Simple Present Tense

L 3 b G r a m m a r
Simple(
Present
Tense
}ÿÿ_
M y E n g l i s h Tu t o r H K . c o m
S i mp le P re s e n t Ten s e } ÿ ÿ _
The simple present tense (}ÿÿ_) is used for:
1. Habits and actions we do regularly

I play tennis once a week.
2. General truths
The sun rises in the east.
3. Permanent situations
She lives in Hong Kong.
4. Stating opinions or beliefs
I think hunting is wrong.
mple Present Tense Simple Pr
nse Simple Present Tense S
esent Tense Simple Present T
mple Present Use
Tense
1 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

S im ple P r e sen t Te nse
Use the simple present tense to talk about habits and actions that we do regularly. This tense is used
with these key words:
Frequency adverbs: usually, always, often, never, sometimes, rarely

Time expressions: every day/week, on Mondays, in the mornings, in winter, once a day/week/month
I always listen to the teacher.

You do your homework every day.
On Mondays, my sister has a piano lesson.
We sometimes eat dinner at a restaurant.
My grandparents visit me once a month.
mple Present Use
Tense
2 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

Use the simple present tense for general truths. These are facts which are always true, like scientific
facts.
General truths
The sky is blue.
Sheep eat grass.
Cycling to school is healthier than driving.
Dogs donÕt like cat.
Fruit and vegetables are good for you.
mple Present Use
Tense
3 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

Use the simple present tense to talk about permanent situations, for example where you live, what you
study, what you like.
Permanent situations
I live in Hong Kong.
You have two brothers.
She studies English.
We enjoy watching films.
My parents donÕt like cooking.
mple Present Use
Tense
4 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

Use the simple present tense to state opinions or beliefs that you have at the time of speaking.
Stating opinions or beliefs

I believe that family is very important.
You donÕt think that students should wear uniforms.
She agrees with George.
We suspect that Sarah is cheating.
They think that we will pass the exam.
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I walk. I do not/donÕt walk. Do I walk?

You walk. You do not/donÕt walk. Do you walk?
He/She/It walks. She does not/doesnÕt walk. Does she walk?
We walk. We do not/donÕt walk. Do we walk?
They walk. They do not/donÕt walk. Do they walk?
* In the negative form of the simple present tense, we use ÔdoÕ or ÔdoesÕ.
I, you, we, they ! do, donÕt
he, she, it ! does, doesnÕt
The verb Ôto beÕ is a bit different.
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I am. I am not. Am I?
You are. You are not. Are you?
He/She/It is. She/He/It is not. Is she/he/it?
We are. We are not. Are we?
They are. They are not. Are they?
I = am
You, we, they = are
He, she, it = is
S imp le P resen t Ten se
The third person singular is the verb used with he, she and it. It is also used with
people and objects in the singular (like Peter, Sarah and table).
These verbs usually have an ÕsÕ at the end.
There are rules about how to change the verb, depending on what letters the verb
has at the end:
( 1 ( 2 ( 3
I watch. I cry. I play.

He watches. He cries. It plays..
I go. They fly. They say.
It goes. The bird flies. He says.
I wish. I try. I pray.
She wishes She tries. She prays.
ÒWhere is Tom?Ó asked John.

ÒTom is at home,Ó replied Mary.
We usually use the simple present tense in conversations
ÒWhere is Tom?Ó asked John.

ÒTom is at home,Ó replied Mary.
Even if the conversation happens in the past, what the
people say is in the present tense. The part in the
speech marks is in the simple present tense.
Here are some more examples:

ÒI have a huge garden,Ó said Kelly.
ÒI love flowers!Ó added George.
ÒJoan has blonde hair. She lives in Hong Kong,Ó said Alan.
ÒI donÕt know Joan very well,Ó said Nicky.
ÒThere is a huge park where I live,Ó explained Josey.
ÒÒPlaying in the park is fun,Ó said Alex.Ó
S imp le P resen t Ten se
Try to avoid these common errors when you use the simple present tense.
1. She isonot live here.

