October 15, 2025

GRAMMAR: PRESENT SIMPLE

Uses

We use the present simple when something is generally true.
Dogs are intelligent
We need food to survive

We use this tense for a situation that is more or less permanent.
I live in Ireland
She works in a school

We use the present simple for talking about habits.
I usually smoke
We play rugby every Saturday

We can also use the present simple to talk about schedules, itineraries and timetables.
The lesson ends at 7pm
The film starts at 5pm

Structure

POSITIVE FORM: SUBJECT + VERB: I-You-We-They (V1)or She-He-It (V1 -s/-es)
I play tennis everyday.
She plays tennis every day.

NEGATIVE FORM: SUBJECT + DON´T/DOESN´T + VERB (V1)
I don´t play tennis everyday
She doesn´t plays tennis every day.

QUESTION FORM: DO/DOES + SUBJECT + VERB (V1)
Do I play tennis every day?
Does she plays tennis everyday?

Examples:

Verb: Go 
I go
You go
She/He/it goes
We go
You go
They go

Verb: To be
I am
You are
He/She/it is
We are
You are
They are

Verb: Have
I have
You have
He/She/it has
We have
You have
They have

More examples:

Affirmative
I eat
You eat
She/He/It eats
We eat
You eat
They eat

Negative
I don’t eat
You don’t eat
She/He/It doesn’t eat
We don’t eat
You don’t eat
They don’t eat

Affirmative
I drink
You drink
She/He/It drinks
We drink
You drink
They drink

Negative
I don’t drink
You don’t drink
She/He/It doesn’t drink
We don’t drink
You don’t drink
They don’t drink

Affirmative
I run
You run
She/He/It runs
We run
You run
They run

Negative
I don’t run
You don’t run
She/He/It doesn’t run
We don’t run
You don’t run
They don’t run

Back to: English A2 > Unit 1 (English A2)