Present simple
Introduction
We use the present simple- for facts and things that are usually true
- normal actions
- to describe people and things. .
Part 1 - Present simple positive
We usually use the base form of the verb for "I" / "you" / "we" / "they". For "he" / "she" / "it", we change the verb to end with "-s", "-es" or "-ies".For example:
|
I
You We They |
eat
play watch worry |
| He / She / It |
eats
plays watches worries |
Examples:
-
Facts and things that are usually true:
I
You
We
Theylike milk. He / She / It likes
-
Normal actions:
I
You
We
Theydrink milk everyday. He / She / It drinks
-
To describe people and things:
I am hungry. You / We / They are He / She / It is
I
You
We
Theyhave long hair. He / She / It has
Practice
.Part 2 - Present simple negative
We do not change the verb in negative forms. Instead, we use the verb "do" and change it for "he" / "she" / "it".For example:
|
I
You We They |
do not
don't |
drink | milk. |
| He / She / It |
does not
doesn't |
Practice
.Part 3 - Present simple questions
We do not change the verb in question forms. Instead, we use the verb "do" and change it for "he" / "she" / "it"Question:
| Do |
I
You We They |
drink | milk? |
| Does | He / She / It |
Answer:
| Yes, |
I
You We They |
do. |
| He / She / It | does. | |
| No, |
I
You We They |
don't.
do not. |
| He / She / It |
doesn't.
does not. |
Practice
.Further practice
Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence: a, b, c or d..
Intermediate language point
We also use the present simple for when something happens in the future:|
I
You We They |
leave | this evening. |
| He / She / It | leaves |
Examples:
| Positive | My flight leaves tomorrow morning. |
| Negative | Our flight doesn't leave tomorrow morning. |
| Question | Does her flight leave tomorrow morning? |
Intermediate language point
Sometimes we use the negative form in a question, usually to show surprise:| Do |
I
you we they |
not drink | milk? |
| Does | he / she / it |
| Don't |
I
you we they |
drink | milk? |
| Doesn't | he / she / it |
Examples:
- Don't you like ice cream?
- Doesn't he like ice cream?
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You might also be interested in:
Beginner
- Past simple
- Past continuous
- Present simple
- Present continuous (present)
- Present perfect
- 'Going to' and 'will'
- Present continuous (future)
- Imperatives
- To be
- Pronouns: subject, object
- Pronouns: relative
- Adjectives and pronouns: possessive
- Adjectives and pronouns: demonstrative
- Basic adjective word order
- WH questions (interrogative pronouns)
- Articles: a, an, the
- Prepositions: time and place
- There is/ there are and quantifiers
- Conjunctions and, or, but
- Comparatives / superlatives (than)
- Zero conditional (if)
- First conditional (if)
- Modals: can/can't, could, will, shall
- Verb patterns
- Sequence adverbs
Intermediate
- Past perfect
- Past simple vs. present perfect
- Past simple vs. past continuous
- Present perfect continuous
- Future simple
- Future continuous
- Passive
- Indirect speech
- Used to/would
- Second conditional
- Third conditional
- Relative clauses
- Reflexive pronouns
- Modals: must, have to, should, should have
- Verb patterns: gerund or infinitive
- Adverbs of degree
- Adjective order
- Adjectives: ed or ing
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