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• Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet

Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet

Published on March 20, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on September 25, 2023.

The simple present tense is a verb form used to talk about habits, unchanging situations, facts, and planned events in the near future.

The simple present tense of most verbs is the infinitive form (e.g., “sing”). However, the third person singular (e.g., “he,” “she,” and “it”) takes an “s” at the end of the verb (e.g., “write” becomes “writes”).

Table of contents

How to use the simple present, present simple vs. present continuous, how to form negatives, how to form questions, how to form the passive voice, worksheet: simple present vs. present continuous, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions about the simple present tense.

The simple present is used to refer to habits , unchanging situations or states , general truths , and scheduled events in the future .

Most verbs in the simple present tense use the infinitive form (e.g., “run”). The only exception is the third person singular (used with “he,” “she,” “it,” and any singular noun), which is usually formed by adding “s” to the end of the verb.

I speak French.

The Earth revolves around the sun.

The simple present is also used along with future simple tense constructions to talk about a future action. In these instances, the simple present construction is usually preceded by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “after,” “before,” “as soon as,” “when”).

Forming the third person singular

The third person singular is usually formed by adding “s” to the end of the verb (e.g., “run” becomes “runs”). However, this can vary depending on the verb’s ending.

• I have a cat.
• Sandra has an old bike.

Irregular verb: “Be”

The stative verb “be” is used in the simple present to refer to unchanging situations (e.g., “You are clever”) and to temporary present situations (e.g., “Ramone is hungry”). This verb changes in form more than any other, as shown in the table below.

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While the present simple is typically used to refer to habits, states, and facts, the present continuous is used to describe a temporary action that is currently taking place.

Justin is eating dinner right now. [describing a temporary action in the present] Note While most verbs in the present simple are not used to talk about temporary situations in the present, stative verbs (e.g., “be,” “have,” “want,” “know”) can be used in the simple present to describe temporary states of being.

These verbs are typically not used in the present continuous tense :

• I am wanting ice cream.
• I want ice cream.

For most subjects, negative statements are formed by adding “do not” (or the contraction “don’t”) between the subject and the verb . The third person singular uses “does not” (or “doesn’t”).

Abby doesn’t like traveling . Note Negative constructions in the simple present use the infinitive form of the verb, regardless of subject (i.e., the third person singular form never takes an “s”).

• The clock doesn’t works .
• The clock doesn’t work .

The verb “be” is made negative by adding the adverb “not” after the verb . This is the case for all subjects.

Even though he didn’t sleep much last night, Andrew is not tired. Note Don’t negate other verbs in the same way as “be,” by just adding “not” after the verb. This only applies to “be.” For other verbs, use “do not” or “does not” as described above.

• Jamie exercises not much.
• Jamie doesn’t exercise much.

To ask a yes–no question using the simple present, add “do” before the subject and the infinitive form of the verb. Again, the exception is the third person singular, which uses “does” instead of “do.”

To ask a question using a wh-word (an interrogative pronoun like “what” or an interrogative adverb like “when”), place the pronoun or adverb before “do” (or “does” for the third person singular).

What do you want?

Passive sentences are ones in which the subject is acted upon (rather than performing the action). In the simple present, the passive voice uses a conjugated form of the verb “be” along with a past participle .

The stray cat is fed by everyone in the neighborhood.

You can test your understanding of the difference between the simple present and the present continuous with the worksheet below. Fill in one of the two options in each sentence.

• Practice questions
• Answers and explanations
• I _______ every morning before work. [run/am running]
• Kevin _______ the kitchen right now. [cleans/is cleaning]
• Humans _______ about 12 times per minute. [blink/are blinking]
• The train _______ at 12 p.m. every day. [leaves/is leaving]
• Allie _______ at the moment. [studies/is studying]
• “Run” is correct. In this instance, the simple present is used to refer to a habit.
• The present continuous form “is cleaning” is correct because it refers to a temporary action in the present.
• The present simple form “blink” is correct. In this instance, it’s used to express a fact.
• The present simple form “leaves” is correct. In this instance, it’s used to refer to a planned future event.
• The present continuous form “is studying” is correct because it refers to a temporary action that is currently taking place.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

