Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense
I sing
How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

subject + auxiliary verb + main verb do base There are three important exceptions:
1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary. 2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the
auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like: subject I, you, we, they + He, she, it I, you, we, they Do He, she, it Do ? Does he, she, it like coffee? Does I, you, we, they not like like coffee. coffee? likes not like coffee. coffee. auxiliary verb main verb like coffee.
Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary: subject I + You, we, they He, she, it I You, we, they main verb Am Are Is Am Are not not French. French. French. old. old.
He, she, it Am ? Are Is
Is I you, we, they he, she, it
not
old. late? late? late?
How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when:

the action is general the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future the action is not only happening now the statement is always true John drives a taxi. past Present future
It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future. Look at these examples:

I live in New York. The Moon goes round the Earth. John drives a taxi. He does not drive a bus. We meet every Thursday. We do not work at night. Do you play football?
Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present tense - some of them are general, some of them are now: Am I right? Tara is not at home. You are happy. Past present future
The situation is now.
I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? Ram is tall. past Present future
The situation is general. Past, present and future. This page shows the use of the simple present tense to talk about general events. But note that there are some other uses for the simple present tense, for example in conditional or if sentences, or to talk about the future. You will learn about those later. Quiz
Simple Present Tense Quiz

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 Do you chocolate milk? He not want to come to the movies. we too late to catch the bus? It a beautiful day today. Sorry, Lisa not here at the moment. I correct? Robert not go to my school. My parents in a 2 bedroom apartment. We European. You so happy today!
1A. Explanation
The simple present tense takes one of two forms depending on the subject. Subject I, you They, We Plural nouns He, She, It Singular nouns Non count-nouns base form eat go work -s form eats goes works
1B. Examples
Subjects followed by verb in base form: I like rice. You look nice. They think twice. We throw dice. Chefs use spice. The boys ring the doorbell. Children sing on special occasions. Some people bring gifts to parties. Bees sting when they are disturbed. Subjects with verb in ?s form: She makes toys. He rakes leaves. It takes time. Mom bakes pies. Water slakes thirst. Jill loves dates. Mr. Smith fills crates. Grandpa washes plates. The dog jumps gates.
1C. Exercises
1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time. 2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on time.
3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography. 4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa every day. 5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.
2A. Explanation
Use the simple present tense to indicate: 1. Routine actions 2. Facts
2B. Examples
Routine actions John brushes his teeth every morning. Carol usually drives to work. The teacher grades homework on Fridays. Facts Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean. Some birds fly south for the winter. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
Note how the present tense is used in the following paragraph. Mr. Lee is a bus driver. Every day he gets up at 7:00 a.m. and prepares for his day. He showers, eats his breakfast, and puts on his uniform. His wife drives him to the station where he checks in with his supervisor. Then, he gets on Bus #405 and starts the engine. He pulls out of the parking lot and begins his route. At his first stop, he picks up Mrs. Miller, who lives in a red house on the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue. She works at the post office and has to be to work by 9:00. At the next stop, the Bartlett twins get on the bus. They attend class at Bayside Elementary. More children get on at the next three stops, and they ride until the bus reaches their school. Mr. Lee enjoys seeing the kids every day and is happy to see them again in the afternoon when he drives them safely back home.
2C. Exercises
1. To practice the present tense, reread the above paragraph, then try to repeat the main ideas in your own words. Be sure to use the -s form of the verb when the subject of a sentence is singular. Have a partner listen to your speech and check for correct usage of verbs. 2. Tell whether the present tense is appropriate in the following sentences. 1. Yesterday I go to Washington D.C. Correct Incorrect
2. Every day, Mr. Johnson cleans his living room. Correct Incorrect 3. They usually take the bus to the office. 4. Right now Susan eats her breakfast. 5. Melinda and Harry work in the bank. Correct Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct Incorrect
Common Mistakes with the simple present tense

1. Not using the -s form with singular subjects: Jack likes Chinese food. Jack like Chinese food. 2. Using the simple present tense when another tense is required. Last night I watched television for two hours. Last night I watch television for two hours. (Correct) (Incorrect ) (Correct) (Incorrect)
Present Simple Verbs

Click the answer button to see the answer. 1. She ___ four languages. a. speak b. speaks 2. Jane is a teacher. She ___ French. a. teach b. teaches 3. When the kettle ___, will you make some tea? a. boil b. boils 4. I always ___ the window at night because it is cold. a. close b. closes 5. Those shoes ___ too much. a. cost b. costs 6. The food in Japan is expensive. It ___ a lot to live there. a. cost b. costs 7. His job is great because he ___ a lot of people. a. meet b. meets 8. He always ___ his car on Sundays. a. wash b. washes 9. My watch is broken and it ___ to be fixed again. a. need b. needs 10. I ___ to watch movies. a. love b. loves 11. I ___ to the cinema at least once a week. a. go b. goes 12. They never ___ tea in the morning. a. drink b. drinks 13. We both ___ to the radio in the morning. a. listen b. listens 14. He ___ a big wedding. a. want b. wants
15. George ___ too much so he's getting fat. a. eat b. eats 16. The earth ___ round the sun, doesn't it? a. go b. goes 17. The shops in England ___ at 9:00 in the morning. a. open b. opens 18. The post office ___ at 5:30 pm. a. close b. closes 19. Jackie ___ two children now. a. has b. have 20. Mr. Smith ___ too much. He always has a cigarette in his mouth. a. smoke b. smokes 21. When the phone ___, please answer it. a. ring b. rings

Simple Present Tense

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What are the main rules for using the simple present tense?

What are some common examples of using the simple present tense to describe routines and facts?

Simple Present Tense

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

He, she, it Am ? Are Is

Is I you, we, they he, she, it

old. late? late? late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

The situation is now.

Simple Present Tense Quiz

Common Mistakes with the simple present tense

Present Simple Verbs

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