Present Simple Affirmative
The Present Simple Tense is one of the most commonly used in the English language. For affirmative + uses, we add the bare infinitive (verb without to), and for 3rd person we put an s on the end.
Except the verb to be which forms as: am, is, are.
On this page we go through the Affirmative +, Negative –, and Question ? forms of the Present Simple. We’ll show you when to use this tense, and at the end of the post there’s a presentation and a mini quiz so you can test yourself.
How to Form the Present Simple Tense
The verb form is the present tense or bare infinitive. This is also known as the root verb or verb 1, but technically it’s just the present tense of the verb.
For all third person singular verbs, we add an s on the end, and sometimes we add es (we will discuss this further down). Other than this for all Present Simple verbs, it’s the bare infinitive.
Check out these examples of the verb to work:
1st Person Singular: I work Monday to Friday.
2nd Person Singular: You work with my brother.
3rd Person Singular: He works with you.
1st Person Plural: We work hard at English.
2nd Person Plural: You work hard every day.
3rd Person Plural: They work together every Tuesday.
See how for all persons, we just use work, but for third person singular: he/she/it, we add an s. It’s like this for all verbs in the present tense verb forms.
When to use the Present Simple Tense
We use Present Simple Tense for habits and routines, permanent and semi-permanent situations, facts, imperatives, timetables and planned future events, newspaper headlines, and in conditionals.
Sounds like a lot? Well we’ll show you each one.
Habits and Routines
This is for things that we do again and again. It can be every second, minute, hour, day, year, or however long the routine happens. The thing about it is that we do it as a routine.
See how each example includes the time reference:
I play tennis every Monday.
She brushes her teeth twice a day.
We celebrate Christmas once a year.
Permanent Situations
We talk about permanent and semi permanent situations in the present simple tense.
Some examples:
I live in Spain.
She has two daughters.
They are students.
Facts and General Truths
Facts and general truths are also spoken in the present simple tense. This is similar to zero conditionals, which we discuss further down.
Some examples:
My teacher is the best.
The sun rises in the East.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Imperatives
Imperatives are directions or orders, and we use these in the present simple tense.
Some examples:
Turn left, go straight on, and wait at the blue door.
Tidy your room.
Throw the ball.
Notice how these don’t have a subject. That;’s because imperatives are usually spoken direct to the second person so there’s no need to say, ‘You‘ for imperatives.
Newspaper Headlines
Newspaper headlines are usually written in present simple. They’re also usually capitalized.
Some examples:
Man Jumps Over The Moon
President Quits After Corruption Exposed
England Wins The World Cup
Notice how the verbs are in present tense, how the main words in each headline are capitlized, and that there is no period. How shocking!
Timetables and Planned Future Events
Timetables are always in present simple, and when we talk about our plans for the future, we also use this tense, too.
Some examples:
The plane leaves at 10am tomorrow.
The next train arrives in five minutes.
The show starts at 7:30pm.
Dramatic Narrative
Dramatic narrative is a more advanced use of the present simple tense, but it’s used to make something sound more exciting, or dramatic.
Compare these two sentences. They’re both correct, but I’m telling about something that happened in dramatic narrative and in the past simple.
Dramatic narrative: So, I go into the room, the piano stops, and everybody screams!
Past simple: So, I went into the room, the piano stopped, and everybody screamed!
They’re both exactly the same meaning of the same event, but I’m sure you’ll agree the dramatic narrative version sounds better.
We also use dramatic narrative to talk about action in books and movies:
Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive at Hogwarts just before Lord Voldemort gets there.
The chef sees a rat and orders Linguni to get it out of the kitchen.
Zero Conditionals
We also use present simple tense in zero conditionals. These are conditionals that tell a general truth, or fact.
Some examples:
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
If water reaches 100 degrees celsius, it boils.
If the traffic lights are on red, you stop.
3rd Person Singular ‘S’ Rule
Notice how all 3rd person singular verbs include an s or es on the end. Here are the rules for this:
With 3rd person singular Present Simple Tense always put an s on the end, but sometimes add es:
If a verb ends in y preceded by a consonant, we change the y to i and add es:
I study … He studies
If a verb ends in o, we add es:
I go … It goes
If a verb ends in s, sh, ch, x or z, we add es.
I reach … he reaches. They pass … James passes. You rush … she rushes. We fix … she fixes. I buzz … a bee buzzes.
Present Simple Negative
To make a Present Simple sentence negative we need to use the verb do and not before the main verb. This can be shortened: don’t, which is useful for speech.
For 3rd person singular do is changed to does, and then add not before the main verb.
I do not like Mondays. I don’t like Mondays.
You do not like lemonade. You don’t like lemonade.
It does not snow much in winter. It doesn’t snow much in winter.
We do not drive on the right. We don’t drive on the right.
You do not live in USA. You don’t live in USA.
They do not eat meat. They don’t eat meat.
For the Verb To Be, we do not need to use do to make it negative. Just add not:
I am not with them. I’m not with them.
You are not tall. You‘re not tall.
It is not hungry. It isn’t hungry.
We are not there yet. We’re not there yet.
You are not late. You’re not late.
They are not happy. They’re not happy.
Click the link for more information on the Verb To Be.
Present Simple Questions
There are two types of questions: Yes/No Questions, and Information Questions. As you may have guessed, Yes/No questions you can answer with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, whereas the other you are asking this way because you expect some information.
Remember with sentences, we construct them with subject + verb(s) + object. For questions we need to use the auxiliary verb do (even for positive questions), and place it before the subject, and the main verb will go after the subject.
We form Present Simple Yes/No questions by placing do or does before the subject. The main verb will go after the subject:
Do I study English?
Do you study English?
Does she study English?
Do we study English?
Do you study English?
Do they study English?
The main Info words:
Who
What
Where
When
Why
Which
How
Information Questions are slightly different construction: Info word – do – subject – main verb…?
Who do I study English with?
What do you study?
Where does she study English?
When do we study English?
Why do I study English?
How do they study English?
Which teacher do you study English?
Notice how they all construct the same way apart from which, because it needs an object after to make sense.
Watch Present Simple Powerpoint Presentation
Present Simple Reminders
Remember the rules for Present Simple:
Use the bare infinitive (base form) of the verb.
Unless it’s Verb to Be: am, is, are.
If it’s 3rd person singular add an s, es, ies.
To make it negative: do not + main verb, don’t + main verb, does not + main verb, doesn’t + main verb
For questions, change the subject verb order from Subject + verb + predicate. > verb (to do) + subject + verb + predicate?