• Common nouns
• Possessive nouns
• Indefinite pronouns
• Relative pronouns
• Interrogative pronouns
• Present perfect tense
• Modal verbs
• Conditional sentences
• Subjunctive mood
• Imperative mood
• Interjections
• Determiners
• Prepositions

In the simple present tense , the stative verb “be” is used to describe temporary present situations (e.g., “I am tired”) and unchanging situations (e.g., “Laura is a doctor”). The form of the verb varies depending on the subject:

• The first person singular uses “am” (e.g., “I am”)
• The third person singular uses “is” (e.g., “he is,” “she is,” “it is”)
• All other subjects use “are” (e.g., “you are,” “we are,” “they are”)

The “-ing” form of a verb is called the present participle . Present participles can be used as adjectives (e.g., “a thrilling story”) and to form the continuous verb tenses (e.g., the present continuous : “We are partying ”).

Gerunds also use the “-ing” form of a verb, but they function only as nouns (e.g., “I don’t enjoy studying ”).

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Ryan, E. (2023, September 25). Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/simple-present/

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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• English ESL Worksheets
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• Present simple tense

3,576 Present simple tense English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises

Simple Present Tense Exercises

Tenses are among the basic English grammar topics that all learners have to learn thoroughly and use flawlessly. In order to make this possible, you will have to work out as many exercises as possible and make use of it in your everyday conversations. This article has some simple present tense exercises you can try out to check your understanding of the tense.

Simple Tenses Exercises with Answers

Complete the following exercises and check your answers when done.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense form of the verbs given in brackets

• The Principal ____ to speak to Raj. (want)
• The Earth ____ around the Sun. (revolve)
• The baby ___ all day. (cry)
• The flight ____ at 8 o’clock in the morning. (leave)
• What ____ so good? (smell)
• Hema ___ badminton every evening. (play)
• Tony ___ to guitar lessons every Sunday. (go)
• If it ___ today, we will get stuck. (rain)
• The nurse ____ of my grandfather. (take care)
• There ___ the topper of our school. (come)
• I ___ up at 7:00 a.m. every day. (get)
• Amy rarely ___ her room. (leave)
• Cows ___ us milk. (give)
• My granny ___ delicious lasagne. (cook)
• The birds ___ all day long. (chirp)
• The boys ___ hard to get good grades. (study)
• The teacher ____ the parents today. (meet)
• The movie ____ within a few minutes. (start)
• The fluffy clouds ___ around. (move)
• The dogs ___ at night. (bark)

Answers for Exercise 1

Exercise 2 – identify the verbs and change them into the simple present tense.

Go through the given passage and change the tense of the verbs into the simple present tense.

Sam’s mother got up at 6 o’clock in the morning. After that, she got fresh and took a shower. Then she prepared breakfast for all of them. She worked very hard to sustain the family. Every day, she went down to the market and sold fruits and vegetables. This way, she earned money for the family and sent her children to school.

Answers for Exercise 2

Sam’s mother gets up at 6 o’clock in the morning. After that, she gets fresh and takes a shower. Then she prepares breakfast for all of them. She works very hard to sustain the family. Every day, she goes down to the market and sells fruits and vegetables. This way, she earns money for the family and sends her children to school.

Frequently Asked Questions on Simple Present Tense Exercises

When is a simple present tense used.

The simple present tense is used to express general statements, universal truths, habits or even quotations from any text.

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Simple Present Tense Exercises With Answers

Simple present tense is one of the most important grammar structures in English language. We use it to describe habits, general truth, and repeated actions. Therefore, learning and mastering this tense is crucial for any English language speaker. To help you with that, we have prepared this article that contains simple present tense exercises with answers. Moreover, we have already talked about the simple present tense definition and sentence structures which you can check here .

20- Mr. Smith _________________ too much. He always has a cigarette in his mouth.

1.B        2.B         3.B         4.A         5.A          6.B           7.B          8.B            9.B           10.A         

A.11     12.A      13.A       14.B      15.B        16.B         17.A        18.B          19.A          20.B

Exercise 2:

1. Does she go to school every day?

• Yes, she do.
• Yes, she does.

2. Do you learn English at EYES?

• Yes, I does.

3. Do I teach you English?

• Yes, you do?
• Yes, you does.

