Simple present tense
Learn the simple present tense for habits and general truths: positive sentences, -s and -es spelling, negatives with don't and doesn't, and questions.
In this lesson
The simple present tense describes actions that happen regularly (habits) and facts that are always true (general truths). We form it with the base verb, adding -s or -es after he, she and it: She goes to school every day. The sun rises in the morning. Negatives and questions use do or does.
Key point
Use the base verb with I, you, we, they and plural nouns, and add -s or -es with he, she, it and singular nouns. Use don’t or doesn’t for negatives and do or does for questions, always with the base verb.
How do you form the simple present tense?
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive (I, you, we, they) | Subject + base verb | They play cricket. |
| Positive (he, she, it) | Subject + verb + -s or -es | He plays cricket. |
| Negative | Subject + don’t or doesn’t + base verb | He doesn’t play cricket. |
| Question | Do or Does + subject + base verb? | Does he play cricket? |
| Short answer | Yes or No + subject + do, does, don’t or doesn’t | Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t. |
When do you use the simple present tense?
We use the simple present tense for two main situations:
- Habitual actions: things that happen regularly or again and again.
- General truths: facts that are always or usually true.
Examples
- She goes to school every day. (habitual action)
- The sun rises in the morning. (general truth)
Time expressions
These words and phrases often go with the simple present: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, every Sunday, on Mondays, in the morning and once a week.
Tip
Words like always, usually and never go before the main verb: She never eats breakfast. I usually study in the morning. Phrases like every day usually go at the end of the sentence.
How do you make positive sentences?
In the simple present tense, when the subject is singular, the verb also takes its singular form (verb + -s or -es). When the subject is plural, the verb takes its plural form, which is the base verb.
Examples
- He plays cricket.
- The cat drinks milk.
- We go to school every day. (habitual action)
- Jasmine flowers bloom in the evening. (general truth)
In the first two sentences the subjects (he and the cat) are singular, so the verbs are singular: plays and drinks. In the last two sentences the subjects (we and jasmine flowers) are plural, so the verbs are plural: go and bloom. Read more about this rule in our lesson on singular and plural verbs.
Spelling: -s, -es or -ies?
| Verb ending | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Most verbs | add -s | play → plays, drink → drinks |
| -sh, -ch, -ss, -x, -o | add -es | wash → washes, watch → watches, go → goes |
| Consonant + y | change y to -ies | study → studies, cry → cries |
| have | irregular | have → has |
Examples
- I usually study in the morning.
- We really enjoy travelling.
- They know my phone number.
- It rains a lot in winter.
- She never eats breakfast.
- He plays the piano very well.
- My brother works in a bank.
- Eliza lives in London.
- Jack and his friends like films.
- James likes swimming.
How do you make the negative?
We use do not (don’t) or does not (doesn’t) to make the simple present negative. Use don’t with I, you, we, they and plural nouns, and doesn’t with he, she, it and singular nouns. The main verb stays in its base form.
Examples
- It doesn’t eat fish.
- This forest doesn’t have endemic plants.
- My son doesn’t want to go to Dubai this summer.
- He doesn’t wash his hands before eating.
- She doesn’t go to the gym.
- I don’t want to interrupt you.
- They don’t give up.
- Alex and his friend don’t like eating spicy food.
- You don’t know the meaning.
Common mistake
He doesn’t washes his hands. → He doesn’t wash his hands.
How do you ask questions in the simple present?
We use do and does as helping verbs to make questions: Do or Does + subject + base verb? Use does with he, she, it and singular nouns, and do with the other subjects.
Examples
- Do your parents speak English?
- Do they help people?
- Does he often ride a bicycle?
- Does your brother often play the piano?
- Does it rain a lot where you live?
- Does Tom play tennis?
- Do Anna and Brian work hard?
- Does Andrea get up early in the morning?
- Don’t you know him well?
- Doesn’t she speak three languages?
The last two examples are negative questions. We often use them when we expect the answer “yes” or when we are surprised.
Short answers
Examples
- Do your parents speak English? Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.
- Does Tom play tennis? Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
Why does the verb stay in the base form?
In questions and negatives we use the basic (infinitive) form of the verb. We do not add -s, -es or -ies to the main verb, even when the subject is singular, because does already shows it.
Tip
Think of the -s as moving. In a positive sentence it sits on the verb: he plays. In a negative or a question it moves to does: he doesn’t play, does he play? There is only ever one -s.
Common mistake
Does Tom plays tennis? → Does Tom play tennis?
Note
The verb ‘be’ is different. We do not use do or does with am, is and are: She isn’t tired. Are you ready? See our lesson on the verb ‘be’ (am, is, are).
What comes next?
To talk about actions happening right now, use the present continuous tense (She is reading now). To talk about finished actions, move on to the simple past tense. When you are ready, check your progress with our simple present tense test 01. You can also read the British Council grammar reference on the present simple or try the British Council A1 to A2 present simple exercises.
Summary
- Use the simple present for habits and general truths.
- Add -s or -es to the verb after he, she, it and singular nouns.
- Negative: don’t or doesn’t + base verb (She doesn’t go to the gym).
- Question: Do or Does + subject + base verb (Does Tom play tennis?).
- Common time words: always, usually, often, never, every day.
Frequently asked questions
When do I add -s to the verb?
Add -s or -es only in positive sentences when the subject is he, she, it or a singular noun, for example: My brother works in a bank. Do not add it with I, you, we or they.
What is the difference between do and does?
Both are helping verbs for negatives and questions. Use does with he, she, it and singular nouns, and do with I, you, we, they and plural nouns.
Why do we say “Does she like” and not “Does she likes”?
Does already carries the -s, so the main verb goes back to its base form. You only need one -s in the sentence.
What is the difference between the simple present and the present continuous?
The simple present is for habits and facts: I read every night. The present continuous is for actions happening now: I am reading at the moment.
Where do always and never go in a sentence?
They usually go before the main verb: She never eats breakfast. With the verb ‘be’ they go after it: He is always late.
Practise this lesson
10 questions
6 questions
5 questions
5 questions
