The Present Simple tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English. It is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. Understanding and using the Present Simple correctly will greatly enhance your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English.
Structure of Present Simple
The structure of the Present Simple tense is straightforward. For most verbs, it simply uses the base form of the verb. For the third person singular (he, she, it), you add an "-s" or "-es" to the base form of the verb. The structure is:
Subject + base form of the verb (for third person singular: base form + -s/-es)
Examples with Explanations
1. I walk to school every day.
In this sentence, "walk" is the base form of the verb. The subject "I" does not require an "-s" ending, making it a simple and direct statement of a habitual action.
2. She reads a book before bed.
Here, the subject "She" is third person singular, so the verb "read" takes an "-s" to become "reads". This indicates a regular activity.
3. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
This sentence states a general truth. The verb "boil" remains in its base form because the subject "Water" is considered a non-count noun.
4. They play soccer on weekends.
The subject "They" is plural, so the verb "play" stays in its base form. This sentence describes a habitual action.
5. He finishes work at 6 PM.
With the third person singular subject "He", the verb "finish" takes the "-es" ending to become "finishes". This denotes a regular activity.
Present Simple: Negatives
To form negative sentences in the Present Simple, you use the auxiliary verb "do" (or "does" for third person singular) followed by "not" and the base form of the main verb. The structure is:
Subject + do/does + not + base form of the verb
Examples of Negatives with Explanations
The subject "I" is followed by "do not" and the base form of the verb "like". This indicates a general dislike.
2. She does not watch TV often.
Here, "She" is third person singular, so "does not" is used, followed by the base form of the verb "watch". This shows a habit of not watching TV frequently.
3. We do not live in New York.
The subject "We" is followed by "do not" and the base form of the verb "live". This indicates a fact about residence.
4. He does not play the guitar.
With the third person singular "He", "does not" precedes the base form of the verb "play", indicating a lack of this skill or habit.
5. They do not go to the gym.
The subject "They" is followed by "do not" and the base form of the verb "go", indicating a habit or preference.
Present Simple: Questions
To form questions in the Present Simple, you also use the auxiliary verb "do" (or "does" for third person singular) at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb. The structure is:
Do/Does + subject + base form of the verb
Examples of Questions with Explanations
The sentence begins with "Do", followed by the subject "you" and the base form of the verb "like". This asks about a general preference.
2. Does she read every day?
Here, "Does" is used because the subject "she" is third person singular, followed by the base form of the verb "read". This inquires about a daily habit.
3. Do they work on weekends?
The question starts with "Do", followed by the subject "they" and the base form of the verb "work". This asks about a regular activity.
With the third person singular "he", the question begins with "Does", followed by the subject and the base form of the verb "play". This inquires about a habit or skill.
5. Do we need to bring anything?
The question starts with "Do", followed by the subject "we" and the base form of the verb "need". This asks about a necessity or requirement.
Exceptions
While the Present Simple tense is generally easy to use, there are a few exceptions and irregularities:
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs do not follow the regular pattern of adding "-s" or "-es" for the third person singular. For example, "have" becomes "has".
Spelling Changes
When the verb ends in "-y" preceded by a consonant, the "-y" changes to "-ies". For example, "carry" becomes "carries".
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs (can, may, must) do not change form at all in the Present Simple. For example, "She can swim".