Present simple tense in English
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The present simple tense in English is used for routines, habits, general actions and feelings.
How the present simple tense is formed, depends on whether the sentence is:
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Structure: subject / pronoun + conjugated verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
Structure: subject / pronoun + auxiliary (form of to do + not) + verb + rest of the sentence.
The table below shows how the auxiliary is formed for every subject.
Subject | Negative auxiliary |
---|---|
I | do not |
You (singular) | do not |
He / she / it | does not |
We | do not |
You (plural) | do not |
They | do not |
The auxiliary forms are often contracted:
Examples:
Structure: auxiliary (form of to do) + subject / pronoun + infinitive verb + rest of the sentence + question mark
Examples:
The table below shows you all the situations in which the English present simple tense is used.
Situation | Example |
---|---|
You want to describe habits and routines. |
|
You want to describe a general or scientific fact. |
|
You want to describe an action that takes place, never takes place or is repeated constantly. |
|
You want to describe an event that is probably happening in the future. |
|
You want to refer to a past event. (In newspaper headlines and captions to photographs.) |
|
You want to give instructions or indications |
|
You can recognize the use of the present simple tense when the sentence contains words as:
In the present simple the root is used to form the present simple. The third person singular (he, she, it) forms an exception: '-s', '-es' or '-ies' is added to the stem to form the present simple. Keep the following rules in mind when forming the third person singular of the present simple tense:
Add '-es' to the root of the verb to form the third person singular.
Subject | To watch | To rush |
---|---|---|
I | watch | rush |
You (singular) | watch | rush |
He / she / it | watches | rushes |
We | watch | rush |
You (plural) | watch | rush |
They | watch | rush |
For the third person singular the '-y' changes in '-i' and '-es' has to be added to the root.
Subject | To study | To cry |
---|---|---|
I | study | cry |
You (singular) | study | cry |
He / she / it | studies | cries |
We | study | cry |
You (plural) | study | cry |
They | study | cry |
To form the third person singular of the other verbs, '-s' has to be added to the root. The table below shows the conjugation of the regular verbs 'to work', 'to sleep', 'to rush' and 'to study' in the present simple.
Subject | To work | To sleep |
---|---|---|
I | work | sleep |
You (singular) | work | sleep |
He / she / it | works | sleeps |
We | work | sleep |
You (plural) | work | sleep |
They | work | sleep |
The table below shows the conjugation of the irregular verbs 'to swim', 'to feel', 'to have' and 'to be'.
Subject | To swim | To feel | To have | To be |
---|---|---|---|---|
I | swim | feel | have | am |
You | swim | feel | have | are |
He / she / it | swims | feels | has | is |
We | swim | feel | have | are |
You (plural) | swim | feel | have | are |
They | swim | feel | have | are |
Practice your knowledge with the present simple exercises below!
Fill in the correct form of the present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I always dinner for my roommates. (to cook)
We to school every day. (to cycle)
Kim TV every evening. (to watch)
You never the trash out. (to take)
She the queen of England. (to be)
I usually at eleven at night. (to sleep)
You a coffee every morning. (to have)
They at a famous restaurant. (to work)
We who you are. (to know)
Lisa to school every day. (to go)
Fill in the correct form of the English present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I to the supermarket every day. (to go)
He a doctor. (to be)
On Wednesdays they at their grandmother. (to eat)
You to your mom every week. (to talk)
We always hard for exams. (to study)
It in China. (to rain)
You an e-mail to your boss every day. (to send)
Usually we to work by car. (to go)
They always late. (to be)
I languages in an easy way. (to learn)
Complete the following negative sentences using the correct form of the auxiliary for each pronoun.
Remember:
She like eating meat.
We want to go out tonight.
I have a degree in Economics.
They like swimming.
He go on holiday this year.
I like singing.
You study at the University of Valencia.
We go to the beach often.
Susan cook for her family on Saturdays.
They know how to make pancakes.
Fill in the missing form of the auxiliary verb 'to do' to complete the following questions in the present simple.
Remember:
he like swimming in the sea?
you want to watch a movie with me?
they come ot the party with us?
Kim study in Norway?
we want to eat in a restaurant tonight?
I have to clean the kitchen this week?
you play tennis on Wednesdays?
she go to Spain this summer?
Laura normally show up to our meetings?
you mind if I go now?
Fill in the correct form of the present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I always dinner for my roommates. (to cook)
We to school every day. (to cycle)
Kim TV every evening. (to watch)
You never the trash out. (to take)
She the queen of England. (to be)
I usually at eleven at night. (to sleep)
You a coffee every morning. (to have)
They at a famous restaurant. (to work)
We who you are. (to know)
Lisa to school every day. (to go)
Fill in the correct form of the English present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I to the supermarket every day. (to go)
He a doctor. (to be)
On Wednesdays they at their grandmother. (to eat)
You to your mom every week. (to talk)
We always hard for exams. (to study)
It in China. (to rain)
You an e-mail to your boss every day. (to send)
Usually we to work by car. (to go)
They always late. (to be)
I languages in an easy way. (to learn)
Complete the following negative sentences using the correct form of the auxiliary for each pronoun.
Remember:
She like eating meat.
We want to go out tonight.
I have a degree in Economics.
They like swimming.
He go on holiday this year.
I like singing.
You study at the University of Valencia.
We go to the beach often.
Susan cook for her family on Saturdays.
They know how to make pancakes.
Fill in the missing form of the auxiliary verb 'to do' to complete the following questions in the present simple.
Remember:
he like swimming in the sea?
you want to watch a movie with me?
they come ot the party with us?
Kim study in Norway?
we want to eat in a restaurant tonight?
I have to clean the kitchen this week?
you play tennis on Wednesdays?
she go to Spain this summer?
Laura normally show up to our meetings?
you mind if I go now?
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I have a Bachelor of English degree, as well as a 120-HOUR TEFL Certificate. I am mostly fluent in English, as it has the language medium throughout my entire life and school career.
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Hello!
My name is Jasmina Maksić. First to say - I love teaching!
There’s nothing more satisfying than influencing and changing lives by sharing your knowledge and experience.
I graduated English Language and then obtained Master Degree in Human Resources Management, even though apparently not closely connected, both fields require long hours, patience and care.
I have experience in teaching students on different learning levels and various topics, but with the expertise in Business English.
I believe in a strong communication between a teacher and students. I always tend to ensure the interactive teaching methods and encourage students to feel free to ask questions and express their ideas.
I am offering my dedication, enthusiasm and persistence.
“Not all superheroes wear capes, some have teaching degrees!“
See you!
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This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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