In English, we use the simple present tense to talk about a situation that exists in the present. This means we use it to talk about everyday actions, customs and habits, facts, thoughts, feelings, and senses.
In this post, we’ll talk first about how to form the present simple, and then we’ll talk about when to use this tense in English. Let’s have a look!
How to form the present simple in English?
Verbs in the present simple have two main forms:
root | root -s |
I walkyou walkwe walkthey walkthe dogs walk | he walksshe walksit walksthe dog walks |
Here is what you need to know:
The root (or base or bare infinitive) is the form of the verb that you find in a dictionary:
walk (verb) to move by putting one foot in front of the other at an easy pace.
The present simple form depends on the subject.
subjectrootI walk.subjectroot + -sShe walks.In English, the subject is the person or thing that a sentence is “about.” Usually the subject does the action and comes before the verb.
But even in irregular verbs, there is one rule you can always follow:
HOWEVER there are some spelling and pronunciation rules to learn about this third-person singular (he / she / it) form.
How to add the third person singular ‘-s’?
There are some pronunciation and spelling rules to learn for the root + -sform.
Pronouncing root + -s
In most words, the third person singular -s is pronounced just as an transcribed s or transcribed z sound:
sitsTranscription: sitsrunsTranscription: runzIf the word ends in a “hissy” sound like transcribed -s, transcribed -ch, transcribed -sh, transcribed -x, or transcribed -th, you will usually need to add a syllable:
pushesTranscription: push·izpassesTranscription: pass·izcatchesTranscription: catch·izSpelling root + -s
There are a few spelling rules to learn as well. These do not change the pronunciation.
If the verb ends with a -o, add an -es
go → goesdo → doesIf the pronunciation has an extra syllable, spell the ending -es not -s.
push → pushesTranscription: push·izpass → passesTranscription: pass·izcatch → catchesTranscription: catch·izIf the verb ends with consonant + -y, you change the -y to -i and add -es.
fly → fliesidentify → identifies
How to form questions and negatives in the present simple?
To form a question or a negative sentence in the present simple, you will need to split the verb into two parts:
do / does
root
do / does = the auxiliary verb (or “helping verb”)
Auxiliary verbs help you place the event in time. The form of the auxiliary depends on the subject.
root = the main verb
The main verb tells you what is happening (e.g. see, come, go, have, like,...)
So here is how to form questions and negatives in the present simple:
Questions in the present simple:
do / does
subject
root
Do they play football?Does she like sushi?What do they play?What does she like?Negative sentences in the present simple:
subject
do/ does
notroot
I do not have breakfast on Monday.You do not read every day.Patty does not like sushi.
How to use ‘do’ to add emphasis in the present simple?
You can use the structure do / does + root in a simple affirmative sentence as well to add emphasis. We usually use this to correct someone or to insist that something is actually true. For example:
But there are some other cases where you can use it, as well. For example:
When to use the present simple?
In English, we use the present simple when we are:
Talking about actions we do all the time (habits)
Talking about actions we always do in some situation (customs)
Saying a fact or truth
Using stative verbs, which are mostly verbs for thoughts, feelings, and senses
Talking about habits
You can use the present simple to talk about habits. A habit can be something that you do every day or all the time:
A habit can also describe how someone usually is or generally behaves.
Talking about customs
We also use the present simple to talk about customs. Customs are things that we don’t do every day, but we usually do them the same way.
Saying a fact or a truth
When something is a fact, or is true, you can use the present simple. For example:
Facts:
The sun rises in the east.
Climate change is a world-wide problem.
Tuesday comes after Monday.
Truths:
Mary visits her family every Christmas.
John likes ham and eggs for breakfast.
John works from nine to five.
Stative verbs
We use the present simple when we use stative verbs to talk about the present. Stative verbs are usually verbs for ownership, equivalence, thoughts or feelings, or for senses, but there are some others.
Ownership → verbs for owning, having, possessing (e.g. have, own, lack, belong to,...)
✅ I have a cat .
❌ I am having a cat.
✅ I own a cat.
❌ I am owning a cat.
Equivalence → verbs that say that two things are the same or that something has a feature (e.g. be, mean, seem, consist of...)
✅ She is a doctor.
❌ She is being a doctor.
✅ What does “perceive” mean?
❌ What is “perceive” meaning?
Thoughts → verbs that describe beliefs (e.g. ,think believe, understand,...)
✅ I think that this is clear.
❌ I am thinking that this is clear.
✅ My son believes in fairies.
❌ My son is believing in fairies.
Feelings → verbs that describe emotions (e.g. love, like, agree, enjoy,...)
✅ He loves cheese.
✅ We enjoy arguing.
Perceptions → verbs for the senses (e.g. see, hear, feel,taste , smell)
✅ I see the bird!
✅ She hears the lawnmower.
Have a look at these example stories which illustrate how to use stative verbs in the present simple:
Summing up
In this post we’ve seen:
How to form the present simple in English:
I / you / we / they + root
he / she / it + root + -s
How to make questions and negatives in the present simple with the auxiliary do:
Questions:
(question word) + do/does + subject + root
Negatives:
subject + do/does + not + root
Emphasis:
subject + do/does + root
When to use the present simple:
Habits
He always arrives at 3pm.
Customs
On Wednesdays, we wear pink.
Facts and truths
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Stative verbs
I own a cat.
The present simple is a little tricky and very special because of that -s rule. But don’t worry! You’ll quickly get the hang of it! Want to try your hand at the present simple? Check out the present simple activities we’ve prepared.
:quality(80))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))