not negating the verb properly.
2. He do notolike peanuts.
not using the correct auxiliary verb.
3. The bird flys.
o
not using the correct third person verb.
esent Tense Common
Simple Present T
mple Present Error
Tense 1 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

To make a sentence negative in the simple present tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb
ÔdoÕ.
Positive Negative
She lives here. She is does not live here.
He works very hard. He is does not live here.
They love each other. They are do not love each other.
esent Tense Common
Simple Present T
mple Present Error
Tense 2 Simple Pr
Simple Present
Tense

Remember that with he, she and it, use the word ÔdoesÕ instead of ÔdoÕ when you make the
sentence negative.
He do does not shower every day.

Sophie do does not enjoy dancing.
The rug do does not have a stain on it.
ple Present Tense Simple Pre
se Simple Present Tense Si
sent Tense Simple
Common
Present T
ple Present Tense
Error 3 Simple Pre
Simple Present
se Simple Present Tense Si

Tense
sent Tense Simple Present T

In the third person singular, the verb in the simple present tense usually ends in an ÔsÕ. However,
you canÕt just add an ÔsÕ to the verb! There are rules about what to add at the end of the word.
Positive Negative
I fix the car. She fixs fixes the car.
I fuss. He fusss fusses.
I fly. The bird flys flies.

S im ple P r ese n t Te nse
Choose the correct word to fill the gap in these sentences:
1. Andy __________ watching football.(

a) like b)likes
2. The children often __________ in the park.(

a) plays b) play
3. Mary __________ her bike every day.(

a) is not ride b) does not ride
4. I __________ not hungry.(

a) are b) am
5. We __________ the same teacher.(

a) have b) has
S im ple P r ese n t Te nse
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences using the verb given in brackets in the
simple present tense.
1. Emily always ______________________________(share) her food with her friends.
2. Robert ______________________________(not think) eating meat is wrong.
3. My friends never ______________________________(do) their homework late.
4. My dad ______________________________(fix) cars as a job.
5. We ______________________________(be) very happy about our grades.

Simple Present Tense

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L 3 b G r a m m a r

The simple present tense (}ÿÿ_) is used for:

1. Habits and actions we do regularly

esent Tense Simple Present T

Frequency adverbs: usually, always, often, never, sometimes, rarely

I always listen to the teacher.

esent Tense Simple Present T

esent Tense Simple Present T

esent Tense Simple Present T

Stating opinions or beliefs

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I walk. I do not/donÕt walk. Do I walk?

He/She/It walks. She does not/doesnÕt walk. Does she walk?

We walk. We do not/donÕt walk. Do we walk?

They walk. They do not/donÕt walk. Do they walk?

The verb Ôto beÕ is a bit different.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

You are. You are not. Are you?

He/She/It is. She/He/It is not. Is she/he/it?

We are. We are not. Are we?

They are. They are not. Are they?

I watch. I cry. I play.

ÒWhere is Tom?Ó asked John.

ÒWhere is Tom?Ó asked John.

Here are some more examples:

1. She isonot live here.

esent Tense Simple Present T

She lives here. She is does not live here.

He works very hard. He is does not live here.

esent Tense Simple Present T

He do does not shower every day.

se Simple Present Tense Si

sent Tense Simple Present T

I fix the car. She fixs fixes the car.

I fuss. He fusss fusses.

I fly. The bird flys flies.

Choose the correct word to fill the gap in these sentences:

1. Andy __________ watching football.(

2. The children often __________ in the park.(

3. Mary __________ her bike every day.(

4. I __________ not hungry.(

5. We __________ the same teacher.(

1. Emily always ______________________________(share) her food with her friends.

2. Robert ______________________________(not think) eating meat is wrong.

3. My friends never ______________________________(do) their homework late.

4. My dad ______________________________(fix) cars as a job.

5. We ______________________________(be) very happy about our grades.

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The simple present tense (}ÿÿ_) is used for: