Summary of Understanding the Present Simple Tense

Mastering the Present Simple Tense: Your Complete Guide

Summary Knowledge test Flashcards Podcast Mindmap

Introduction

The present simple tense describes regular actions, habits, general truths and states. This guide explains how to form positive sentences, negatives, and questions, and gives clear spelling rules for the third-person singular (he / she / it).

The present simple is used for habits, routines, general facts and permanent states.

Positive sentences (affirmative)

Use the base verb form for I, you, we, they; add -s or -es for he / she / it.

Structure

Subject	Verb (affirmative)
I / you / we / they	work, play, live
He / she / it	works, plays, lives

Examples:

I speak English.
British people like gardens.
My mother cooks fantastic food.

Use the present simple for things that are generally true or are habits.

Negatives

To make negatives use do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) + base verb.

Structure

Subject	Negative form
I / you / we / they	do not (don't) + verb: I don't work.
He / she / it	does not (doesn't) + verb: He doesn't work.

Notes:

Contractions: don't = do not, doesn't = does not.
After doesn't use the base verb: He doesn't work. NOT He doesn't works.

Examples:

I don't drink tea.
We don't live in a house with a garden.
He doesn't play the guitar.

Spelling rules for he / she / it

Add -s or -es or change spelling for verbs ending in certain letters.

Base verb endings	Third-person singular
most verbs (work, play)	add -s: works, plays
verbs ending -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o (watch, finish, go, do)	add -es: watches, finishes, goes, does
verbs ending in consonant + y (study)	change y to i + es: studies

Be careful with irregular forms:

I have -> He has (/hæz/)
I go -> He goes (/ɡəʊz/)
I do -> He does (/dʌz/)

Spelling rule: The he / she / it form follows regular plural-style changes for adding endings.

💡 Did you know?Fun fact: Native English speakers often pronounce does as /dʌz/, which is different from do /dʊː/ or /dɔː/ in some accents.

Questions (present simple)

To make questions use the auxiliary do (or does for he / she / it) + subject + infinitive (base verb).

Yes/no questions

Question	Short answers
Do you live in New York?	No, we don't.
Does he work at night?	Yes, he does.

Structure:

Do / Does + subject + base verb

Short answers: Use do/does + n't if negative: "No, I don't." or "Yes, he does."

Question word questions (ASI / QuASI)

When you add a question word (what, where, how,...), the order is: Question word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb.

Question word	Example
What	What do you do?
Where	Where does he live?
How	How do you spell your surname?
How many	How many students are there? (with be)

Word order rule: For questions with verbs other than be, use Auxiliary (do/does), Subject, Infinitive.

Questions with be

Be is different: put be before the subject.

Question word / phrase	Structure	Example
What / Where / How old / How many	Be + subject	What is your name? Where are your friends? How old is he?

Examples:

Where is your office?
What is your dog's name?

Pronunciation notes

do = /dʊ/ or /duː/ (accent variations), does = /dʌz/
has = /hæz/, goes = /ɡəʊz/, does = /dʌz/

Practical tips and real-world uses

Use present simple for timetables: "The train leaves at 9:00."
Use it for routines: "She wakes up early every day."
Use it for instructions: "First mix the flour, then add water."

💡 Did you know?Did you know that many signs and instructions use the present simple because it feels direct and timeless? For example, "No smoking" and "Keep off the grass" are present simple forms used as rules.

FlashcardsKnowledge testSummaryPodcastMindmap

Start for free

Already have an account? Sign in

Present Simple Basics

Klíčová slova: Present Simple Grammar

Klíčové pojmy: Use base verb for I/you/we/they; add -s/-es for he/she/it, Make negatives with don't (do not) or doesn't (does not) + base verb, After doesn't use the base verb (He doesn't work), Form questions with Do/Does + Subject + Verb (ASI order), With question words use Question word + Do/Does + Subject + Verb (QuASI), Be questions put be before the subject (Is she from Spain?), Spelling: add -es for -ch/-sh/-s/-x/-o; change -y to -ies, Pronunciation: does = /dʌz/, has = /hæz/, goes = /ɡəʊz/, Use present simple for timetables, instructions and routines, Short answers use do/does: Yes, he does. / No, we don't.

## Introduction The present simple tense describes regular actions, habits, general truths and states. This guide explains how to form positive sentences, negatives, and questions, and gives clear spelling rules for the third-person singular (he / she / it). > The present simple is used for habits, routines, general facts and permanent states. ## Positive sentences (affirmative) Use the base verb form for I, you, we, they; add -s or -es for he / she / it. ### Structure | Subject | Verb (affirmative) | | --- | --- | | I / you / we / they | work, play, live | | He / she / it | works, plays, lives | Examples: - I speak English. - British people like gardens. - My mother cooks fantastic food. > Use the present simple for things that are generally true or are habits. ## Negatives To make negatives use do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) + base verb. ### Structure | Subject | Negative form | | --- | --- | | I / you / we / they | do not (don't) + verb: I don't work. | | He / she / it | does not (doesn't) + verb: He doesn't work. | Notes: - Contractions: don't = do not, doesn't = does not. - After doesn't use the base verb: He doesn't work. NOT He doesn't works. Examples: - I don't drink tea. - We don't live in a house with a garden. - He doesn't play the guitar. ## Spelling rules for he / she / it Add -s or -es or change spelling for verbs ending in certain letters. | Base verb endings | Third-person singular | | --- | --- | | most verbs (work, play) | add -s: works, plays | | verbs ending -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o (watch, finish, go, do) | add -es: watches, finishes, goes, does | | verbs ending in consonant + y (study) | change y to i + es: studies | Be careful with irregular forms: - I have -> He has (/hæz/) - I go -> He goes (/ɡəʊz/) - I do -> He does (/dʌz/) > Spelling rule: The he / she / it form follows regular plural-style changes for adding endings. Fun fact: Native English speakers often pronounce does as /dʌz/, which is different from do /dʊː/ or /dɔː/ in some accents. ## Questions (present simple) To make questions use the auxiliary do (or does for he / she / it) + subject + infinitive (base verb). ### Yes/no questions | Question | Short answers | | --- | --- | | Do you live in New York? | No, we don't. | | Does he work at night? | Yes, he does. | Structure: - Do / Does + subject + base verb Short answers: Use do/does + n't if negative: "No, I don't." or "Yes, he does." ### Question word questions (ASI / QuASI) When you add a question word (what, where, how,...), the order is: Question word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb. | Question word | Example | | --- | --- | | What | What do you do? | | Where | Where does he live? | | How | How do you spell your surname? | | How many | How many students are there? (with be) | > Word order rule: For questions with verbs other than be, use Auxiliary (do/does), Subject, Infinitive. ## Questions with be Be is different: put be before the subject. | Question word / phrase | Structure | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | What / Where / How old / How many | Be + subject | What is your name? Where are your friends? How old is he? | Examples: - Where is your office? - What is your dog's name? ## Pronunciation notes - do = /dʊ/ or /duː/ (accent variations), does = /dʌz/ - has = /hæz/, goes = /ɡəʊz/, does = /dʌz/ ## Practical tips and real-world uses - Use present simple for timetables: "The train leaves at 9:00." - Use it for routines: "She wakes up early every day." - Use it for instructions: "First mix the flour, then add water." Did you know that many signs and instructions use the present simple because it feels direct and timeless? For example, "No smoking" and "Keep off the grass" are present simple forms used as rules.