1) Use
❖ We use the present simple:
- For facts that are always true.
Example:
The human body contains 206 bones.
- For things that happen regularly.
Example:
I drink coffee for breakfast.
- To describe opinions and ideas.
Example:
I think New York is exciting.
2) How to form the present simple
- The present simple is the base form of the verb.
Example:
I speak English.
- In the present simple, We add -s or -es to the verb after he / she / it.
Examples:
He speaks English.
She watches TV.
| Some verbs in the present simple | ||
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | I, You, We, They | He, She, It |
| To ask | Ask | Asks |
| To work | Work | Works |
| To brush | Brush | Brushes |
| To have | Have | Has |
- Verb 'to be' is irregular, we don’t add -s or -es to it.
| 'to be' in the present simple | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | I | He, She, It | You, We, They |
| To be | Am | Is | Are |
Example:
He is rich.
3) How to form a negative sentence in the present simple
- We add 'do not' or 'does not' (don’t or doesn’t) before the base form of the verb to form a negative sentence in the present simple.
I / You / We / They + don’t + Verb
He / She / It + doesn’t + Verb
Examples:
(+) You speak French.
(-) You don’t speak French.
(+) She speaks Spanish.
(-) She doesn’t speak Spanish.
- Verb 'to be' is irregular, we don’t add 'don’t' or 'doesn’t' before it to form its negative form in the present simple.
| Negative form of 'to be' in the present simple | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | I | He, She, It | You, We, They |
| To be | Am not | Is not | Are not |
Examples:
(+) I am happy.
(-) I am not happy.
(+) She is tall.
(-) She is not tall.
4) How to form a question in the present simple
- We add 'Do' or 'Does' before the subject to form a question in the present simple.
Do + I / You / We / They + Verb
Does + He / She / It + Verb
Examples:
(+) You speak French.
(?) Do you speak French?
Yes, I do / No, I don’t.
(+) She speaks Spanish.
(?) Does she speak Spanish?
Yes, she does / No, she doesn’t.
- Verb 'to be' is irregular, we don’t add 'do' or 'does' before its subject to form a question in the present simple.
Am + I
Is + He / She / It
Are + You / We / They
Examples:
(+) I am happy.
(?) Am I happy?
Yes, you are / No, you are not.
(+) She is tall.
(?) Is she tall?
Yes, she is / No, she is not.