A1 Grammar: Chapter 4
Present Simple (Regular Verbs)
Learn how to use the Present Simple for daily routines, habits, and facts!
What is the Present Simple?
We use the Present Simple tense to talk about:
Habits and routines: things you do regularly.
I wake up at 7 AM every day.
She goes to work by bus.
General truths or facts: things that are always true.
The sun rises in the east.
Birds fly.
1. Positive Statements
For most verbs in the Present Simple, the form is simple!
| Subject | Verb Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| I, You, We, They | Base form of the verb | I work in an office. You eat breakfast. We watch TV. They live in a city. |
| He, She, It | Verb + -s / -es | He works on his computer. She eats lunch at 1 PM. It sleeps a lot. |
Important Rule: For he, she, it (or singular nouns like 'my brother', 'the dog'), we add -s or -es to the end of the verb.
- Most verbs: add -s (e.g., work → works, eat → eats, sleep → sleeps).
- Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z, -o: add -es (e.g., watch → watches, go → goes).
- Verbs ending in consonant + -y: change -y to -ies (e.g., study → studies, fly → flies).
2. Negative Statements
To make a negative sentence with most verbs in the Present Simple, we use 'do not' or 'does not' before the base form of the main verb.
| Subject | Negative Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| I, You, We, They | do not (don't) + base verb | I don't like milk. We don't go to bed late. |
| He, She, It | does not (doesn't) + base verb | He doesn't watch TV. She doesn't cook every day. |
Remember: The main verb is always in its base form after 'don't' or 'doesn't'. Don't add '-s' or '-es'!
3. Questions
To ask a question with most verbs in the Present Simple, we use 'Do' or 'Does' at the beginning of the sentence, before the subject. The main verb stays in its base form.
| Question Structure | Example Question | Short Answer (Yes) | Short Answer (No) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do I/you/we/they...? | Do you like pizza? | Yes, I do. | No, I don't. |
| Does he/she/it...? | Does she cook dinner? | Yes, she does. | No, she doesn't. |
Remember: The main verb is always in its base form in questions!