Present simple
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In short
We use the present simple for habits, routines, permanent facts, and timetables. The verb stays in its base form, but with he / she / it we add -s (she works, he goes).
The rule
Use the present simple to talk about:
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Habits and routines | I drink coffee every morning. |
| Permanent facts and states | Water boils at 100°C. She lives in Rome. |
| Timetables and schedules | The train leaves at 6. The shop opens at nine. |
| With frequency adverbs | We often play tennis on Sundays. |
The big rule is subject-verb agreement: with he, she, it (and any singular name or thing), the verb takes -s/-es/-ies. With I, you, we, they the verb stays in the base form.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | work, go, study, have |
| he / she / it | works, goes, studies, has |
| everyone, somebody, nobody, nothing | works, goes, studies, has |
Words like everyone, somebody and nobody are third-person singular even when they mean many people: Everyone knows this. (See lesson 30.)
For negatives and questions we use the helper do / does. After do/does, the main verb is always in the base form (no extra -s).
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | subject + verb(+s) | She works here. |
| Negative | subject + don’t/doesn’t + base | She doesn’t work here. |
| Yes/No question | Do/Does + subject + base | Does she work here? |
| Wh- question | Wh- + do/does + subject + base | Where does she work? |
Short answers reuse do/does:
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Do you like tea? | Yes, I do. | No, I don’t. |
| Does he live here? | Yes, he does. | No, he doesn’t. |
Frequency adverbs (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) go before the main verb, but after the verb be: She always arrives early. / She is always late. (See lesson 11.)
Forms & patterns
Third-person -s spelling rules:
| Rule | Verbs | He / she / it |
|---|---|---|
| Most verbs: add -s | work, play, read | works, plays, reads |
| Ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o: add -es | watch, wash, kiss, fix, go, do | watches, washes, kisses, fixes, goes, does |
| Consonant + -y: change y to -ies | study, fly, try | studies, flies, tries |
| Vowel + -y: just add -s | play, say, buy | plays, says, buys |
| Irregular | have | has |
Pronunciation of the -s ending mirrors the plural -s (lesson 1):
| Sound | After | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| /s/ | voiceless sounds (p, t, k, f) | works, stops, sleeps |
| /z/ | voiced sounds and vowels | plays, reads, goes |
| /ɪz/ | s, z, sh, ch, x sounds | watches, washes, kisses |
Examples
| English | Note |
|---|---|
| I get up at seven every day. | Daily routine. |
| My brother works in a bank. | He/she/it adds -s. |
| The sun rises in the east. | Permanent fact. |
| The museum opens at ten on Saturdays. | Timetable/schedule. |
| We don’t watch TV in the morning. | Negative: don’t + base verb. |
| She doesn’t eat meat. | doesn’t + base (not “doesn’t eats”). |
| Do you speak English? | Yes/No question with do + base. |
| Where does he live? | Wh- question with does + base. |
Common mistakes
- He work here -> He works here - he/she/it needs -s.
- She doesn’t works -> She doesn’t work - after doesn’t use the base form.
- Do she like it? -> Does she like it? - use does for he/she/it.
- I am work every day -> I work every day - present simple has no am/is/are.
- She studys -> She studies - consonant + y becomes -ies.
Tips
- One -s per sentence: either the verb has it (She works) or the helper does (Does she work?), never both.
- After do, does, don’t, doesn’t, the main verb is always the plain base form.
- Frequency words answer “how often” and sit right before the main verb: I never smoke.
- Use present simple for general or repeated actions; for something happening right now, use the present continuous (lesson 8): I work here (job) vs. I am working now (this moment).