When do we use the present simple?
We use the present simple for things that happen again and again (habits and routines), for facts that are always true, and for timetables. It does not describe what is happening right now.
How to make it
Rule
Use the base verb. Add -s for he, she, it.
- I / you / we / they + work.
- He / she / it + works.
- Spelling: watch → watches, go → goes, study → studies, play → plays (vowel + y keeps the y).
- Have becomes has for he/she/it.
I / you / we / they
- I work in a shop.
- They play football.
- We live in Leeds.
he / she / it
- He works in a shop.
- She plays football.
- It lives in Leeds.
Negatives and questions with do / does
Rule
Use do / does to help. The main verb goes back to its base form.
- Negative: I / you / we / they don’t work. He / she / it doesn’t work.
- Question: Do you work here? Does she work here?
- After does / doesn’t there is no -s: She doesn’t work, not “doesn’t works”.
Question word
Where
Helper
does
Subject
she
Base verb
work?
Adverbs of frequency
Words such as always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely and never go before the main verb but after be: She always drinks tea. He is never late.
never
0%
rarely
10%
sometimes
40%
usually
80%
always
100%
Lots of examples
- I get up at six o’clock every morning.Routine.
- My father works in a bank.Job.
- She doesn’t eat meat.Negative.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.Fact.
- The train leaves at 9:15.Timetable.
- Do you like coffee? — Yes, I do.Question and short answer.
- Does he speak French? — No, he doesn’t.Question and short answer.
- They usually walk to school.Frequency adverb before the verb.
- He is always on time.Frequency adverb after be.
- My sister studies medicine and watches very little TV.Spelling: studies, watches.
- What time does the shop open?Question word + does.
- It rains a lot in Manchester.General fact.
Don’t say / Say
Don’t sayShe work in a hospital.
SayShe works in a hospital.Why: Add -s for he/she/it.
Don’t sayHe doesn’t likes pizza.
SayHe doesn’t like pizza.Why: After doesn’t the verb stays in its base form.
Don’t sayDoes she speaks English?
SayDoes she speak English?Why: After does, base form again.
Don’t sayI am go to school every day.
SayI go to school every day.Why: Don’t add am/is/are before a normal verb.
Don’t sayHe always is late.
SayHe is always late.Why: Frequency adverbs come after be.