Simple Present (Present Simple) - Introduction
Simple present is also called present simple.
The simple present expresses an action in the present taking place once, never or several times. It is also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a timetable or schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present.
Simple Present - Form
be
Use:
§ am with the personal pronoun II
§ is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or with the singular form of nouns)
§ are with the personal pronouns we, you or they (or with the plural form of nouns)
example: I am hungry.
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I
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I am.
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I am not.
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Am I?
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he/she/it
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He is.
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He is not.
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Is he?
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you/we/they
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You are.
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You are not.
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Are you?
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have
Use:
§ have with the personal pronouns I, you, we und they (or with the plural form of nouns)
§ has with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)
example: I have a dog. / I have got a dog.
'have got' is mainly used in British English. You can also use 'have' on its own (especially in American English). In this case, however, you must form negative sentences and questions with the auxiliary verb 'do' (see 'All other verbs').
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positiv
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negativ
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question
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I/you/we/they
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I have got. / I have.
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I have not got. / I do not have.
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Have I got? / Do I have?
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he/she/it
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He has got. / He has.
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He has not got. / He does not have.
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Has he got? / Does he have?
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All other verbs
Use:
§ the infinite verb (play) with the personal pronouns I, you, we and they (or with the plural form of nouns)
§ the verb + s (plays) with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I/you/we/they
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I play.
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I do not play.
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Do I play?
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he/she/it
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He plays.
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He does not play.
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Does he play?
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Tips on how to form negative sentences and questions
Negative sentences and questions are formed with the auxiliary verb 'do'.
The 3rd person singular of 'do' is 'does'. This means that in negative sentences and questions the 's' of the main verb is placed behind 'do'.
Simple Present - Exceptions in Spelling
The 3rd person singular is usually formed by adding s. But there are a few exceptions to the rule:
The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.
example: he can, she may, it must
Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.
example: do - he does, wash - she washes
A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s.
example: worry - he worries
But: A final y after a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) is not modified.
example: play - he plays
Simple Present - Short Forms
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affirmative
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negative
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I am English. = I'm English.
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I am not English. = I'm not English.
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We are English.= We're English.
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We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.
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He is English. = He's English.
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He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.
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I have got a dog. = I've got a dog.
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I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.
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He has got a dog. = He's got a dog.
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He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.
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I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis
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He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.
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Simple Present - Use
facts (something is generally known to be true)
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The sun sets in the west.
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The sun never sets in the east or south or north, but always in the west.
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action in the present taking place once, never or several times
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Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.
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Colin plays football regularly - every Tuesday.
In English, signal words are often used, e.g.: always, never, seldom, often, regularly, every Monday.
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actions in the present taking place one after another
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She takes her bag and leaves.
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First one action takes place and then the other.
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action set by a time table or schedule
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The train leaves at 9 pm.
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Although the action takes place in the future, it takes place regularly and is set by a time table.
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verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions and mental activity
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I love her.
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When you love someone, that's a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action (like running for example). Whenever you want to express a state, possession, sense or emotions, use the simple form (not the progressive). The following words all belong to this group:
§ be (state)
§ believe (mental activity)
§ belong (possession)
§ hate (feeling and emotion)
§ hear (senses)
§ like (feeling and emotion)
§ love (feeling and emotion)
§ mean (mental activity)
§ prefer (mental activity)
§ remain (state)
§ realize (mental activity)
§ see (senses)
§ seem (feeling and emotion)
§ smell (senses)
§ think (mental activity)
§ understand (mental activity)
§ want (feeling and emotion)
§ wish (feeling and emotion)
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Simple Present - Signal Words
§ always
§ every ...
§ often
§ normally
§ usually
§ sometimes
§ seldom
§ never
Simple Present - Summary
Form
be
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I
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I am.
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I am not.
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Am I?
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he/she/it
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He is.
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He is not.
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Is he?
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you/we/they
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You are.
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You are not.
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Are you?
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have
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I/you/we/they
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I have got. / I have.
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I have not got. / I do not have.
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Have I got? / Do I have?
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he/she/it
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He has got. / He has.
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He has not got. / He does not have.
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Has he got? / Does he have?
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other verbs
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I/you/we/they
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I play.
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I do not play.
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Do I play?
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he/she/it
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He plays.
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He does not play.
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Does he play?
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Exceptions in Spelling
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Exception
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Example
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The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.
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he can, she may, it must
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Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.
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do - he does, wash - she washes
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A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. (but: don't modify y after a vowel)
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worry - he worries (but: play - he plays)
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Short Forms
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affirmative
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negative
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I am English. = I'm English.
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I am not English. = I'm not English.
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We are English.= We're English.
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We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.
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He is English. = He's English.
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He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.
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I have got a dog. = I've got a dog.
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I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.
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He has got a dog. = He's got a dog.
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He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.
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I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis
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He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.
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Use
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Use
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Example
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action in the present taking place once, never or several times
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Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.
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actions in the present taking place one after another
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She takes her bag and leaves.
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facts (something is generally known to be true)
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The sun sets in the west.
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action set by a timetable or schedule
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The train leaves at 9 pm.
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verbs of possession, senses, emotions and mental activity
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I love her.
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Typical Signal Words
§ always
§ every ...
§ often
§ normally
§ usually
§ sometimes
§ seldom
§ never
