Present simple formula
Only he, she, it and singular nouns change: they add -s or -es in the positive and use does in negatives and questions. After does and doesn't, the verb goes back to its base form.
| Form | I, you, we, they | He, she, it |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | I play cricket. | She plays cricket. |
| Negative | I do not (don't) play cricket. | She does not (doesn't) play cricket. |
| Question | Do you play cricket? | Does she play cricket? |
| Short answer | Yes, I do. / No, I don't. | Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. |
Spelling: -s, -es or -ies
Most verbs add -s: work becomes works, read becomes reads.
Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x or -o add -es: miss becomes misses, wash becomes washes, watch becomes watches, fix becomes fixes, go becomes goes, do becomes does.
A consonant followed by -y changes to -ies: study becomes studies, carry becomes carries. A vowel followed by -y just adds -s: play becomes plays. Have becomes has.
When to use the present simple
Habits and routines: "I check my email every morning."
Facts and general truths: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."
Permanent situations: "My parents live in Lucknow."
Timetables and schedules, even in the future: "The exam starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow."
Future time clauses: after when, if, before, after and as soon as, use the present simple for a future meaning: "I'll call you when I get home."
States with stative verbs: verbs such as know, believe, want, like and understand normally take the simple form even for right now: "I understand the question."
Signal words, and present simple or present continuous?
Frequency adverbs such as always, usually and never go before the main verb but after be: "She is always late." "She always arrives late."
| Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|
| always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never | now, right now, at the moment, currently |
| every day, every week, on Mondays, once a month | today, this week, these days, at present |
| Habits and permanent facts: "I work in a bank." | Actions in progress or temporary: "I'm working from home this week." |
Common mistakes
Wrong: She don't like spicy food.
Right: She doesn't like spicy food.
He, she and it take does, not do.
Wrong: Does he works on Saturdays?
Right: Does he work on Saturdays?
After does, the verb returns to its base form with no -s.
Wrong: My father go to the office by train.
Right: My father goes to the office by train.
A singular subject needs -s or -es on the verb.
Wrong: I am knowing the answer.
Right: I know the answer.
Know is a stative verb, so it takes the simple form even for right now.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
The present simple is the backbone of IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagrams and most maps ("The water is filtered and then flows into a tank"), and of general statements in Task 2 and PTE Write Essay ("Many people believe that..."). In IELTS Speaking Part 1, questions about your routine, hometown and preferences mostly need the present simple. Missing -s on he, she and it is one of the most noticeable errors, so check it when you proofread.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Complete this: "My sister ___ (watch) the news every evening."
watches
Verbs ending in -ch add -es after he, she or it.
2. Make this negative: "He speaks Tamil."
He doesn't speak Tamil.
Use doesn't plus the base verb, so speaks becomes speak.
3. Form a question: they / live / near the station?
Do they live near the station?
They takes do, and the verb stays in its base form.
4. Choose: "Listen! The baby (cries / is crying)."
is crying
Listen! shows the action is happening now, so it takes the present continuous.
5. Complete this: "The flight ___ (leave) at 6.40 tomorrow morning."
leaves
Fixed timetables use the present simple even for the future.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula of the present simple tense?+
Subject + base verb, with -s or -es after he, she and it. Negatives use do not or does not + base verb, and questions put do or does before the subject.
What is the difference between the present simple and present continuous?+
The present simple is for habits, facts and permanent situations ("I live in Kochi"). The present continuous is for actions happening now or for a limited time ("I'm staying with friends this week").
Can the present simple talk about the future?+
Yes, for timetables ("The train leaves at five") and after time words such as when, if and as soon as ("I'll text you when I arrive").
Why do we add -s with he, she and it?+
It is the only ending left from older English verb endings in the present tense. It applies to third-person singular subjects only, including singular nouns such as my friend or the company.
Keep going
More grammar lessons
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