4. Are they your friends?

• Yes, they is.
• No, they aren`t.

5. Am I a student?

• Yes, you is.
• Yes, you are.

6. What do they _____________ here?

7. How __________ he come here every morning?

8. Where does he ______________ ?

9. Why do you ___________ me?

10. When does she ______________ ?

11.________________ you want to join EYES?

12._________________ your brother study at university?

13. What ____________ he want?

14. Who ________________ TV every night?

15. Who ______________ to school every day?

16. Who _____________________ swimming with?

17. Why __________________ come to EYES?

18. At whom _____________________?

• does he look

19. To whom _________________ English?

• do you teach

20. Which company __________________ for?

• does he work

1. B        2. A         3. A          4. B          5. B          6. B         7. B         8. A         9. A        10. B              

11. A   12. B        13. B        14. A        15. B        16. A      17. B       18. B       19. B        20. B

You can read more about the following topics:

• Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises With Answers
• Past Perfect Tense Exercises With Answers
• Present Perfect Tense Exercises with Answers
• Simple Future Tense Exercises With Answers
• Future Perfect Tense Exercises With Answers
• Present Continuous Tense Exercises With Answers
• Past Continuous Tense Exercises With Answers
• Simple Past Tense Exercises With Answers

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Simple Present Tense in English Grammar

When to use simple present, simple present vs. other present tenses, how to conjugate the simple present, the verb have in simple present, what is the simple present.

The simple present (also called present simple ) is the basic present tense in English.

It expresses facts, sequential and repeated actions and timetabled future events. It is one of the most commonly used tenses in the English language.

Read on to learn when to use the simple present and how to conjugate it, then practise using this tense in the exercises.

Mona is a student. She studies biology.

Every week she has the same routine.

From Monday to Friday, she goes to university. Her classes start at 9 am and finish at 5 pm.

In the evenings, she makes a cup of tea, sits at her desk and does her homework.

On Saturdays, she works in a shop.

She doesn’t work on Sundays.

We use the simple present tense for:

• facts Example: Mona is a student. She studies biology.
• repeated actions and routines (signal words: every, always, often … ) Example: On Saturdays, she works in a shop.
• a list of actions that happen one after the other Example: She gets home, makes a cup of tea then does her homework.
• schedules and timetables (also for the future) Example: Her class starts at 9 am tomorrow.

Signal words for the simple present tense

The following are signal words for the simple present:

• always, normally, usually
• often, sometimes, seldom
• every day/week/month/…

In addition to the simple present, there are three more present tenses in English grammar: the present progressive, the present perfect and the present perfect progressive . Each one has a different function.

You can learn when to use which present tense over in Lingolia’s English Tense Comparison section:

• Tense comparison: simple present – present progressive
• Tense comparison: simple present – present perfect progressive
• Tense comparison: present perfect – present perfect progressive

To conjugate the simple present, the following rules apply:

Affirmative sentences

Add -s in the 3rd person singular (he/she/it). All other forms are the same as the infinitive of the verb.

3rd person s spelling rules

There are some spelling rules for the 3rd person s.

• add -es when the verb ends in -o, -ch, -sh or -ss
• the ending consonant + y becomes -ies
• modal verbs (can, may, might, should, would, must) never take an s in the 3rd person singular

Negative sentences

To form negative sentences in the simple present, use the auxiliary verbs don’t and doesn’t followed by the infinitive.

The full forms of don’t and doesn’t are do not and does not . We use them in formal contexts.

To make simple present questions, use the auxiliary verbs do and does . They come before the subject.

How to conjugate the verb be in simple present

The verb be is irregular in all forms in the simple present.

The tables below show the full conjugation of the verb be along with contractions (short forms).

be in simple present: positive sentences

*the contraction ’re can’t be used after nouns

be in simple present: negative sentences

In negative sentences, we can also use the contractions …’re not and …’s not instead of aren’t and isn’t . However, there are some extra rules:

• The contraction …’re (not) can only follow the pronouns you/we/they.
• The contraction …’s (not) can’t follow nouns that end in an -s sound.

be in simple present: questions

The verb comes first in questions with be :

The verb be in simple present appears in the structure there is/there are. This is an essential phrase in English, so be sure to head over to our page all about how to use there is/there are .

