Present Simple

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.
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.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I am. I am not. #m I$
he%she%it &e is. &e is not. Is he$
you%we%they 'ou are. 'ou are not. #re you$
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 )ritish *nglish. 'ou can also use (have( on its own especially in #merican *nglish!. In
this case, however, you must form negative sentences and "uestions with the auxiliary verb (do( see (#ll other
verbs(!.
positiv negativ "uestion
I%you%we%they I have got. % I have. I have not got. % I do not have. &ave I got$ % +o I have$
he%she%it &e has got. % &e has. &e has not got. % &e does not have. &as he got$ % +oes he have$
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!
affirmative negative "uestion
I%you%we%they I play. I do not play. +o I play$
he%she%it &e plays. &e does not play. +oes he play$
Tips on how to form negative sentences and questions
-egative sentences and "uestions are formed with the auxiliary verb (do(.
The .rd person singular of (do( is (does(. This means that in negative sentences and "uestions the (s( of the main verb
is placed behind (do(.
Exercise on Form with 'be'
/rite down the missing sentences.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I am hungry.
you 'ou are Sam.
he &e is not here.
she Is she loud$
it It is okay.
we #re we fine$
you 'ou are not friendly.
they #re they happy$
Exercise on Form with 'be'
/rite down the missing sentences.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I am hungry.
I am not hungry. #m I hungry$
you 'ou are Sam.
'ou are not Sam. #re you Sam$
he
&e is here.
&e is not here.
Is he here$
she
She is loud. She is not loud.
Is she loud$
it It is okay.
It is not okay. Is it okay$
we
/e are fine. /e are not fine.
#re we fine$
you
'ou are friendly.
'ou are not friendly.
#re you friendly$
they
They are happy. They are not happy.
#re they happy$
Exercise on Form with 'have got'
/rite down the missing sentences. Use 'have got'.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I have got a dog.
you 'ou have got a bike.
he &e has not got a beard.
she &as she got a sister$
it It has got a window.
we &ave we got a car$
you 'ou have not got time.
they &ave they got money$
Exercise on Form with 'have got'
/rite down the missing sentences. Use 'have got'.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I have got a dog.
I have not got a dog. &ave I got a dog$
you 'ou have got a bike.
'ou have not got a bike. &ave you got a bike$
he
&e has got a beard.
&e has not got a beard.
&as he got a beard$
she
She has got a sister. She has not got a sister.
&as she got a sister$
it It has got a window.
It has not got a window. &as it got a window$
we
/e have got a car. /e have not got a car.
&ave we got a car$
you
'ou have got time.
'ou have not got time.
&ave you got time$
they
They have got money. They have not got money.
&ave they got money$
Exercise on Form with 'have' + auxiliar 'do'
/rite down the missing sentences. Use 'have' and the auxiliary 'do'.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I have a dog.
you 'ou have a bike.
he &e does not have a beard.
she +oes she have a sister$
it It has a window.
we +o we have a car$
you 'ou do not have time.
they +o they have money$
Exercise on Form with 'have' + auxiliar 'do'
/rite down the missing sentences. Use 'have' and the auxiliary 'do'.
affirmative negative "uestion
I I have a dog.
I do not have a dog. +o I have a dog$
you 'ou have a bike.
'ou do not have a bike. +o you have a bike$
he
&e has a beard.
&e does not have a beard.
+oes he have a beard$
she
She has a sister. She does not have a sister.
+oes she have a sister$
it It has a window.
It does not have a window. +oes it have a window$

we /e have a car. /e do not have a car. +o we have a car$
you
'ou have time.
'ou do not have time.
+o you have time$
they
They have money. They do not have money.
+o they have money$
Exercises on Form
/rite down the missing sentences.
affirmative negative "uestions
I I play.
you 'ou help.
he &e does not answer.
she +oes she sing$
it It rains.
we +o we dream$
you 'ou do not read.
they +o they work$
Exercises on Form
/rite down the missing sentences.
affirmative negative "uestions
I I play.
I do not play. +o I play$
you 'ou help.
'ou do not help. +o you help$
he
&e answers.
&e does not answer.
+oes he answer$
she
She sings. She does not sing.
+oes she sing$
it It rains.
It does not rain. +oes it rain$
we
/e dream. /e do not dream.
+o we dream$
you
'ou read.
