Introduction

The Present Simple is the most important tense for all beginners learning English. It is used to talk about habits, routines, facts, and things that are always true. Mastering this tense will help you speak confidently about daily life and express yourself clearly in English.

Many learners struggle because they memorize the rules but do not fully understand when and how to use them. In this guide, we will explain the Present Simple in a simple, clear, and practical way — with examples, rules, and exercises.

Let’s make the Present Simple easy.

What Is the Present Simple?

The Present Simple is a tense used to describe:

• Habits
• Daily routines
• General truths
• Facts
• Repeated actions

Examples:

• I eat breakfast at 8 AM.
• She speaks Spanish.

When Do We Use the Present Simple?

Use the Present Simple to talk about:

✔ 1. Daily habits

• I drink coffee every morning.
• She goes to work at 9.

✔ 2. Routines

• We study English on Mondays.

✔ 3. General truths

• Water boils at 100°C.
• Cats have four legs.

✔ 4. Likes & dislikes

• I like chocolate.
• He doesn’t like football.

✔ 5. Permanent situations

• She lives in Paris.

Structure of the Present Simple

✔ Affirmative (Positive) Form

Examples:

• I work.
• You play football.
• He works.
• She plays football.

Present Simple with “He / She / It”

These subjects always change the verb.

Examples:

• He drinks tea.
• She likes music.
• It rains in winter.

Spelling Rules for +S

1️⃣ Verb ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o → add -es

• go → goes
• watch → watches
• wash → washes
• fix → fixes

2️⃣ Verb ends in consonant + y → drop y + add -ies

• study → studies
• carry → carries

3️⃣ Verb ends in vowel + y → add -s

• play → plays
• enjoy → enjoys

Present Simple in Questions

We use Do and Does.

✔ Question Structure

Examples:

• Do you speak English?
• Do they live here?
• Does he work on Sunday?
• Does she like coffee?

Present Simple in Negatives

Use don’t and doesn’t.

Examples:

• I don’t eat meat.
• They don’t drive.
• He doesn’t like chocolate.
• She doesn’t study on weekends.

Time Expressions Used with Present Simple

These expressions make your sentences more natural:

• always
• usually
• often
• sometimes
• rarely
• never
• every day
• every morning
• on Mondays
• at night

Example:

• I usually wake up at 7.
• She never eats fast food.

Useful Examples

• I speak English every day.
• She reads books at night.
• They work from home.
• He watches TV on weekends.
• We drive to school.

Common Mistakes

❌ “He go to school.”
✔ “He goes to school.”

❌ “She don’t like tea.”
✔ “She doesn’t like tea.”

❌ “Do he work here?”
✔ “Does he work here?”

Practice Exercises

✔ Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. She ___ (watch) TV every evening.
2. They ___ (not/like) pizza.
3. ___ you ___ (speak) German?
4. He ___ (go) to school by bus.
5. I ___ (not/work) on Sundays.

✔ Exercise 2: Correct the mistake

1. He don’t play football.
2. She go to the market.
3. Do he live here?

Answers

1. watches
2. don’t like
3. Do / speak
4. goes
5. don’t work
6. He doesn’t play football.
7. She goes to the market.
8. Does he live here?

Summary

The Present Simple is the foundation of English grammar.
If you understand:

• When to use it
• How to form it
• How to make questions and negatives
• How to use time expressions

…you will be able to speak about your life, habits, and routines with confidence.

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