Present simple | Everyday English

1. Overview

The Present Simple is used for habits, routines, facts and situations that are generally true or do not usually change. It is common with expressions such as every day, usually, often, sometimes and never.

With I, you, we and they, the verb stays in its basic form. With he, she and it, it normally takes -s or -es. Negative sentences and questions use do or does. After does, the main verb returns to its basic form: She works here, but She doesn’t work here and Does she work here?

2. Form

2.1. Affirmative

Subject	Verb	Example
I / You / We / They	base form	I work in a bank.
He / She / It	base form + -s / -es	She works in a bank.

Spelling rules for the third person singular:

Verb ending	Rule	Example
-s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o	+ es	watch → watches, go → goes, miss → misses
consonant + y	-y → ies	study → studies, fly → flies
vowel + y	+ s	play → plays, enjoy → enjoys
all other cases	+ s	work → works, live → lives

Pronunciation of final -s/-es:

/s/ after voiceless sounds: stops, works, laughs
/z/ after voiced sounds or vowel sounds: plays, runs, opens
/ɪz/ after sibilant sounds (-s, -sh, -ch, -x, -ge): watches, washes, changes

In the present simple, verbs with he, she, or it usually end in S or E S. This ending can have three different pronunciations: “s”, “z”, or “iz”.

We pronounce the ending as “s” after a voiceless sound. Listen: stops, works, laughs. Stops. Works. Laughs.

We pronounce it as “z” after a voiced sound or a vowel sound. Listen: plays, runs, opens. Plays. Runs. Opens.

Finally, we pronounce the ending as “iz” after sounds such as S, SH, CH, X, or J. Listen: watches, washes, changes. Watches. Washes. Changes.

The important thing is to listen to the final sound of the verb, not simply to look at the last letter. With practice, these three pronunciations become natural.

2.2. Negative

Subject + do/does + not + base form

I/You/We/They don’t + base form → I don’t like fish.
He/She/It doesn’t + base form → She doesn’t like fish.

A very common mistake is to keep the -s on the main verb in negative sentences and questions. The third-person marker is already carried by the auxiliary does, so the main verb returns to its base form:

She doesn’t likes fish.
She doesn’t like fish.

2.3. Questions

Do/Does + subject + base form…?

Do you play tennis? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Does he play tennis? → Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.

Wh-questions:

Where do you live? What time does the film start? How often do they travel?

2.4. The verbs “to be” and “to have” — special cases

To be does not use do/does: I am, you are, he is… → negative: I’m not, he isn’t; questions: Am I…? Is he…?
Have got — very common in British English — behaves differently from ordinary verbs: I’ve got a car / Have you got a car? / I haven’t got a car.
Have without got follows the normal rule with do/does: Does she have a car?

3. Common uses

3.1 Habits, routines and repeated actions

Actions that happen regularly or repeatedly, but are not necessarily happening at the moment of speaking.

I brush my teeth twice a day.
He goes to the gym on Mondays and Fridays.
They don’t smoke.

3.2 Facts and general truths

Objective, scientific or geographical facts, or situations considered generally true or permanent.

The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Water freezes at 0°C.
Spain is in Europe.

3.3 Timetables, programmes and fixed schedules

Even when the event takes place in the future, we use the Present Simple when it is part of an official or fixed timetable.

The train leaves at 9:15.
The film starts at 8pm.
School finishes in June.
Key difference from the Present Continuous: The train leaves at 9 describes a fixed timetable, while I’m leaving at 9 describes a personal arrangement.

3.4 States, feelings and opinions — stative verbs

Many verbs that describe mental states, emotions, perception or possession are normally used in the simple form rather than the continuous form.

I understand the problem.
She loves animals.
This box contains old photos.

3.5 Instructions, recipes and sports commentary

The Present Simple can be used to give step-by-step instructions or to describe actions as they happen, especially in sports commentary and demonstrations.

First, you mix the flour and the eggs. Then you add the milk.
Messi passes the ball… he shoots… and scores!

3.6 Facts about a person — personality, profession and regular abilities

He works as a teacher.
She speaks three languages.
My brother plays the guitar very well.