'ou do not read.
+o you read$
they
They work. They do not work.
+o they work$
Exercise on Affirmative Sentences
#rrange the words to make sentences in simple present.
0. I % to collect stamps 1 I collect stars.
2. we % to play card games 1
.. he % to read comics 1
3. 4hris % to sing in a band 1
5. we % to have a hamster 1
6. #ndy and 7ohn % to like cola 1
8. she % to be nice 1
9. they % to help their parents 1
:. the children % to speak *nglish 1
0;. I % to buy a newspaper every Saturday <
Exercise on !egative Sentences
=ake negative sentences.
0. I watch T>. 1 I do not watch T>.
2. /e play football. <
.. It is boring. <
3. She cleans her room. <
5. 'ou ride your bike every weekend. <
6. Sandy takes nice photos. <
8. They open the windows. <
9. &e buys a new 4+. <
:. I am late. <
0;. She has a cat. <
Exercise on Affirmative Sentences
#rrange the words to make sentences in simple present.
0. I % to collect stamps < I collect stamps.
I collect stamps.
2. we % to play card games < /e play card games.
.. he % to read comics < &e reads comics.
3. 4hris % to sing in a band < 4hris sings in a band.
5. we % to have a hamster < /e have a hamster.
6. #ndy and 7ohn % to like cola < #ndy and 7ohn like cola.
8. she % to be nice < She is nice.
9. they % to help their parents < They help their parents.
:. the children % to speak *nglish < The children speak *nglish.
0;. I % to buy a newspaper every Saturday < I buy a newspaper every Saturday.
Exercise on !egative Sentences
=ake negative sentences.
0. I watch T>. < I do not watch T>.
I do not watch TV
2. /e play football. < /e do not play football.
.. It is boring. < It is not boring.
3. She cleans her room. < She does not clean her room.
5. 'ou ride your bike every weekend. < 'ou do not ride your bike every weekend.
6. Sandy takes nice photos. < Sandy does not take nice photos.
8. They open the windows. < They do not open the windows.
9. &e buys a new 4+. < &e does not buy a new 4+.
:. I am late. < I am not late.
0;. She has a cat. < She does not have a cat.
Exercise on "uestions #
#rrange the words below to make "uestions.
0. she % to collect % stickers 1 +oes she collect stickers$
2. they % to play % a game <
.. the cat % to sleep % in the cat(s bed <
3. she % often % to dream <
5. he % to play % streetball <
6. you % to be % from ?aris <
8. the pupils % to wear % school uniforms <
9. you % to go % to the cinema <
:. she % to have % friends <
0;. he % to read % books <
Exercise on "uestions with #nterrogatives
#sk for the bold part of the sentence.
$% 7ulia likes pop&music. 1/hat does 7ulia like$
'% =aria comes from Spain. <
(% They play in the garden. <
)% *ic+ rides his bike. <
,% I go to the cinema on Saturdas. <
-% /e go to =allorca because it is warm there%. <
.% 7oe repairs his bi+e. <
/% @obin drives his car carefull. <
0% ?eter runs with his dog ever da. <
$1% *ric goes to #tal for a holida
Exercise on "uestions #
#rrange the words below to make "uestions.
0. she % to collect % stickers < +oes she collect stickers$
Does she collect
2. they % to play % a game < +o they play a game$
.. the cat % to sleep % in the cat(s bed < +oes the cat sleep in the cat(s bed$
3. she % often % to dream < +oes she often dream$
5. he % to play % streetball < +oes he play streetball$
6. you % to be % from ?aris < #re you from ?aris$
8. the pupils % to wear % school uniforms < +o the pupils wear school uniforms$
9. you % to go % to the cinema < +o you go to the cinema$
:. she % to have % friends < +oes she have friends$
0;. he % to read % books < +oes he read books$
Exercise on "uestions with #nterrogatives
#sk for the bold part of the sentence.
