The Simple Present
FORM: verb or verb+s
CONTRACTIONS
do not = don’t
does not = doesn’t
The simple present is used to talk about what regularly happens, what usually happens, or what always happens.
- I eat breakfast every day.
- My sister is very nice.
- We study English a lot.
Simple present is also used for simple statements of fact – things that are not connected to time. These are things that exist or happen always or usually in the past, present, and future.
- The earth rotates around the sun.
- Too much salt causes high blood pressure.
- Water freezes at 0 degrees celsius.
Statement
{ I – You – We – They } study.
{ He – She – It } studies.
Negative
{ I – You – We – They } do not study.
{ He – She – It } does not study.
Question
Do { I – you – we – they } study?
Does { he – she – it } study?
Short Answers
Yes, {I – you – we – they } do.
Yes, { he – she – it } does.
No, { I – you – we – they } don’t.
No, {he – she – it } doesn’t.
Spelling Rules for Simple Present Verbs
Final –s is added to most verbs.
cook –> cooks
travel –> travels
think –> thinks
talk –> talks
write –> writes
take –> takes
Final –es is added if the verb ends in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z.
catch –> catches
wash –> washes
pass –> passes
fix –> fixes
buzz –> buzzes
Final –es is added to do and go.
do –> does
go –> goes
If a verb ends in a consonant + -y, change the –y to –I and add -es.
If a verb ends in a vowel + -y, add -s.
study –> studies
try –> tries
pay –> pays
buy –> buys