English Grammar: Present Simple Tense

Present Simple

Affirmative Form

• The present simple is used to describe habits, routines, and general truths.
• The base form of the verb is used for all subjects except the third person singular (he, she, it).
• The third person singular (he, she, it) takes the -s/-es form.
• Examples:
  • I/you/we/they + base form of the verb (e.g. I live, you study, we work, they play)
  • he/she/it + -s/-es form of the verb (e.g. he lives, she studies, it works)

Negative Form

• The present simple negative form is used to describe what is not true or what does not happen.
• The auxiliary verb "do" is used in the negative form.
• The base form of the verb is used after "do not" or "does not".
• Examples:
  • I/you/we/they + do not + base form of the verb (e.g. I do not live, you do not study, we do not work, they do not play)
  • he/she/it + does not + base form of the verb (e.g. he does not live, she does not study, it does not work)

Interrogative Form

• The present simple interrogative form is used to ask questions.
• The auxiliary verb "do" is used in the interrogative form.
• The word order is inverted, with the auxiliary verb "do" coming before the subject.
• Examples:
  • Do + I/you/we/they + base form of the verb (e.g. Do I live?, Do you study?, Do we work?, Do they play?)
  • Does + he/she/it + base form of the verb (e.g. Does he live?, Does she study?, Does it work?)

Present Simple

Affirmative Form

• Used to describe habits, routines, and general truths
• Base form of the verb is used for all subjects except the third person singular (he, she, it)
• Third person singular (he, she, it) takes the -s/-es form
• Examples:
  • I/you/we/they + base form of the verb (e.g. I live, you study, we work, they play)
  • he/she/it + -s/-es form of the verb (e.g. he lives, she studies, it works)

Negative Form

• Used to describe what is not true or what does not happen
• Auxiliary verb "do" is used in the negative form
• Base form of the verb is used after "do not" or "does not"
• Examples:
  • I/you/we/they + do not + base form of the verb (e.g. I do not live, you do not study, we do not work, they do not play)
  • he/she/it + does not + base form of the verb (e.g. he does not live, she does not study, it does not work)

Interrogative Form

• Used to ask questions
• Auxiliary verb "do" is used in the interrogative form
• Word order is inverted, with the auxiliary verb "do" coming before the subject
• Examples:
  • Do + I/you/we/they + base form of the verb (e.g. Do I live?, Do you study?, Do we work?, Do they play?)
  • Does + he/she/it + base form of the verb (e.g. Does he live?, Does she study?, Does it work?)

Learn about the present simple tense in English grammar, including affirmative and negative forms, and how to use it to describe habits and general truths.