Present Simple Tense: Formation and Usage
The Present Simple is one of the most important tenses in English. It is used to express habits, general truths, and repeated actions.
Formation
For most verbs, the Present Simple is formed with the base form of the verb. For the third person singular (he, she, it), add -s or -es.
- I / You / We / They : work, play, study, go
- He / She / It : works, plays, studies, goes
Spelling rules for 3rd person singular
Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o add -es : watch → watches, go → goes, fix → fixes.
Verbs ending in consonant + -y change y to i and add -es : study → studies, cry → cries.
Negative and question forms
Use do/does + not for negatives, and do/does before the subject for questions.
- She does not (doesn’t) like coffee.
- Do you speak English?
- Does he work here?
Examples
I wake up at 7 o’clock every day. The sun rises in the east. They play football on Fridays. She studies English at school.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete with the correct form. (1) He ____ (go) to school by bus. (2) They ____ (not/like) fish. (3) ____ she ____ (speak) Arabic?
Exercise 2: Correct the mistakes. (1) She go to the cinema. (2) He doesn’t likes maths. (3) They studies every evening.
Study also Present Simple vs Present Continuous and learn about Articles: A, An, The.
Related Lessons:
- English – Making Suggestions and Offers – 1st Year – Literary Stream
- اللغة الإنجليزية — There is / There are: Usage, Form and Solved Exerci
- اللغة الإنجليزية — Asking for and Giving Directions: Vocabulary and Ph
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