0. 7ulia likes pop&music. < /hat does 7ulia like$
What does Julia li

2. =aria comes from Spain. < /here does =aria come from$
.. They play in the garden. < /here do they play$
3. *ic+ rides his bike. < /ho rides his bike$
5. I go to the cinema on Saturdas. < /hen do you go to the cinema$
6. /e go to =allorca because it is warm there%. < /hy do you go to =allorca$
8. 7oe repairs his bi+e. < /hat does 7oe repair$
9. @obin drives his car carefull. < &ow does @obin drive his car$
:. ?eter runs with his dog ever da. < /hen does ?eter run$
0;. *ric goes to #tal for a holida. < /hat does *ric do$
Simple Present & Exceptions in Spelling
The (rd person singular is usuall formed b adding s% 2ut there are a few
exceptions to the rule3
The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms% So don't add s%
example: he can, she may, it must
4erbs ending in o or a sibilant 5ch6 sh6 s6 x7 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
2ut3 # final y after a vowel a, e, i, o, u! is not modified.
example: play < he plays
/rite down the third person singular of the following verbs.
0. I can < he
can
2. I go < he
.. I wish < he
3. I must < he
5. I hurry < he
6. I do < he
8. I may < he
9. I kiss < he
:. I worry < he
0;. I teach < he
/rite down the third person singular of the following verbs.
0. I can < he can
can
2. I go < he goes
.. I wish < he wishes
3. I must < he must
5. I hurry < he hurries
6. I do < he does
8. I may < he may
9. I kiss < he kisses
:. I worry < he worries
0;. I teach < he teaches
/rite down the verbs in the third person singular. -ote the exceptions in spelling.
0. I can swim. < She can
can
swim.
2. I miss the bus. < She misses the bus.
.. I know you. < She knows you.
3. I sit down. < She sits down.
5. I often cry. < She often cries .
6. I play chess. < She plays chess.
8. I come home. < She comes home.
9. I must go now. < She must go now.
:. I fly to @ome every year. < She flies to @ome every year.
0;. I always do my best. < She always does her best.
/rite down the verbs in the third person singular. -ote the exceptions in spelling.
0. I can swim. < She
can
swim.
2. I miss the bus. < She the bus.
.. I know you. < She you.
3. I sit down. < She down.
5. I often cry. < She often .
6. I play chess. < She chess.
8. I come home. < She home.
9. I must go now. < She go now.
:. I fly to @ome every year. < She to @ome every year.
0;. I always do my best. < She always her best.
affirmative negative
I am *nglish. A I'm *nglish. I am not *nglish. A I'm not *nglish.
/e are *nglish.A /e're *nglish. /e are not *nglish. A /e're not % /e aren't *nglish.
&e is *nglish. A &e's *nglish. &e is not *nglish. A &e's not % &e isn't *nglish.
I have got a dog. A I've got a dog. I have not got a dog. A I've not got a dog. % I haven't got a dog.
&e has got a dog. A &e's got a dog. &e has not got a dog. A &e's not got a dog. % &e hasn't got a dog.
I do not play tennis. A I don't play tennis
&e does not play tennis A &e doesn't play tennis.
@ewrite the sentences using the long forms.
0. They don(t eat piBBa. 1They do not eat piBBa.
2. /e don(t go to bed early. <
.. It doesn(t make sense. <
3. She doesn(t love him. <
5. I don(t work here. <
6. I(m on holiday. <
8. She isn(t at home. <
9. They(re not my friends. <
:. They(ve a nice car. <
0;. I haven(t got time. <
@ewrite the sentences using the short forms.
0. I do not speak Crench. 1 I donDt speak Crench.
2. /e do not live in a castle. <
.. &e does not like music. <
3. She does not sing well. <
5. They do not drink water. <
6. I am not hungry. <
8. She is not thirsty. <
9. They are friendly. <
:. /e have got a cat. <
0;. They have not got a hamster. <
@ewrite the sentences using the long forms.
0. They don(t eat piBBa. < They do not eat piBBa.
They do not eat p
2. /e don(t go to bed early. < /e do not go to bed early.
.. It doesn(t make sense. < It does not make sense.
3. She doesn(t love him. < She does not love him.
5. I don(t work here. < I do not work here.
6. I(m on holiday. < I am on holiday.
8. She isn(t at home. < She is not at home.
9. They(re not my friends. < They are not my friends.
:. They(ve a nice car. < They have a nice car.
0;. I haven(t got time. < I have not got time.
@ewrite the sentences using the short forms.
0. I do not speak Crench. < I don(t speak Crench.
2. /e do not live in a castle. < /e don(t live in a castle.
.. &e does not like music. < &e doesn(t like music.
