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Present Simple

Talk about habits, routines and facts. The tense you use most every day.

Beginner 2 min read

What is it?

The present simple describes things that are generally true: habits, routines, facts and permanent situations. It is the most common tense in everyday English.

When to use it

Habits and routines: I drink tea every morning.
Facts and general truths: The sun rises in the east.
Permanent situations: Monica lives in Dhaka.
Timetables: The bus leaves at 8:15.

When not to use it

Don’t use the present simple for something happening right now. Use the present continuous instead: I’m reading, not I read, when someone asks what you are doing at this moment.

How to build it

Form	I / you / we / they	he / she / it
Positive	I work.	She works.
Negative	I don’t work.	She doesn’t work.
Question	Do you work?	Does she work?

Spelling: most verbs add -s (plays). Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x or -o add -es (watches, goes). Consonant + y becomes -ies (study → studies).

Examples

Joe plays cricket on Fridays.
We don’t eat meat.
Does this train stop at Airport station?
How often do you practice English?

Common mistakes

She work in a bank.She works in a bank.
He doesn’t likes coffee.He doesn’t like coffee.
Do she speak English?Does she speak English?

Memory tip

Only one -s per sentence. If you use does or doesn’t, the -s is already there, so the main verb stays simple: Does she work? not Does she works?

Joe & Monica

Monica: What do you usually do on weekends?

Joe: I usually sleep late, and then I play football with my friends. What about you?

Monica: I go to the market on Saturdays. My mum cooks a big lunch every Sunday.

Interactive Practice

Pick an answer to check your understanding.

Question 1 of 5

She ___ to work by bus every morning.

Question 2 of 5

___ you like spicy food?

Question 3 of 5

Water ___ at 100 degrees Celsius.

Question 4 of 5

My brother doesn’t ___ coffee.

Question 5 of 5