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 actions in the present time period.

 I take a shower every day.

 The bus to Ambato leaves every hour.
 John have breakfast at 6:30 a.m.

2. For facts.

 The President of the USA lives in The White House.

 A dog has four legs.
 Students in Ecuador get dressed uniforms.

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 3rd 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 (3rd. Person) 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

Exercises:
1. He _________________(sleep) 8 hours everyday.
2. My mother ________________(cook) a really tasty stew.
3. The barman _______________(mix) the cocktail very quickly.
4. You ______________(go) to the school by bus from Monday to Friday.
5. Bob ______________(try) to study but he can't.
6. Pamela ____________(write) an email to her sister in USA everyday.
7. We_____________ (read) the book when We have got time.

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

Example:

 Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

 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

cereal for breakfast
HE / SHE / IT (3rd. person) doesn't
 eat / like etc.

Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

 You don't speak Portuguese.

 John doesn't speak Italian.
 We don't have time for a rest.
 It doesn't move.
 They don't want to go to the party.
 She doesn't like fish.

EXERCISES:

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use DO or DOES. It has no translation in Spanish though
it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of the question.

 Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?

Important: You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a
question. We use Do when the subject is I, YOU, WE OR THEY.

 Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?

Important: When the subject is HE, SHE or IT, we add DOES at the beginning to make the
affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative
sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the question.

Word Order of Questions with Do and Does

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does.
 Do/Does Subject Verb* The Rest of the sentence

Do I / YOU / WE / THEY have / need

a new bike?
Does HE / SHE / IT (3rd. person) want etc.

Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

 Do you need a dictionary?

 Does Mary need a dictionary?
 Do we have a meeting now?
 Does it rain a lot in winter?
 Do they want to go to the party?
 Does he like pizza?

EXERCISES:

EXERCISES: Put in the auxiliaries do or does into the gaps.

1. _________________you write with a pencil?

2. _________________your father often make breakfast?

3. _____________ your teachers always check your homework?

4. ______________ you and your sister feed the pets?

5. ______________your friends visit museums?

6. _____________your cats climb trees?

Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct questions as follows:

Short Answer Short Answer

Sample Questions
(Affirmative) (Negative)

Do you like chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don't.

Do I need a pencil? Yes, you do. No, you don't.

Do you both like chocolate? Yes, we do. No, we don't.

Do they like chocolate? Yes, they do. No, they don't.

Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

Does she like chocolate? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.

Does it have four wheels? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.

 Using do and does with Wh- questions
Use DO and DOES with the seven question words. Question words are WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHICH,
WHY, WHICH, WHY AND HOW. Here are some examples.

Where do you live?

Where does she live?

What languages does he speak?

What languages do they speak?

When do you wake up?

When does he wake up?

How do we use chopsticks?

How does She use chopsticks?

Decide if these sentences need DO or DOES:

 1. What ___ we have to do?

do

does

 2) How ___ you spell that?

do

does

 3) Why ___ he keep calling you?

does

do

 4) Where ___ you go last night

do

did

does

 5) Do your family visit you often?

Yes, they do.

Yes, they does.

 6) Which jacket ___ you like?

does

do

 7) When ___ it last snow?

does

did

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