The verb have is irregular in the 3rd person singular: he/she/it has .

All other forms follow the standard conjugation pattern.

The phrase have got is just a more informal way to say have .

The meaning is the same, but the grammar is different.

The tables below shows how to conjugate have got in all forms.

*The contraction ’ve can only be used after the pronouns I/you/we/they , not after nouns.

In questions with have got , the verb comes first.

How good is your English?

Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test

Take the test!

Maybe later

Present Simple Tense Worksheets

On this page you can find a collection of printable present simple tense worksheets. These present simple tense exercise worksheets  are great for kids and beginner English language learners. The worksheets include exercises to practice positive and negative present simple tense with and without be verbs. See below for the present simple tense worksheets currently available to download. And, check out the bottom of the page for related ESL lesson materials.

Worksheet 1

Worksheet 2, worksheet 3, worksheet 4, worksheet 5, related resources.

Check out these related resources: Present Simple PowerPoint Lesson Verb To Be PowerPoint Lesson Present Continuous Activities

Simple Present Tense

What is the simple present tense.

(1) Simple present tense to describe facts and habits.

• Alan walks the dog every morning.
• He plays chess.

(2) Simple present tense to describe scheduled events in the future.

• The train arrives at 5 o'clock.
• The plane lands in 5 minutes.

(3) Simple present tense to tell stories (particularly jokes).

• Sarah crosses the road and asks the policeman for directions.
• A horse walks into a bar, and the barman says , "why the long face?"

Table of Contents

More Examples of the Simple Present Tense

Video lesson, forming the simple present tense, the spelling rules, interactive verb conjugation tables, the other present tenses.

(1) To describe facts and habits:

• I like chocolate. (Fact)
• Angela runs a youth club full of glue-sniffers. (Fact)
• I ride horses in the summer. (Fact and habit)
• It always snows here in January. (Fact and habit)
• Dawn plays chess in the evenings. (Fact and habit)

(2) To describe scheduled events in the future

• It is low tide at 0234.

(3) To tell stories (particularly jokes) to make your listener or reader feel more engaged with the story.

• There are two parrots sitting on a perch. One turns to the other and asks , "Can you smell fish?"
• We heard the helicopter overhead. Suddenly, the radio bursts into life.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

The Negative Version

• I do not like chocolate.
• Angela does not run a youth club full of glue-sniffers.
• I do not ride horses in the summer.
• It does not always snow here in January.
• Dawn does not play chess in the evenings.

The Question Version

• Do you like chocolate?
• Does Angela run the youth club?
• Why does Tony talk so quickly?
• When do the farmers plant the corn?
• Does Mark sing or dance?
• Do they want hamburger or sausages?
• talk > talks
• improve > improves
• guess > guesses
• mash > mashes
• fix > fixes
• fly > flies
• study > studies

Infographic for the Simple Present Tense

Top 10 Regular Verbs

Top 10 Irregular Verbs

All 4 Past Tenses

All 4 Present Tenses

All 4 Future Tenses

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Simple present tense worksheet

The simple present tense is used to talk about general truths. It is also used to talk about time-tabled future events. Unlike other tense forms, the simple present tense has a special –s marking when the subject is a singular noun or a third person pronoun.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate simple present tense form of the verb given in the brackets.

1. The plane ………………….. at 6.30. (arrive)

2. I will phone you when he …………………… . back. (come)

3. Unless we ………………………. now we can’t be there on time. (start)

4. The sun ……………………… in the east. (rise)

5. The next term …………………… on Monday. (begin)

6. She ……………………… an engineer. (be)

7. They …………………. our relatives. (be)

8. When does the train ……………………? (depart)

9. Let’s wait till he …………………….. his work. (finish)

10. Please ring me up as soon as he …………………………. (arrive)

1. The plane arrives at 6.30.

2. I will phone you when he comes back.

3. Unless we start now we can’t be there on time.

4. The sun rises in the east.

5. The next term begins on Monday.

6. She is an engineer.

7. They are our relatives.

8. When does the train depart?

9. Let’s wait till he finishes his work.

10. Please ring me up as soon as he arrives.

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Present Simple Tense ESL Worksheets

Daily routines esl reading comprehension exercises worksheet, present simple daily routines esl gap fill exercise worksheet, daily routines esl dialogue comprehension exercises worksheet, present simple tense esl grammar exercises test worksheet, present simple tense esl multiple choice questions worksheet, daily routines esl printable speaking activity cards, daily routines esl printable writing activity worksheet.

