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Present simple • Learn English grammar

What is the present simple?

The present simple (or simple present) is one of the English verb tenses.

You can learn more English online by visiting our free English grammar lessons, which include other verb tenses and more grammar points.

You can also find more grammar, vocabulary and communication tasks for each English level:

Use & examples

We use the present simple tense to describe:

present simple

(1) Facts

[English level A1 - English level A2]

This describes general facts & permanent situations.

  • I live in London.
present simple 2

(2) Habits

[English level A1 - English level A2]

This is something that you do regularly.

  • I read the news every morning.
present simple 3

(3) States

[English level A1 - English level A2]

This is something that is not an action (e.g. emotions, thoughts, relationships, senses).

  • I feel tired after work.
present simple 4

(4) Instructions

[English level A2]

This includes giving instructions and directions.

  • You take the first left.
present simple 5

(5) Fixed arrangements

[English level B1]

This include schedules and timetables in the future.

  • I leave for a meeting in New York at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Form

How do you write and pronounce the present simple?

Form: Key points

  • Use the base form of the verb, which is the infinitive without 'to'.
  • After 'he/she/it' in the positive form, the verb ends in 's'.

Here are examples of the affirmative (positive) form, negative form and question form using the verb 'live'.

Affirmative Present simple
Negative Present simple

Contractions

do not = don't / does not = doesn't

Question Present simple

Short answers

Yes, I do. / No, I don't.

Pronunciation

The present simple with 's' (after he/she/it in the positive form) has three different pronunciation sounds.

  • /s/ (e.g. works, eats) - when 's' comes after an unvoiced or silent sound.
  • /z/ (e.g. lives, plays) - when 's' comes after a voiced consonant or vowel sound.
  • /ɪz/ (e.g. watches, fixes) - when 's' comes after consonants with a hissing sound /ʧ/, /ʤ/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /z/, /s/.

Notes

Spelling exceptions for verbs

For the present perfect simple, we have extra information about the exceptions:

1) Be
I am, You are, He/She/It is, We are, You are, They are.

Examples:
I am British.
You are German.
He is French.

2) Have, Go and Do after he/she/it (third person singular)
Change 'have' to 'has', 'go' to 'goes', and 'do' to 'does'.

Examples:
[have] He has a car.
[go] She goes to work at 8:30.
[do] He does her homework in the evening.

3) Verbs ending in 'consonant + y'
Change 'y' to 'ies'.

Examples:
[fly] She flies to Spain every year.
[cry] She cries during the film.

Compare verbs ending in 'vowel + y':
[play] He plays football.

4) Verbs ending in 's', 'z', 'ch', 'sh', 'x'
Add 'es' to base form.

Examples:
[watch] He watches television.
[fix] She fixes the car.

Quizzes

Quiz 1: General facts, habits and states.

My friend and his job.

[Topic: Friends / Jobs]

Choose the correct forms of the present simple tense, the affirmative, negative or question form.

1. Where do you live?

I ______ in Germany.

Choose one correct answer.

2. Do you play sport in your free time?

I ______ , but I watch it on television.

Choose one correct answer.

3. My friend ______ in Japan.

Choose one correct answer.

4. ______ his job?

No he doesn't.

Choose one correct answer.

5. Sarah ______ to work. She takes the train.

Choose one correct answer.

6. He ______ to England every year.

Choose one correct answer.

7. ______ any brothers or sisters? Yes, she has two brothers.

Choose one correct answer.

8. His parents ______ doctors.

Choose one correct answer.

9. We ______ on the phone, but we write emails.

Choose one correct answer.

10. Is your friend married? No, he ______.

Choose one correct answer.