Present Simple Tense: Rules, Examples and Exercises

Learn the present simple tense with clear rules, third-person forms, negatives, questions, examples, common mistakes and exercises with answers.

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Introduction to Present Simple Tense

The present simple tense, also called the simple present tense, is used to talk about routines, repeated actions, permanent situations, facts and opinions.

I walk to work every morning.
She lives in Taipei.
Water boils at 100°C.

Although it is called the present simple, it does not usually describe something happening at this exact moment. Instead, it describes actions and situations that are generally, regularly or permanently true.

Compare:

I teach English.
This describes my job or usual activity.
I am teaching English now.

This describes an action happening at the moment.

The present simple is one of the most important English tenses. You need it to describe your life, discuss habits, ask questions and express what you think, like or believe.

For a complete explanation of routines versus actions happening now, read our present simple vs present continuous guide.

What is the present simple tense?

The present simple describes actions and situations that are regular, repeated or generally true.

We have lunch at twelve o’clock.
He plays football every Saturday.
They work for an international company.

It is also used with verbs that describe states rather than actions.

I understand the question.
She likes classical music.
We need more time.

These verbs describe thoughts, feelings, possession or conditions. They are not normally used in continuous forms.

Present simple examples

Here are some common uses of the tense:

Routine:

I check my emails every morning.

Permanent or long-term situation:

My parents live in Manchester.

Fact:

The Earth moves around the Sun.

Opinion:

I think the film is excellent.

Timetable:

The train leaves at 8.15.

The context normally tells us whether a sentence describes a routine, fact, state or scheduled event.

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How to form the present simple

In affirmative sentences, use the base form of the verb with I, you, we and they.

I work from home.
You speak English well.
We study together.
They travel frequently.

With he, she and it, add -s or -es to the verb.

He works from home.
She speaks English well.
It costs twenty pounds.

The basic structures are:

Present simple sentence structure for different subjects
Subject Verb form Example
I, you, we, they base verb They work in London.
he, she, it verb + s/es She works in London.

The verb be has different forms:

I am
you are
he, she, it is
we are
they are
I am tired.
She is a teacher.
They are at home.

The verb have becomes has with he, she and it.

I have two brothers.
He has two brothers.

When to use the present simple

Routines and repeated actions

Use the present simple for actions that happen regularly.

I wake up at seven every day.
She goes to the gym twice a week.
We usually eat dinner together.

The action may happen every day, once a month or only occasionally. The important point is that it is repeated. Use the present simple for current routines. When describing a routine that belonged to a finished period, use the past simple tense.

Permanent and long-term situations

Use the present simple for situations that are permanent or expected to continue for a long time.

I live in Taiwan.
He works at a university.
They own a small restaurant.

The situation does not need to last forever. It simply feels stable rather than temporary.

Facts and general truths

Use the present simple for scientific facts, definitions and statements that are generally true.

Ice melts when it gets warm.
Plants need sunlight.
London is the capital of the United Kingdom.
A triangle has three sides.

Facts and processes can also be expressed in the present simple passive, such as English is spoken worldwide. Learn how this structure works in our passive voice guide.

Opinions, feelings and states

Use the present simple with many stative verbs, including:

  • believe
  • know
  • like
  • love
  • hate
  • understand
  • remember
  • need
  • want
  • prefer
  • own
I believe you.
She wants a new laptop.
We know the answer.

These verbs are not normally used in the present continuous.

Incorrect:

I am knowing the answer.

Correct:

I know the answer.

Timetables and scheduled events

Use the present simple for future events that follow an official timetable or fixed schedule.

The flight departs at 9.30 tomorrow morning.
The lesson starts at six.
The shop closes early on Sunday.

This is different from a personal future arrangement:

I am meeting my friend tomorrow.

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Third-person singular rules

With he, she and it, most present simple verbs take -s.

work → works
read → reads
play → plays
live → lives

Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x or -o

Add -es.

pass → passes
wash → washes
watch → watches
fix → fixes
go → goes

Verbs ending in consonant + y

Change y to i and add -es.

study → studies
carry → carries
try → tries

If a vowel comes before the y, simply add -s.

play → plays
enjoy → enjoys
buy → buys

Irregular third-person forms

Some important verbs have irregular forms.

have → has
be → is
do → does
She has a new job.
He is very busy.
Daniel does most of the cooking.

