center.
Spelling Rules
For most verbs add -s
Work → Works
Come → Comes
For verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -ss, -x or -zz, add -es
Watch→ Watches
Mix → Mixes
For verbs ending in a consonant + y, change -y to -ies.
Study → Studies
Reply → Replies
For verbs ending in a vowel + y, simply add -s
Play → Plays
Enjoy → Enjoys
Some verbs are irregular
Have → Has
Go → Goes