Learn English Basic

Lesson 1. Simple Present Tense: The Most Common Tense in English

Simple Present Tense in English

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 3rd 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?

 

Let’s learn English today! Join us at LingoCards!

Vinvin Zhang

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