Simple present

Present Simple Tense with “TO BE” (am/is/are)

Affirmative sentence:

S + am/is/are + predicate…

Example:

He is a doctor.

Negative Sentence:

S + am/is/are + not + predicate…

Example:

He isn’t a doctor.

Interrogative Sentence:

Am/Is/ Are + S + predicate?

Example:

Is he a doctor?

Simple Present Tense with Other Verbs

Affirmative sentence:

S + verb + object…

Example:

We like tea.

Negative sentence:

S + don’t/doesn’t + verb + object…

Example:

We don’t like tea.

Interrogative sentence:

Do/ Does + S + verb + object?

Example:

Do you like tea?

Notes for the Present Simple

The basic form of the simple present is the same as the base form of the verb, unless the subject is third person singular, in which case a form with the addition of -(e)s is used.

• For pronouns I, you, we, they, there is no modification for verbs.
• For pronouns he, she, it, a suffix is added following these rules:

For verbs that end in –o, –ch, –sh, –s, –x, or –z, the suffix –es is added

Examples:

Do – Does

Touch – Touches

Fix – Fixes

For verbs that end in a consonant + y, the letter y is replaced by the suffix –ies.

Example:

Try – Tries

Study – Studies

Carry – Carries

In other cases, the suffix –s is added.

Examples:

Cook – Cooks

Say – Says

Laugh – laughs

How to Use the Simple Present

The Present Simple tense is used to express:

General Truth

Example:

The sun rises in the east.

Habits

Example:

I play badminton every Tuesday.

Future Timetables

Example:

Our train leaves at 9 am.

Future after “When”, “Until”…

Example:

I won’t go out until it stops raining.

Permanent Situations

Example:

He works in a bank.

For Newspaper Headlines

Example:

Man enters space.

With Non-progressive

Example:

I believe that you are innocent.

When Telling Stories

Example:

Suddenly, the window opens and a masked man enters.

For Giving Directions and Instructions

Example:

First of all, you break the eggs and whisk with sugar.