Simple Present

1. Use of the Simple Present

1.1. repeated actions

My friend often draws nice posters.

1.2. things in general

The sun rises in the east.

1.3. fixed arrangements, scheduled events

The plane flies to London every Monday.

1.4. sequence of actions in the present

First I get up, then I have breakfast.

1.5. instructions

Open your books at page 34.

1.6. with special verbs

I understand English.

2. Signal words
 every day  sometimes

 often  never

 always
3. Form
infinitive (3rd person singular he, she, it: infinitive + -s)

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Present

Long forms Contracted forms

I read books.

You read books. not possible

He reads books.

4.2. Negative sentences in the Simple Present

Do not negates a main verb in English. Always use the auxiliary do for negations and
the infinitive of the verb.

Long forms Contracted forms

I do not clean the room. I don't clean the room.

You do not clean the room. You don't clean the room.

He does not clean the room. He doesn't clean the room.

 4.3. Questions in the Simple Present

You need the auxiliary do/does and the infinitive of the verb.

Long forms Contracted forms

Do I play football?

Do you play football? not possible

Does he play football?
 - be, - do, - have and modal verbs in the Simple
Present

How to use special verbs in the Simple Present

1. be as a main verb

Pronouns Affirmative sentence Negative sentence Question

I I am from Britain. I am not from Britain. Am I from Britain?

you You are from Britain. You are not from Britain. Are you from Britain?

he, she, it He is from Britain. He is not from Britain. Is he from Britain?

we, you, they They are from Britain. They are not from Britain. Are they from Britain?

We often use the short/contracted forms with this verb.

2. do as a main verb

Pronouns Affirmative sentence Negative sentence Question

I I do exercises. I do not do exercises. Do I do exercises?

you You do exercises. You do not do exercises. Do you do exercises?

he, she, it He does exercises. He does not do exercises. Does he do exercises?

we, you, they They do exercises. They do not do exercises. Do they do exercises?

3. have as a main verb

Pronouns Affirmative sentence Negative sentence Question

I I have books. I do not have books. Do I have books?

you You have books. You do not have books. Do you have books?

he, she, it He has books. He does not have books. Does he have books?

we, you, they They have books. They do not have books. Do they have books?

4. Modals can, could, may, must, need, will etc.

Pronouns Affirmative sentence Negative sentence Question

I, he, she, it, we, you, they I can play tennis. I cannot play tennis. Can I play tennis?

► We can subtitute don't (can't) for do not (cannot).

Modals have the same form every time regardless the subject. We do not add an -s to the
infinitive.
 Diagram of the Simple Present

A diagram to visualize the Simple Present

1. We use the Simple Present when we talk about something which happens repeatedely.

2. We use the Simple Present to describe a series of actions in the present.

 Form of the Simple Present

How do we form the Simple Present?

We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person singular (he, she, it - or a name) we put an
-s to the end of the infinitive.

infinitive → 3rd person singular (he, she, it) infinitive + -s

1. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Present

 I play with a ball.

 You play with a ball.
 We play with a ball.
 He plays with a ball.
 You play with a ball.
 She plays with a ball.
 They play with a ball.
 It plays with a ball.

► he, she, it → Do not forget the -s.

2. Negative sentences in the Simple Present

We use the auxiliary do/does.

 I do not play with a ball.  We do not play with a ball.

 You do not play with a ball.  You do not play with a ball.

 He does not play with a ball.  They do not play with a ball.

 She does not play with a ball.

 It does not play with a ball.
 Short/contracted forms and long forms in the
Simple Present

How to use short/contracted forms with the Simple

Present?
We often use short/contracted forms of auxiliaries in spoken English. The Simple Present is
formed with a main verb, so short/contracted forms are only used with negative forms.

1. Affirmative forms

Pronouns Long forms Contracted forms

I I read

you you read

not possible

he, she, it he reads

we, you, they they read

2. Negative forms
Pronouns Long forms Contracted forms

I I do not read I don't read

you you do not read you don't read

he, she, it he does not read he doesn't read

we, you, they they do not read they don't read

 Questions in the Simple Present, Questions
with do, does

1. Questions without question words in the Simple

Present

Auxiliary
Auxiliary Subject Verb Rest Yes/No Subject
(+ n't)

Yes, I do.
Do you read books?
No, I don't.

Yes, he does.
Does Peter play football?
No, he doesn't.
2. Questions with question words in the Simple Present

Question word Auxiliary Subject Verb Rest Answer

on your I play games on my

What do you play
computer? computer.

When does your mother go to work? She goes to work at 6 o'clock.

Where do you meet your friends? I meet them at the bus stop.
 Signal words for the Simple Present

What are signal words for the Simple Present?

These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Present these are adverbs
of frequency:

 always

 often

 usually

 sometimes

 seldom

 never

Other phrases of time can occur, like:

 every day

 every week

 every year

 on Mondays

 after school
 Spelling of verbs in the Simple Present

How to add -s to the infintive in the Simple Present

Be careful with some words when using the 3rd person singular.

1. verbs ending in a sibilant [s] [z] [ʃ] [ʒ] [ʧ] [ʤ] or verbs ending in -
o preceded by a consonant

We add -es to the infinitive.

 I watch → he watches

 I pass → he passes

 I go → he goes

 I do → he does

2. verbs ending in -y

Mind the letter that stands before -y.

Vowel before -y: Add -s.

 I play → he plays

Consonant before -y: Change -y to -i. Then add -es.

 I hurry → he hurries
 Use of the Simple Present

When do we use the Simple Present?

The Simple Present is frequently used in English. It is also called Present Simple.

1. repeated actions (every day, always, often, sometimes, never)

My friend often draws nice posters.

I never drink orange juice.

We usually go to the Baltic Sea in summer.

2. things in general

The sun rises in the east.

Cats drink milk.

3. fixed arrangements, scheduled events (e.g. timetable)

The plane flies to London every Monday.

We have English on Tuesdays and Fridays.

4. sequence of actions in the present (first – then, after that)

First I get up, then I have breakfast.

After school I switch on my computer, then I check my emails and after that I play my
favourite game.

5. instructions

Open your books at page 34.

Don't shout at me!
6. with special verbs – which are normally not used with the Present
Progressive (These verbs express states, possessions, feelings etc.) be,
believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see,
seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish

I understand English.

He doesn't like fish.

She believes in life after death.

Do you prefer tea or coffee?