The present simple tense is probably the first tense that you learned when studying English at school. While most learners know that this tense is commonly used for describing actions that happen in the present moment, it also has many other usages! In this post, we will explore the correct uses of the present simple tense and explain how you can avoid common mistakes with it. Check out the interactive quiz at the end to test your knowledge!
You can use the simple present tense to say that something is done repeatedly. This may include past occurrences of the event, as well as seeing into the future to say that you will continue to do it.
Steve plays table tennis with his friend every Saturday.
Every time Steve loses the game, he cries.
It always takes Steve days to recover.
Similarly, you can talk about habits, which are things that you do often.
Rachel only eats cereal at weekends.
On Sundays, Rachel watches TV all day.
Rachel sometimes buys an ice cream in the park.
Another common use of the simple present tense is to express something that is true, as a fact or generalisation.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Water makes up most of the Earth’s surface.
The gravitational pull of the Moon creates tidal patterns on Earth.
You can use the simple present tense to talk about something that has been arranged to happen at a fixed time, in the near future.
The match begins at 7pm this evening.
The fans pick up their tickets in advance.
The manager gives an interview after the match.
The simple present tense can be used with future constructions to describe something that happens at a future time.
The taxi driver will be holding a sign when you arrive at the airport.
After you meet him, the taxi driver will take you to the hotel.
Remember to collect your baggage before you leave the airport!
The simple present tense is also commonly seen on instructions or directions telling you what to do, or how to do something.
Take off the lid of the pot.
Pour the sauce sachet in and stir the noodles.
Leave to rest for 5 minutes and enjoy!
Another use of the simple present tense is to express that something is happening in the present moment, using a non-continuous verb (a verb that cannot be used in a continuous tense – e.g. the present continuous tense).
There are now many ways to pay online.
I now use my mobile phone to pay for most things.
I now find it much quicker to get what I need.
There can be affirmative (positive), negative, and questioning functions for all of the uses of the simple present tense.
To form the simple present tense, use the root form of the verb, with the exception of the 3rd person singular (he/she/it).
For regular cases of the 3rd person singular, add an ‘s’.
E.g. Rachel plays the guitar every day.
Jack walks to school in the morning.
For verbs ending in -ss, -x, -sh, -ch, add ‘-es’.
E.g. My greedy dog munches food all day long.
The baby’s mother often kisses her.
For verbs ending in ‘-y’, change the ‘-y’ to ‘-ies’.
Eg. The baby cries when her mother is not around.
Paul tries very hard at school, but does not achieve great results.
NOTE: There is an exception to the ‘y’ rule! If there is a vowel before the ‘y’, then add ‘-s’ after the ‘y’.
E.g. The football team plays 5-a-side as a warm-up before every match.
Affirmative | ||||
1st person singular | I love | I play | I munch | I comply |
2nd person singular | You love | You play | You munch | You comply |
3rd person singular | He/she/it loves | He/she/it plays | He/she/it munches | He/she/it complies |
1st person plural | We love | We play | We much | We comply |
2nd person plural | You love | You play | You munch | You comply |
3rd person plural | They love | They play | They munch | They comply |
To form the negative in the simple present tense, the auxiliary verb ‘to do’ is placed after the subject. In all cases except the 3rd person singular, the base form ‘do’ is used. For the 3rd person singular, the form changes to ‘does’.
‘Not’ is placed after the auxiliary to make it a negative. The verb then follows.
Negative | ||||
1st person singular | I do not love | I do not play | I do not munch | I do not comply |
2nd person singular | You do not love | You do not play | You do not munch | You do not comply |
3rd person singular | He/she/it does not love | He/she/it does not play | He/she/it does not munch | He/she/it does not comply |
1st person plural | We do not love | We do not play | We do not much | We do not comply |
2nd person plural | You do not love | You do not play | You do not munch | You do not comply |
3rd person plural | They do not love | They do not play | They do not munch | They do not comply |
To form the interrogative (a question), put the auxiliary verb (‘do’, or ‘does’ for 3rd person singular) before the subject.
To form an interrogative that is negative, place ‘not’ after the auxiliary verb. You can also use contracted forms.
E.g. Don’t you love me anymore?
Interrogative | ||||
1st person singular | Do I love | Do I play | Do I munch | Do I comply |
2nd person singular | Do you love | Do you play | Do you munch | Do you comply |
3rd person singular | Does he/she/it love | Does he/she/it play | Does he/she/it munch | Does he/she/it comply |
1st person plural | Do we love | Do we play | Do we munch | Do we comply |
2nd person plural | Do you love | Do you play | Do you munch | Do you comply |
3rd person plural | Do they love | Do they play | Do they munch | Do they comply |
Interrogative | ||||
1st person singular | Do I love | Do I play | Do I munch | Do I comply |
2nd person singular | Do you love | Do you play | Do you munch | Do you comply |
3rd person singular | Does he/she/it love | Does he/she/it play | Does he/she/it munch | Does he/she/it comply |
1st person plural | Do we love | Do we play | Do we munch | Do we comply |
2nd person plural | Do you love | Do you play | Do you munch | Do you comply |
3rd person plural | Do they love | Do they play | Do they munch | Do they comply |
Sometimes, learners will add an auxiliary verb before the main verb when it is not required. To form the simple present tense in the affirmative, there is no need to add an auxiliary verb.
E.g. I am wash the dishes after dinner. (incorrect)
I wash the dishes after dinner. (correct)
Since the simple present tense uses the base conjugation for all cases (except the 3rd person singular!), sometimes learners will forget to add the ‘s’ that comes at the end of the verb for this special case.
E.g. When Martin get upset, I try to leave him alone. (incorrect)
When Martin gets upset, I try to leave him alone. (correct)
For the special function of the simple present tense to be used to describe future events, sometimes learners incorrectly add a future construction. In fact, just the regular simple present tense is all that is needed.
E.g. We’ll pick you up from school as soon as you’ll finish. (incorrect)
We’ll pick you up from school as soon as you finish. (correct)
Test your understanding of the present simple with these exercises. Select the correct answer for each of the questions and get your score at the end of the quiz. You can also share your result via social media and challenge your friends to try it too!
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