Present Simple Tense ESL Word Order Exercise Worksheet

Don't or Doesn't ESL Printable Gap Fill Exercise Worksheet

Present Simple Tense and Jobs ESL Exercise Worksheet

Daily Routines ESL Printable Grammar Exercises Worksheet

Daily Routines ESL Printable Board Game

Present simple exercises

Negative forms

Questions - exercises

Mixed forms

Intermediate level

Worksheets - lessons

Present simple

Exercises - affirmative.

• Present: forms and pronouns
• Present simple: to play
• Present simple - affirmative forms
• Present simple - exercises
• Present simple forms - quiz
• Affirmative forms - exercises
• Present simple: third person -s
• Present simple forms: -s / -es
• Present simple - multiple choice
• Affirmative forms 1: write
• Affirmative forms 2: write
• Simple present: 3rd person -s
• Affirmative sentences 2
• Simple present tense
• Affirmative sentences 3
• Simple present - game
• Present simple - game #

English tenses

Simple present

Simple present.

The simple present  is a verb tense with two main uses. We use  the simple present  tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it's sometimes called  present  indefinite). Depending on the person, the simple present tense is formed by using the root form or by adding ‑s or ‑es to the end.

Before you continue the lesson read the following passage and try to see how the verbs are formed and used.

"James  is  a taxi driver. He  drives  a taxi. But on Sundays he  doesn't drive  his taxi. He  stays  at home." The verb  be ,  drive ,  stay  are in the simple present.

The forms of the simple present

The affirmative form of the simple present: I, you, we, they play. He, she, it plays. Remember the verbs in the third person singular (he,she and it) always take an "s". For example, "he  play s , she  sing s ,it  work s ..." Examples : Nancy and James  speak  good German. Nancy  work s  in a restaurant downtown. The children  play  in the garden every weekend. The interrogative form of the simple present: Do I, you, we, they play? Does he, she, it Examples : Do  you  speak  good German? Does  Nancy  work  in a restaurant downtown? The negative form of the simple present: I, you, we,they do not play. don't He, she, it does not doesn't Examples : No, I  don't speak  German. No, she  doesn't work  in a restaurant downtown

The use of the simple present:

The simple present is used: to give your opinion - I  like  ice cream. I  don't like  spicy food. to talk about schedules - The library  opens  at eight. It  doesn't open  at 7. to talk about daily habits (routine actions)- Sara  eats  a cheese for breakfast every day. She  doesn't eat  cereal. to give facts - The earth  circles  the sun. The moon  doesn't circle  the sun.

The spelling of the third person singular form of the simple present:

All the verbs take an "s" in the simple present when conjugated in the third person singular (he, she, it) form: Examples: I visit my parents every summer holiday. But my wife  visit s  her parents every weekend. My brother  meet s  his girlfriend everyday. So the rule is: He / she / it + Verb + S There are however some special cases. Here are the spelling rules: Silent  e Vowel +  y Consonant +  y Verbs ending in  o Verbs ending in  s ,  z ,  sh ,  tch ,  ch close = close s note  = note s play = play s say = say s study = stud ies marry  = marr ies go = go es do = do es miss = miss es buzz = buzz es hatch = hatch es finish = finish es teach = teach es Examples: She drive s  to work every morning. He say s  he play s  football on the weekends Exception: The verb  to have  changes its forms as follows: I  have  two sisters and two brothers. But she  has  one sister and two brothers. I  have  = he / she / it  has

Things to remember about the simple present:

1.In the interrogative forms, we use "do" or "does". " Do  you like the house?" " Does  she go to school?" 2; Verbs never take an "s" in the the negative and interrogative forms. "Does he  speak  German?" "Do they  play  soccer?" She doesn't  like  ice cream. 3.  don't  is the short form of "do not". You can say either: I  do not  speak Italian, or I  don't  speak Italian. 4. doesn't  is the short form of "does not". you can say either: He  does   not  listen to jazz music, or He  doesn't  listen to jazz music.