3. She does not sing well. < She doesn(t sing well.
5. They do not drink water. < They don(t drink water.
6. I am not hungry. < I(m not hungry.
8. She is not thirsty. < She isn(t thirsty.
9. They are friendly. < They(re friendly.
:. /e have got a cat. < /e(ve got a cat.
0;. They have not got a hamster. < They haven(t got a hamster
facts 5something is generall +nown to be true7
The sun sets in the west.
The sun never sets in the east or south or north, but
always in the west.
*xercise
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. ?aris be!
is
the capital of Crance.
2. &amlet be! a play by Shakespeare.
.. =ount *verest reach! a height of 9939 metres.
3. /ater boil! at 0;;E4.
5. Ice melt! at ;E4.
6. The river Thames flow! past the &ouses of ?arliament.
8. The Flympic Games take place! every four years.
9. # waiter work! in a restaurant.
:. The earth travel! around the sun in approximately .65 days.
0;. =y father speak! *nglish.
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. ?aris is
is
the capital of Crance.
2. &amlet is a play by Shakespeare.
.. =ount *verest reaches a height of 9939 metres.
3. /ater boils at 0;;E4.
5. Ice melts at ;E4.
6. The river Thames flows past the &ouses of ?arliament.
8. The Flympic Games take place every four years.
9. # waiter works in a restaurant.
:. The earth travels around the sun in approximately .65 days.
0;. =y father speaks *nglish.
action in the present ta+ing place once6 never or several times
4olin always plays soccer on
Tuesdays.
4olin plays football regularly < every Tuesday.
In *nglish, signal words are often used, e.g.: always,
never, seldom, often, regularly, every Monday.
*xercise
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. Fn =ondays he go!
goes
to the gym.
2. 'ou never arrive! on time.
.. I seldom go! to the Boo.
3. Crancis occasionally drink! coffee.
5. @on seldom do! his homework.
6. They not % often % sing! songs.
8. ?ierre not % play! tennis every week.
9. I not % usually % watch! T> in the mornings.
:. they % spend! their holidays in 4anada every year$
0;. he %always % wear! a hat$
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. Fn =ondays he goes
goes
to the gym.
2. 'ou never arrive on time.
.. I seldom go to the Boo.
3. Crancis occasionally drinks coffee.
5. @on seldom does his homework.
6. They do not often sing songs.
8. ?ierre does not play tennis every week.
9. I do not usually watch T> in the mornings.
:. +o they spend their holidays in 4anada every year$
0;. +oes he always wear a hat$
actions in the present ta+ing place one after another
She takes her bag and leaves.
Cirst one action takes place and then the other.
*xercise
This is a typical morning for 7anine. -ote that all the actions take place one after another.
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. 7anine get up!
gets up
at seven o(clock.
2. She have! breakfast and then she go! into the bathroom.
.. She take! a cold shower, brush! her teeth and comb!
her hair.
3. #fter that she put! on her clothes.
5. Then 7anine leave! the house and lock! the door.
6. She go! to the bus stop and wait! for the bus.
8. /hen the bus arrive! , she get on! the bus and go!
to work.
This is a typical morning for 7anine. -ote that all the actions take place one after another.
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. 7anine gets up
gets up
at seven o(clock.
2. She has breakfast and then she goes into the bathroom.
.. She takes a cold shower, brushes her teeth and combs
her hair.
3. #fter that she puts on her clothes.
5. Then 7anine leaves the house and locks the door.
6. She goes to the bus stop and waits for the bus.
8. /hen the bus arrives , she gets on the bus and goes to
work.
action set b a time table or schedule
The train leaves at : pm.
#lthough the action takes place in the future, it takes
place regularly and is set by a time table.
*xercise
The following sentences describe future actions that are set by a timetable or schedule.
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. The plane arrive!
arrives
in Hondon at 00:35.
2. The lesson start! in five minutes.
.. The film begin! at 9 o(clock.
3. =y brother(s birthday be! on /ednesday.
5. The train leave! =anchester at 8:2..
6. The festival end! on Sunday.
8. The next bus come! in .5 minutes.
9. /hich day open % the exhibition! $
:. /hat day be! it tomorrow$
0;. /hat time close % the Boo! $
The following sentences describe future actions that are set by a timetable or schedule.
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. The plane arrives
arrives
in Hondon at 00:35.
