Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense

English Grammar Rules

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.

• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.

• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.

• A dog has four legs.

• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.

• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.

• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.

• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

• They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).

In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject Verb The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they speak / learn English at home

he / she / it speaks / learns English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

• go – goes

• catch – catches

• wash – washes

• kiss – kisses

• fix – fixes

• buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

• marry – marries

• study – studies

• carry – carries

• worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

• play – plays

• enjoy – enjoys

• say – says

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Beand Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

• Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the subject is I, you,we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not

Doesn't = Does not

I don't like meat = I do not like meat.

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.

Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they don't have / buy

eat / like etc. cereal for breakfast

he / she

...