Course Curriculum

• English tenses 30 mins
• Simple present (to be) 15 mins
• Simple present 20 mins
• Present progressive 20 mins
• Simple past (to be) 20 mins
• Simple past 20 mins
• Past progressive 20 mins
• Simple future 20 mins
• Future progressive 20 mins
• Future plans 15 mins
• Present perfect 30 mins
• Present perfect continuous 30 mins
• Past perfect 20 mins
• Past perfect progressive 30 mins
• Future Perfect 20 mins
• Future Perfect Progressive 20 mins

Present Simple Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Present Simple page.

1. Do you _____ chocolate milk?

2. He _____ not want to go to the movies.

3. He ____________ now.

4. It _____ a beautiful day today.

5. Sorry, Lisa _____ not here at the moment.

6. They're not here. They ____________ right now.

7. Robert _____ not go to my school.

8. My parents _____ in a two-bedroom apartment.

9. We _____ European.

10. You _____ so happy today!

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Back to 12 English Tenses

Grammar Quizzes

Grammar Games

Present Simple Tense

two exercises to practise positive, negative and question form of present simple tense

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Present Simple – Forms, Examples & Practice

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To master any language, one if not the most important rule is learning how to form tenses . They form the backbone of how we express time in communication. A basic, yet fundamental tense in the English language is the Present Simple, an essential component of our language rules that is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. In this article, we will dive into the rules and usage of this tense, shedding light on how to apply it correctly in numerous contexts.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Present simple in a nutshell
• 2 Definition: Present simple
• 3 Formula of present simple active voice
• 4 Active question form of present simple
• 5 Negative question form of present simple
• 6 Formula of present simple passive voice
• 7 Indicators for present simple
• 8 Short answers in present simple
• 9 Practice exercise

Present simple in a nutshell

This tense defines actions or events that express habits, general truths, and fixed arrangements. It is the most basic tense, which makes it essential for effective communication about regular activities, timeless facts, and scheduled events.

Definition: Present simple

The present simple (also: simple present) tense is a verb tense used to describe habits, facts, fixed arrangements, and unchanging situations, such as jokes and stories. As the name already tells, it is a quite simple tense as it is formed by using the base form or infinitive of the verb . However, when using he, she, or it, a special verb conjugation is needed.

• So, I go to Eric and say “Leave me alone.”
• They always walk to the park.
• He often plays games after he finishes dinner.

Formula of present simple active voice

The present simple tense is one of the three simple tenses – which include past simple and future simple – and plays a fundamental part in the English language. This tense is characterized by its clear-cut structure that relies simply on the base form (infinitive) of verbs.

Even though it is an easily memorizable tense, pronouns or subject-verb-agreement need to be taken into account to use it correctly. The only mistake one can make when forming the present simple in active voice is to forget the additional suffix “-s,” “-es,” or “ies,” which is added to the verb when the named or unnamed subject is in third-person singular . In this section, we will explore the rules and patterns involved in creating the present simple tense for both regular and irregular verbs by providing clear examples and explanations.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs of the present simple tense in third-person singular adhere to a predictable conjugation pattern. This means that you simply add an “-s” at the end of the root form of the verb.

• She writes her a letter from jail.
• The kid plays soccer every week.
• He eats a full English breakfast.

In the table below, you can find more examples of regular verbs in third-person singular.

Irregular verbs

Most English verbs follow regular conjugation patterns, but there are a few irregular verbs that do not adhere to the standard rules. The concept of irregular verbs is more prominent in the past simple and past participle forms. However, in the present tense, the irregularities are seen in verbs that follow the following patterns:

• If the verb ends in – o , – ch , – sh , – ss , – x , or you add “-es.”
• If the verb ends in a consonant and – y , you drop the -y and add “-ies.”
• He goes to school at 8 o’clock.
• He washes his hands with soap.
• She tries very hard in school.

An example for each irregular verb pattern can be seen in the table below.

Auxiliary verbs

Primary auxiliary verbs are essential in forming various tenses and questions. They consist of “to be,” ”to have,” and “to do.” As expected, their conjugations are very different from other verbs, which also applies to the present simple tense.