2. The lesson starts in five minutes.
.. The film begins at 9 o(clock.
3. =y brother(s birthday is on /ednesday.
5. The train leaves =anchester at 8:2..
6. The festival ends on Sunday.
8. The next bus comes in .5 minutes.
9. /hich day does the exhibition open $
:. /hat day is it tomorrow$
0;. /hat time does the Boo close $
verbs expressing states6 possession6 senses6 emotions and mental activit
I love her.
/hen you love someone, that(s a state, a fact or emotion,
but not an action like running for example!. /henever
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!
realiBe mental activity!
see senses!
seem feeling and emotion!
smell senses!
think mental activity!
understand mental activity!
want feeling and emotion!
wish feeling and emotion!
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. I like! like piBBa.
2. &e hate!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.garlic.
.. =y sister prefer!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII..tea to coffee.
3. I want! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIto get away from here.
5. She not % understand! IIIIIIIIIIIIIII me.
6. I not % believe!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.it.
8. I not % know!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIwhy you are so mean.
9. /e not % think!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.that this is right.
:. /hat mean % it!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII..$
0;. you % hear!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIthe music$
?ut the verbs into the correct form.
0. I like
like
piBBa.
2. &e hates garlic.
.. =y sister prefers tea to coffee.
3. I want to get away from here.
5. She does not understand me.
6. I do not believe it.
8. I do not know why you are so mean.
9. /e do not think that this is right.
:. /hat does it mean $
0;. +o you hear the music$
Simple Present & Signal 8ords
always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
Simple Present6 Exercise on Signal 8ords
default 0
/hich is a signal word for the simple present$
seldom right now in 0:::
already next week normally
never last year up to now
the other day sometimes soon
since 2;;0 every year in a year
4hoose the correct signal word.
@on plays basketball at the moment % every Criday % yesterday
This /eek % -ext month % Sometimes I go to work by bus.
/e speak *nglish very often % Just now % last Criday .
I write a poem since =onday% tomorrow % everyday.
-ormally % HookK % @ight now our neighbour leaves the house at 9 o(clock.
/hich is a signal word for the simple present$
seldom right now in 0:::
already next week normally
never last year up to now
the other day sometimes soon
since 2;;0 every year in a year
4hoose the correct signal word.
@on plays basketball every Criday .
Sometimes I go to work by bus.
/e speak *nglish very often .
I write a poem every day .
-ormally our neighbour leaves the house at 9 o(clock.
Form
be
affirmative negative "uestion
I I am. I am not. #m I$
he%she%it &e is. &e is not. Is he$
you%we%they 'ou are. 'ou are not. #re you$
have
affirmative negative "uestion
I%you%we%they I have got. % I have. I have not got. % I do not have. &ave I got$ % +o I have$
he%she%it &e has got. % &e has. &e has not got. % &e does not have. &as he got$ % +oes he have$
other verbs
affirmative negative "uestion
I%you%we%they I play. I do not play. +o I play$
he%she%it &e plays. &e does not play. +oes he play$
Exceptions in Spelling
*xception *xample
The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don(t add
s.
he can, she may, it must
>erbs ending in o or a sibilant ch, sh, s, x! add es instead of s. do < he does, wash < she washes
# final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. but: don(t modify y after a
vowel!
worry < he worries but: play < he plays!
Short Forms
affirmative negative
I am *nglish. A I'm *nglish. I am not *nglish. A I'm not *nglish.
/e are *nglish.A /e're *nglish. /e are not *nglish. A /e're not % /e aren't *nglish.
&e is *nglish. A &e's *nglish. &e is not *nglish. A &e's not % &e isn't *nglish.
I have got a dog. A I've got a dog. I have not got a dog. A I've not got a dog. % I haven't got a dog.
&e has got a dog. A &e's got a dog. &e has not got a dog. A &e's not got a dog. % &e hasn't got a dog.
I do not play tennis. A I don't play tennis
&e does not play tennis A &e doesn't play tennis.
9se
Use *xample
action in the present taking place once, never or several times 4olin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.
actions in the present taking place one after another She takes her bag and leaves.
facts something is generally known to be true! The sun sets in the west.
action set by a timetable or schedule The train leaves at : pm.
verbs of possession, senses, emotions and mental activity I love her.
Tpical Signal 8ords
always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never