When to Use It
The Present Simple is versatile. Here are the 5 core situations.
Habits & Routines
Actions we do regularly, often, or never.
- I wake up at 7:00 AM every day.
- She often loses her keys.
General Truths & Facts
Things that are always true or scientific facts.
- The sun rises in the east.
- Water boils at 100°C.
Permanent Situations
Situations that are more or less permanent.
- He works as a teacher.
- They live in London.
Fixed Timetables
Future events that are part of a schedule.
- The train leaves at 6:00 PM tonight.
- The term starts next Monday.
State Verbs (Feelings & Thoughts)
Verbs that describe a state rather than an action. These are rarely used in continuous forms.
- Emotion & Preference
- Like, love, hate, want, need
- Mental States
- Know, believe, understand, remember
- Possession
- Belong, own, have (possession)
- Senses
- Hear, see, smell, taste
Sentence Structure
Subject + Verb(s/es)
In positive sentences, we use the base form of the verb. For He, She, It (3rd person singular), we add -s or -es.
Examples
Subject + do/does + not + Verb
We use the auxiliary verb do/does to make negatives. Note that the main verb reverts to its base form (no -s).
Examples
Common mistake: He doesn't likes coffee.
Do/Does + Subject + Verb?
The auxiliary verb comes first. Again, the main verb stays in the base form.
Examples
Wh- Questions
Just add the question word (What, Where, When, Why) before Do/Does.
What do you do?
3rd Person Singular Spelling Rules (He/She/It)
Add -s
Most verbs just take an 's'.
- work → works
- eat → eats
- play → plays
Change -y to -ies
If a consonant is before 'y'.
- study → studies
- cry → cries
- fly → flies
*But: play → plays (vowel before y)
Add -es
For pronunciation ease.
- go → goes
- watch → watches
- wash → washes
- kiss → kisses
- fix → fixes
Exceptions
Memorize these!
- have has
- be is/am/are
- do does
Adverbs of Frequency
We often use these words with the Present Simple to say how often we do something. They usually go before the main verb but after the verb 'to be'.
✓ She always arrives early.
✓ He is never late.
Test Your Knowledge
1. She _______ in a bank.
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