Note : To emphasize something, we may use the auxiliary verb “do.” For example, instead of saying “I want to go out,” one could say “I do want to go out.” The same emphasis can also be achieved by using “really.”

We have combined all regular and irregular verbs in a PDF document that you can obtain by clicking on the download box below.

Practice worksheet

Now that you know how to form the affirmative present simple tense, it is time for your first exercise. Below, you can find ten example sentences that include regular, irregular, and auxiliary verbs in numerous contexts. Let’s test if you can get them all correct.

Practice sentences

• They ____ soccer every Thursday and then ____ a movie. (To play, to watch)
• My name ____ Hanna, and I ____  25 years old. (To be, to be)
• His dad ____ the car once a month. (To wash)
• He occasionally ____ a foam bath. (To take)
• She ____ in Munich, Germany. (To study)
• You ____ to the Bahamas every year. (To travel)
• The company ____  many birthday gifts. (To produce)
• I ____ on the roof and ____ the sunset disappear. (To go, to watch)
• I ____ we can ____ in a better world. (To believe, to live)
• This ____  my new dog. You can ____ him if you ____ . (To be, to pet, to want)
• They play soccer every Thursday and then watch a movie. (To play, to watch)
• My name is Hanna, and I am 25 years old. (To be, to be)
• His dad washes the car once a month. (To wash)
• He occasionally takes a foam bath. (To take)
• She studies in Munich, Germany. (To study)
• You travel to the Bahamas every year. (To travel)
• The company produces many birthday gifts. (To produce)
• I go on the roof and watch the sunset disappear. (To go, to watch)
• I believe we can live in a better world. (To believe, to live)
• This is my new dog. You can pet him if you like . (To be, to pet, to want)

Active question form of present simple

To form yes or no questions in the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does,” with the latter being used with the third-person singular. It is then followed by the subject, the base form of the main verb, and a question mark .

Do/Does + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Note : One-word time expressions, such as “always,” “often,” and “usually” may be added between the subject and the verb.

Questions with question words

When a simple yes or no is not enough, we use question words that require more elaboration in their answers. Those question words are: what, where, when, why, who, how, how many, and how much. They are then followed by “do” or “does,” the subject, and the base form of the main verb.

Question word + do/does + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

• What do you need ?
• How much does the printed and bound thesis cost ?
• Why does he hate you?
• When do we want to go?

Negative question form of present simple

Negative questions in the present simple tense can be formed in two ways:

• Using “do not/does not” or its contraction “don’t/doesn’t.”
• Inverting the subject and auxiliary verb “do/does.”

Don’t/Doesn’t + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Do/Does + subject + not + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

The first question structure of present simple with the apostrophe is regularly used in spoken English and informal writing. It can convey slight surprise or a need for confirmation of something the speaker believes to be true or is uncertain about.

The second question structure of present simple tends to be a bit more formal and is often found in written English. It emphasizes the negative aspect more clearly, which is often used to indicate disbelief or surprise.

Note : The time expression “ever” may be added directly after the subject.

Negative questions with question words

When forming negative questions with question words in the present simple tense, the structure is the same, as you use “don’t/doesn’t” and the root form of the main verb.

Below, we have provided an image that contains the structures of the present simple active voice.

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Formula of present simple passive voice

Now that we have explained the structure of present simple’s active voice in the previous paragraphs , it is time to talk about the formula of its passive voice. Passive is used when the focus is on the action rather than on the doer of the action. It is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb “to be” in its present simple form and the past participle (3 rd past form) of the main verb. When people are involved in a passive sentence, we use the agent “by” to show the subject of the action. Unlike with active voice, the object in a sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Interrogative

Negative interrogative.

Subject + am/is/are + past participle + (by agent) + object.

• The book is read by many people.
• The cake is eaten by me.
• Emails are sent every day.

Subject + isn’t/aren’t + past participle + (by agent) + object.

Subject + am/is/are + not + past participle + (by agent) + object.

• The book is not read by many people.
• The cake isn’t eaten by me.
• Emails are not sent every day.

Am/Is/Are + subject + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

• Is the book read by many people?
• Is the cake eaten by me?
• Are the emails sent every day?

