Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet
The simple present tense is a verb form used to talk about habits, unchanging situations, facts, and planned events in the near future.
The simple present tense of most verbs is the infinitive form (e.g., “sing”). However, the third person singular (e.g., “he,” “she,” and “it”) takes an “s” at the end of the verb (e.g., “write” becomes “writes”).
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|
| I drink | I don’t drink | Do I drink? |
| You drink | You don’t drink | Do you drink? |
| He/she/it drinks | He/she/it doesn’t drink | Does he/she/it drink? |
| We drink | We don’t drink | Do we drink? |
| You drink | You don’t drink | Do you drink? |
| They drink | They don’t drink | Do they drink? |
How to use the simple present
The simple present is used to refer to habits, unchanging situations or states, general truths, and scheduled events in the future.
Most verbs in the simple present tense use the infinitive form (e.g., “run”). The only exception is the third person singular (used with “he,” “she,” “it,” and any singular noun), which is usually formed by adding “s” to the end of the verb.
I speak French.
The Earth revolves around the sun.
The last bus leaves at 7 p.m.
The simple present is also used along with future simple tense constructions to talk about a future action. In these instances, the simple present construction is usually preceded by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “after,” “before,” “as soon as,” “when”).
When Dan and Ava go to Italy, they will visit the Sistine Chapel.
Forming the third person singular
The third person singular is usually formed by adding “s” to the end of the verb (e.g., “run” becomes “runs”). However, this can vary depending on the verb’s ending.
| Original ending | Third person singular ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -o -ch -sh -ss -x -z |
-es | do; does watch; watches wash; washes guess; guesses mix; mixes buzz; buzzes |
| Consonant + y | -ies (replacing the “y”) | fly; flies |
- I have a cat.
- Sandra has an old bike.
Irregular verb: “Be”
The stative verb “be” is used in the simple present to refer to unchanging situations (e.g., “You are clever”) and to temporary present situations (e.g., “Ramone is hungry”). This verb changes in form more than any other, as shown in the table below.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I | am |
| You | are |
| He/she/it | is |
| We | are |
| You | are |
| They | are |
Present simple vs. present continuous
While the present simple is typically used to refer to habits, states, and facts, the present continuous is used to describe a temporary action that is currently taking place.
Justin is eating dinner right now. [describing a temporary action in the present]
These verbs are typically not used in the present continuous tense:
- I am wanting ice cream.
- I want ice cream.
How to form negatives
For most subjects, negative statements are formed by adding “do not” (or the contraction “don’t”) between the subject and the verb. The third person singular uses “does not” (or “doesn’t”).
Abby doesn’t like traveling.
- The clock doesn’t works.
- The clock doesn’t work.
The verb “be” is made negative by adding the adverb “not” after the verb. This is the case for all subjects.
Even though he didn’t sleep much last night, Andrew is not tired.
- Jamie exercises not much.
- Jamie doesn’t exercise much.
How to form questions
To ask a yes–no question using the simple present, add “do” before the subject and the infinitive form of the verb. Again, the exception is the third person singular, which uses “does” instead of “do.”
Does Clarke work on Fridays?
To ask a question using a wh-word (an interrogative pronoun like “what” or an interrogative adverb like “when”), place the pronoun or adverb before “do” (or “does” for the third person singular).
What do you want?
Why does Gary never answer his phone?
How to form the passive voice
Passive sentences are ones in which the subject is acted upon (rather than performing the action). In the simple present, the passive voice uses a conjugated form of the verb “be” along with a past participle.
The stray cat is fed by everyone in the neighborhood.
I am allowed to be here.
Worksheet: Simple present vs. present continuous
You can test your understanding of the difference between the simple present and the present continuous with the worksheet below. Fill in one of the two options in each sentence.
- I _______ every morning before work. [run/am running]
- Kevin _______ the kitchen right now. [cleans/is cleaning]
- Humans _______ about 12 times per minute. [blink/are blinking]
- The train _______ at 12 p.m. every day. [leaves/is leaving]
- Allie _______ at the moment. [studies/is studying]
- I run every morning before work.
- “Run” is correct. In this instance, the simple present is used to refer to a habit.
- Kevin is cleaning the kitchen right now.
- The present continuous form “is cleaning” is correct because it refers to a temporary action in the present.
- Humans blink about 12 times per minute.
- The present simple form “blink” is correct. In this instance, it’s used to express a fact.
- The train leaves at 12 p.m. every day.
- The present simple form “leaves” is correct. In this instance, it’s used to refer to a planned future event.
- Allie is studying at the moment.
- The present continuous form “is studying” is correct because it refers to a temporary action that is currently taking place.
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Ryan, E. (2023, September 25). Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet. Scribbr. Retrieved 22 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/verb/present-simple/
