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Simple present tense is one of the commonly used verb tense in English.

 

What is simple present tense?

Simple present tense is a verb tense that indicates an action that is happening regularly, truths, or habits. The main characteristic of simple present tense is using the root form of the verb. For the 3^rd singular person – he, she, it – add the ‘-s’ or ‘-es’.

 

When should we use simple present tense?

We use simple present tense for the following conditions:

• To express habitual actions or repeated actions.
• To show general truths or scientific facts.
• To give directions or instructions.
• To state thoughts or opinions or feelings.

 

Note: We do not use simple present tense to indicate an action that is happening right now. We use the present continuous tense instead.

 

How to form a simple present tense sentence?

Positive Sentences

All, except for he, she, it: Subject + Verb 1

He, she, it: Subject + Verb 1 (-s/-es)

 

Negative Sentences

All, except for he, she, it: Subject + Do + Not + Verb 1

He, she, it: Subject + Does + Not + Verb 1

 

Questions

All, except for he, she, it: Do + Subject + Verb 1 + ?

He, she, it: Does + Subject + Verb 1 + ?

 

Note: Verb 1 or infinitive form is a verb that uses the root form of the verb.

 

What is the general rule for the verbs?

Almost Every Verb

Add ‘–s’ at the end of the base form.

I come

You come

We come

They come

He comes

She comes

It comes

 

Ending in ‘Consonant + Y’

Substitute ‘–y’ to ‘-ies’.

I try

You try

We try

They try

He tries

She tries

It tries

 

Ending in s, z, ch, sh, x

Add ‘-es’ at the end of the base form.

I miss	I fizz	I catch	I brush	I fix
You miss	You fizz	You catch	You brush	You fix
We miss	We fizz	We catch	We brush	We fix
They miss	They fizz	They catch	They brush	They fix
He misses	He fizzes	He catches	He brushes	He fixes
She misses	She fizzes	She catches	She brushes	She fixes
It misses	It fizzes	It catches	It brushes	It fixes

 

Exceptions

For the verb ‘do’ and ‘go’, add ‘-es’ at the end.

I do	I go
You do	You go
We do	We go
They do	They go
He does	He goes
She does	She goes
It does	It goes

 

Examples

Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
I come to Bali every month.	I do not come to Bali every month.	Do you come to Bali every month?*
They come to Bali every month.	They do not come to Bali every month.	Do they come to Bali every month?
He comes to Bali every month.	He does not come to Bali every month.	Does he come to Bali every month?

 

Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
I catch fishes every morning.	I do not catch fishes every morning.	Do you catch fishes every morning?*
They catch fishes every morning.	They do not catch fishes every morning.	Do they catch fishes every morning?
He catches fishes every morning.	He does not catch fishes every morning.	Does he catch fishes every morning?

 

Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
I brush teeth twice a day.	I do not brush teeth twice a day.	Do you brush teeth twice a day?*
They brush teeth twice a day.	They do not brush teeth twice a day.	Do they brush teeth twice a day?
He brushes teeth twice a day.	He does not brush teeth twice a day.	Does he brush teeth twice a day?

 

Are there any special rules for a certain verb?

Yes, there are. For the verb ‘to be’, use the following rules:

Positive Sentences

I: Subject + Am + …

You, we, they: Subject + Are + …

He, she, it: Subject + Is + …

 

Negative Sentences

I: Subject + Am + Not + …

You, we, they: Subject + Are + Not + …

He, she, it: Subject + Is + Not + …

 

Questions

I: Am + Subject + … + ?

You, we, they: Are + Subject + … + ?

He, she, it: Is + Subject + … + ?

 

Note: ‘…’ can be substituted with nouns, adjectives, or other part of speech.

 

Examples

Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
I am happy.	I am not happy.	Are you happy?*
They are happy.	They are not happy.	Are they happy?
He is happy.	He is not happy.	Is he happy?

 

Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
I am a teacher.	I am not a teacher.	Are you a teacher?*
They are teachers.	They are not teachers.	Are they teachers?
He is a teacher.	He is not a teacher.	Is he a teacher?

 

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