Isn’t/Aren’t + subject + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

Am/Is/Are + subject + not + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

• Is the book not read by many people?
• Is the cake not eaten by me?
• Aren’t the emails sent every day?

Note : There is no contraction for the first-person pronoun “I.” Therefore, English speakers use “aren’t” in informal contexts, e.g., “Aren’t I funny?”. However, for academic writing and other formal contexts, this is not acceptable, thus using “am not” is the preferred choice.

Below, you can find an image that summarizes the formula of the present simple passive voice.

Indicators for present simple

The English language has many tenses and for each one there are time expressions that simplify figuring out which tense to use. Here are common indicators for the present simple tense, along with numerous examples.

Adverbs of frequency

They provide information about the regularity or repetition of actions and are commonly used with the present simple tense to indicate habitual or regular actions. They include words like always, usually, frequently, rarely, never, etc.

• She always drinks tea in the morning.
• They often visit their grandparents.
• He never eats fast food.

Daily/Weekly/Monthly activities

Refers to regular activities that are daily/weekly/monthly.

• I go jogging every two days .
• They meet every week .
• She cleans her room every month .

Specific days

Refers to specific days when habitual actions take place.

• We go to the market on Saturdays .
• He attends yoga classes on Thursdays .
• They have a picnic on Sundays .

Short answers in present simple

Short answers in the present simple tense are concise responses that either confirm or deny the occurrence of an action or state, typically using auxiliary verbs. Here is how to form short answers in present simple, along with examples.

Active voice

A: Are you okay?

• Yes, I am .
• No, I am not .

A: Does she play the piano?

• Yes, she does .
• No, she doesn’t .

A: Do you have a car?

• Yes, I have .
• No, I have not .

Passive voice

A: Is the room cleaned by the staff?

• Yes, it is .
• No, it is not .

A: Are the reports written by Gina?

• Yes, they are .
• No, they aren’t .

A: Is the cat fed by you?

Practice exercise

To wrap up this article, you can fill in the gaps for this last practice exercise. The correct answers for present simple conjugations are provided in the second tab. Mastering English tenses can be challenging, so have fun and don’t worry if you don’t get every correct the first time.

• The cake _____ my mom every Sunday. (To bake, passive)
• _____ she _____ the meeting regularly? (To attend, interrogative)
• The house _____  the maid every Monday. (To clean, passive)
• They _____ English every evening. (To study, active)
• The car _____  the mechanic twice a year. (To Service, passive)
• _____ you _____ your grandparents often? (To visit, interrogative)
• The project _____  on time by the team. (To complete, passive)
• He _____ the newspaper every morning. (To read, active)
• _____ the room _____ for the guests? (To prepare, interrogative)
• We _____ movies every Friday night. (To watch, active)
• The cake is baked by my mom every Sunday. (To bake, passive)
• Does she attend the meeting regularly? (To attend, interrogative)
• The house is cleaned by the maid every Monday. (To clean, passive)
• They study English every evening. (To study, active)
• The car is serviced by the mechanic twice a year. (To Service, passive)
• Do you visit your grandparents often? (To visit, interrogative)
• The project is completed on time by the team. (To complete, passive)
• He reads the newspaper every morning. (To read, active)
• Is the room prepared for the guests? (To prepare, interrogative)
• We watch movies every Friday night. (To watch, active)

What is a present simple example?

An example for present simple is the following:

• She walks to school every day.

What is the present simple form?

The present simple form of a verb consists of the base form (infinitive) for all subjects except the third-person singular, which typically adds an “-s,” “-es,” or “-ies” to the base form. For example:

• He walk s .
• He cr ies .

What are 10 examples of simple present tense?

• She reads books in the evening.
• They play tennis on weekends.
• He works at a bank.
• We go to the gym every morning.
• The sun rises in the east.
• I drink coffee every morning.
• It rains a lot in April.
• She teaches English.
• They live in New York.
• He studies  French.

What is the rule for present simple?

The rule for present simple is to use the base form of the verb for all subjects, except the third-person singular (he, she, it), which adds an “-s,“ “-es,” or “-ies” to the base form. This tense is used to express habitual actions, general truths, fixed arrangements, and scheduled events.

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