3.7 Future time clauses and conditional clauses

After when, after, before, as soon as, until and if, we normally use the Present Simple even when the meaning refers to the future. We do not normally use will in the subordinate clause.

I’ll call you when I arrive. — not when I will arrive
If it rains, we’ll stay at home.

4. Typical time markers

Type	Examples
Adverbs of frequency	always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever, never
Time expressions	every day/week/month/year, on Mondays, once a week, twice a month, from time to time

Position of frequency adverbs

Before the main verb: I always drink coffee in the morning.
After the verb to be: She is never late.
With have to / need to, the adverb usually comes before the verb: I usually have to work on Saturdays.

A typical frequency scale, from most frequent to least frequent, is:

always > usually > often > sometimes > occasionally > rarely/seldom > hardly ever > never

5. Present Simple for scheduled future events

Sometimes the Present Simple is used for official arrangements or scheduled events, such as timetables or programmes:

The meeting starts at 10am tomorrow. — it is part of a fixed schedule

Compare this with spontaneous decisions, which normally use will:

I’ll help you with that.

6. Common errors

She work in a hospital. → She works in a hospital. — forgetting the third-person -s
Does she plays tennis? → Does she play tennis? — marking the third person twice
He no likes coffee. → He doesn’t like coffee. — forming the negative without an auxiliary
I am agree with you. → I agree with you. — agree is a verb, not an adjective
When I will arrive, I’ll call you. → When I arrive, I’ll call you.
I have 25 years. → I am 25 (years old).

7. Exercises

1. Read or listen to the text and then answer the questions.

Emma lives in a small town near Manchester. She works in a bookshop and starts work at nine o’clock. Every morning, she gets the bus and listens to music on the way. The bookshop opens at nine thirty and closes at six. Emma enjoys her job because she meets people from different countries. After work, she usually cooks dinner and reads for an hour. On Fridays, she meets her friends at a café, but she doesn’t stay out late because she gets up early on Saturdays.

Answers

Where does Emma live?
What time does the bookshop open?
Why does Emma enjoy her job?
What does she do after work?
Does she stay out late on Fridays?

2. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the Present Simple.

Answers

My sister ______ (not/eat) meat.
______ your parents ______ (speak) English?
Water ______ (boil) at 100°C.
He ______ (study) hard, but he ______ (not/pass) his exams.
______ the shop ______ (open) on Sundays?

3. Rewrite each sentence in the negative, then turn it into a question.

Answers

She works in a hospital.
They live near the city centre.
Your brother watches television every evening.
The museum opens at nine o’clock.

4. Correct the mistakes

Each sentence contains one mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

Answers

He don’t drink coffee.
Does Maria speaks French?
My parents goes shopping on Saturdays.
The lesson start at half past ten.
I doesn’t understand this question.
Do your sister work from home?

5. Read or listen to the text and then answer the questions.

Daniel lives in Bristol and works as a delivery driver. He starts work at seven in the morning and finishes at four in the afternoon. He drives around the city and delivers packages to homes and offices. He usually has lunch in a small park near the river. Daniel likes his job because he spends a lot of time outside and every day is different. In the evening, he goes to the gym twice a week and watches films at home on the other days. He doesn’t work on Sundays, so he often visits his parents or goes for a long walk with his dog.

Answer the questions

Where does Daniel live?
What time does he start work?
Where does he usually have lunch?
Why does Daniel like his job?
What does he often do on Sundays?

1. Overview

2. Form

2.1. Affirmative

2.2. Negative

2.3. Questions

2.4. The verbs “to be” and “to have” — special cases

3. Common uses

3.1 Habits, routines and repeated actions

3.2 Facts and general truths

3.3 Timetables, programmes and fixed schedules

3.4 States, feelings and opinions — stative verbs

3.5 Instructions, recipes and sports commentary

3.6 Facts about a person — personality, profession and regular abilities

3.7 Future time clauses and conditional clauses

4. Typical time markers

Position of frequency adverbs

5. Present Simple for scheduled future events

6. Common errors

7. Exercises

1. Read or listen to the text and then answer the questions.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the Present Simple.

3. Rewrite each sentence in the negative, then turn it into a question.

4. Correct the mistakes

5. Read or listen to the text and then answer the questions.

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