Present Simple

A: What do you do?

B: I'm a teacher.
A: What do you teach?
B: I teach math.

Form
Positive Sentences

drink

coffee in the morning.

read

the newspaper every day.

You

play

baseball in the summer.

We

walk

around the park every evening.

They

take

the bus to school.

listen

to music a lot.

drinks

coffee in the morning.

reads

the newspaper every day.

plays

baseball in the summer.

walks

around the park every evening.

takes

the bus to school.

listens

to music a lot.

He
She
It

Negative Sentences

drink

coffee in the morning.

read

the newspaper every day.

You

do not

play

baseball in the summer.

We

don't

walk

around the park every evening.

take

the bus to school.

listen

to music a lot.

drink

coffee in the morning.

read

the newspaper every day.

does not

play

baseball in the summer.

doesn't

walk

around the park every evening.

take

the bus to school.

listen

to music a lot.

They

He
She
It

Yes or No Questions

I
you
Do
we
they

he
Does

drink

coffee in the morning?

read

the newspaper every day?

play

baseball in the summer?

walk

around the park every evening?

take

the bus to school?

listen

to music a lot?

she
it

Short Answers
Do you drink coffee in the morning?
Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
Do they play baseball in the summer?
Yes, they do.
No, they don't.
Does he take the bus to school?
Yes, he does.

 No, he doesn't.
Does she listen to music a lot?
Yes, she does.
No, she doesn't.

Questions with Question Words

I
you
Where

do
we

When

they

What
study?
Why
Who
he

How
does

she
it

Spelling of Verbs in Present Simple

Usually we add an s to the verb for he / she / it. Some verbs are
different:

Rule #1
If a verb ends in x, sh or ch, add es:
fix fixes
finish finishes
watch watches

Rule #2
If the verb ends with a consonant + y, change y to ies:
fly flies
study studies

Rule #3
If the verb ends with a vowel + y, only add s:
play plays
say says

Rule #4
Go becomes goes, and do become does:
go goes
do does

Use
English speakers use the present simple to describe:

Habits & Routines

I always get up early in the morning.

She doesnt drink coffee.

He checks his email after work.

Facts
Some facts are always true:

Alarm clocks wake people up.

Penguins don't fly.

Others are true for a long time:

I work at this school.

She lives in the city.

He plays the piano.

Adverb Placement

We often use adverbs of frequency with the present simple tense:

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverb

Frequency

always

100%

usually

90%

often

75%

sometimes

50%

occasionally

30%

rarely / seldom

20%

never

0%

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb in present simple

sentences:

I always take a shower in the morning.

We sometimes eat pizza for dinner.

Chris never calls me. He alwaystexts.

If the main verb of a sentence is be, adverbs of frequency go after it:

He is often sick.

It's always windy in this city.