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Negatives and questions with do and does

Negative sentences

Use do not or does not before the base verb.

subject + do/does not + base verb

Use do not with I, you, we and they.

I do not drink coffee.
They do not work at weekends.

Use does not with he, she and it.

She does not drink coffee.
He does not work at weekends.

The contracted forms are don’t and doesn’t.

We don’t live near the station.
It doesn’t open on Mondays.

Do not add -s to the main verb after doesn’t.

Incorrect:

She doesn’t likes tea.

Correct:

She doesn’t like tea.

The -s is already included in does.

Yes-or-no questions

Place do or does before the subject.

Do/Does + subject + base verb?

Do you speak Mandarin?
Does she work here?
Do they have any children?

Short answers use do or does.

Do you like football?
Yes, I do.
No, I don’t.
Does he drive to work?
Yes, he does.
No, he doesn’t.

Information questions

Place the question word before do or does.

Where do you live?
What does she teach?
When do they finish work?
Why does he take the bus?

Again, the main verb remains in the base form.

Incorrect:

Where does she lives?

Correct:

Where does she live?

Questions and negatives with the verb be do not use do or does.

Is she tired?
They aren’t at home.
Why are you late?

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Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency show how often something happens.

Common examples include:

  • always
  • usually
  • often
  • sometimes
  • occasionally
  • rarely
  • hardly ever
  • never

They normally appear before the main verb.

I usually walk to work.
She often reads before bed.
They never arrive late.

However, adverbs of frequency usually appear after the verb be.

I am usually tired after work.
He is always friendly.
They are sometimes busy on Fridays.

Expressions such as every day, once a week and twice a month normally appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

We go swimming once a week.
Every Saturday, she visits her grandmother.

Common mistakes

Forgetting the third-person -s

Incorrect:

He work in a bank.

Correct:

He works in a bank.

Adding -s after does or doesn’t

Incorrect:

Does she speaks English?

Correct:

Does she speak English?

Incorrect:

He doesn’t drives.

Correct:

He doesn’t drive.

Using the present continuous for a fact or permanent situation

Incorrect:

I am living in Taiwan.

This may be correct if the situation is temporary.

For a stable situation, use:

I live in Taiwan.

Placing an adverb of frequency incorrectly

Less natural:

She goes always to work by bus.

Correct:

She always goes to work by bus.

With be:

She is always busy.

Confusing do and be

Incorrect:

Does she happy?

Correct:

Is she happy?

Use be directly when it is the main verb.

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Exercises and answers

Complete each sentence using the correct present simple form.

  1. My brother __________ in Birmingham. (live)
  2. We __________ not __________ meat. (eat)
  3. __________ your teacher __________ homework every week? (give)
  4. The museum __________ at ten o’clock. (open)
  5. Sarah usually __________ the bus to work. (take)
  6. I __________ the answer. (not know)
  7. Where __________ Daniel __________ English? (teach)
  8. Water __________ at 100°C. (boil)
  9. My parents __________ two dogs. (have)
  10. He __________ not __________ television in the morning. (watch)
  11. The children sometimes __________ outside after school. (play)
  12. Why __________ she always __________ so early? (leave)
  13. This shop __________ international credit cards. (accept)
  14. I __________ usually tired after my evening class. (be)
  15. Our train __________ at 7.45 tomorrow morning. (depart)

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Answers and explanations

  1. lives
    Use -s because the subject is my brother.
  2. do not eat
    Use do not with we, followed by the base verb.
  3. Does, give
    Use does with your teacher. The main verb remains give.
  4. opens
    The subject is singular, so add -s.
  5. takes
    Sarah is third-person singular.
  6. do not know
    Know is a stative verb and is normally used in the present simple.
  7. does, teach
    After does, use the base form teach.
  8. boils
    This is a general scientific fact.
  9. have
    Use have with the plural subject my parents.
  10. does not watch
    Use does not with he. Do not add -es to watch.
  11. play
    Use the base form with the plural subject the children.
  12. does, leave
    Place does before the subject and use the base verb.
  13. accepts
    The singular subject this shop takes a verb ending in -s.
  14. am
    The correct form of be with I is am.
  15. departs
    Use the present simple for a future event on a fixed timetable.

The present simple tense is used for routines, repeated actions, facts, opinions, permanent situations and timetabled events. Remember to add -s or -es with he, she and it, but use the base verb after do, does, don’t and doesn’t.

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