How to form the Present Simple: table
Positive: subject + the base form of the verb. With he, she, it (and with one person or thing: my mum, the shop) we add -s or -es. Negatives and questions need the auxiliary do, or does with he, she, it; the main verb then goes back to the base form, without -s.
| Form | I / you / we / they | he / she / it |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | I work. | She works. |
| Negative | I don’t work. | She doesn’t work. |
| Question | Do you work? | Does she work? |
| Short answer | Yes, I do. / No, I don’t. | Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t. |
| Wh- question | Where do you work? | Where does she work? |
| Form | I | he / she / it | you / we / they |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | I am (I’m) | she is (she’s) | they are (they’re) |
| Negative | I’m not | she isn’t | they aren’t |
| Question | Am I…? | Is she…? | Are they…? |
To be and modal verbs (can, must, should) don’t take do: Are you tired? (not Do you are…), She can swim (not She cans…). More in modal verbs.
When to use the Present Simple
Habits and routines
Things that happen again and again: every day, every week, usually.
I drink coffee every morning.
We visit my grandma on Sundays.
Facts and general truths
Things that are always or generally true.
Water boils at 100 °C.
Cats don’t like water.
Permanent states
Where we live, what we do, what we like and know. State verbs (know, like, want, need, believe) are almost always in the Present Simple, even about “right now”.
She lives in Odesa.
I know the answer.
not “I am knowing”
Timetables and schedules
Trains, lessons, films — even when they are tomorrow.
The train leaves at 7:15.
The lesson starts at 6 pm tomorrow.
a fixed schedule in the future
After when, if, as soon as about the future
In time and if clauses we don’t use will — only the Present Simple. Will goes in the main clause: see Future Simple.
I’ll call you when I get home.
If it rains, we’ll stay in.
Instructions, recipes, stories
Step-by-step explanations and retelling a film or a book.
First you open the app, then you choose a lesson.
In the film, a girl finds a secret door.
Present Simple signal words
Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) go before the main verb but after to be. Phrases like every day, on Mondays, twice a week usually go at the end.
- always
- usually
- often
- sometimes
- rarely
- never
- every day
- every week
- on Mondays
- twice a week
- at the weekend
- in the morning
She often works late.
He is always late.
after to be
I go to the gym twice a week.
Spelling: -s or -es
With he, she, it most verbs simply add -s. A few rules for the rest:
| The verb ends in | Add | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | -s | work → works, read → reads |
| -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o | -es | miss → misses, wash → washes, watch → watches, fix → fixes, go → goes, do → does |
| consonant + y | -y → -ies | study → studies, try → tries, fly → flies |
| vowel + y | -s | play → plays, enjoy → enjoys, buy → buys |
| exception | have → has | She has two cats. |
Pronunciation: /s/ after voiceless sounds (works, stops), /z/ after voiced sounds and vowels (plays, lives), /ɪz/ after hissing sounds (watches, washes, fixes).
Present Simple or Present Continuous?
The Present Simple is about what happens in general or regularly. The Present Continuous is about what is happening right now or temporarily.
| Present Simple | Present Continuous | |
|---|---|---|
| Describes | a habit, a fact, a permanent state | an action now, a temporary situation |
| Example | I work from home on Fridays. | I’m working from home this week. |
| Signal words | usually, every day, often | now, at the moment, this week |
| State verbs | I know, I like, I want | not usually used |
Common mistakes
What learners of English often say. On the left — the mistake, on the right — the correct version.
Wrong:
He work in a bank.Right: He works in a bank.
With he, she, it the positive form takes -s.
Wrong:
She doesn’t works.Right: She doesn’t work.
After does / doesn’t the verb has no -s: the auxiliary already carries it.
Wrong:
Do you are hungry?Right: Are you hungry?
To be doesn’t take do.
Wrong:
Where you live?Right: Where do you live?
A question needs do / does before the subject.
Wrong:
I am agree.Right: I agree.
Agree is a verb: no to be before it.
Wrong:
I am knowing the answer.Right: I know the answer.
Know, like, want, need are state verbs: Present Simple even “now”.
Check yourself
Quiz: Present Simple vs Present Continuous
12 questions with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up.
I work · I’m working