🎯 Present Simple: Complete Guide for Beginners
Level: A1 (Absolute Beginner) | Topic: Present Simple Tense
Table of Contents
🔍 1. What is Present Simple?
The Present Simple is the most basic and important tense in English. It is used to talk about:
- ✅ Habits and routines (things you do every day)
- ✅ Facts and general truths (things that are always true)
- ✅ Permanent situations (things that don’t change)
- ✅ Feelings and opinions
• I wake up at 7 AM every day. (Habit)
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (Fact)
• She lives in London. (Permanent situation)
• I like chocolate. (Opinion)
📝 2. Formation (Structure)
✅ Affirmative Sentences
Subject + Base Verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)
• I work in an office.
• You speak English.
• He works in a hospital.
• She teaches math.
• It rains a lot here.
• We live in a small town.
• They play football every weekend.
• I work in an office.
• You speak English.
• He works in a hospital.
• She teaches math.
• It rains a lot here.
• We live in a small town.
• They play football every weekend.
❌ Negative Sentences
Subject + don’t/doesn’t + Base Verb
• I don’t like coffee.
• You don’t speak French.
• He doesn’t work on Sundays.
• She doesn’t eat meat.
• It doesn’t snow here.
• We don’t have a car.
• They don’t watch TV.
• I don’t like coffee.
• You don’t speak French.
• He doesn’t work on Sundays.
• She doesn’t eat meat.
• It doesn’t snow here.
• We don’t have a car.
• They don’t watch TV.
❓ Question Sentences
Do/Does + subject + Base Verb?
• Do I need a ticket?
• Do you like pizza?
• Does he play guitar?
• Does she work here?
• Does it work?
• Do we have time?
• Do they know the answer?
• Do I need a ticket?
• Do you like pizza?
• Does he play guitar?
• Does she work here?
• Does it work?
• Do we have time?
• Do they know the answer?
📊 Conjugation Table: Verb “to speak”
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | speak | don’t speak | Do I speak? |
| You | speak | don’t speak | Do you speak? |
| He/She/It | speaks | doesn’t speak | Does he speak? |
| We | speak | don’t speak | Do we speak? |
| They | speak | don’t speak | Do they speak? |
📝 3. Third Person Spelling Rules
When do we add -s, -es, or -ies?
| Rule | Examples |
|---|---|
| Most verbs: add -s | work → works, speak → speaks, play → plays |
| Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o: add -es | watch → watches, wash → washes, kiss → kisses, fix → fixes, go → goes |
| Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i + es | study → studies, cry → cries, fly → flies |
| Verbs ending in vowel + y: add -s | play → plays, say → says, buy → buys |
| Special irregular verbs | have → has, be → is, do → does |
💡 Remember: For he, she, it, you MUST add -s, -es, or -ies to the verb!
🎯 4. When to Use Present Simple
✅ Use Case 1: Habits and Routines
Things you do regularly or every day.
• I wake up at 6 AM every day.
• She brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They eat dinner at 7 PM.
• She brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They eat dinner at 7 PM.
✅ Use Case 2: Facts and General Truths
Things that are always true.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Birds fly.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Birds fly.
✅ Use Case 3: Permanent Situations
Things that don’t change often.
• She lives in Paris.
• He works as a doctor.
• They have two children.
• He works as a doctor.
• They have two children.
✅ Use Case 4: Feelings and Opinions
Talking about what you think or feel.
• I like chocolate.
• She loves her job.
• He thinks it’s a good idea.
• She loves her job.
• He thinks it’s a good idea.
⏰ 5. Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They come before the main verb (but after the verb “to be”).
| Adverb | Frequency | Example |
|---|---|---|
| always | 100% | I always drink coffee in the morning. |
| usually | 90% | She usually wakes up at 7 AM. |
| often | 70% | They often go to the cinema. |
| sometimes | 50% | I sometimes eat pizza for dinner. |
| rarely | 10% | He rarely watches TV. |
| never | 0% | We never eat fast food. |
💡 Word Order with Adverbs of Frequency:
• With normal verbs: I always eat breakfast.
• With the verb “to be”: I am always happy.
• With normal verbs: I always eat breakfast.
• With the verb “to be”: I am always happy.
💬 6. Examples by Category (100+ Examples)
📌 Daily Routines (25 examples)
1. I wake up at 6 AM every day.
2. She brushes her teeth after breakfast.
3. He takes a shower in the morning.
4. We eat breakfast together.
5. They go to school by bus.
6. I drink coffee in the morning.
7. She reads the newspaper every day.
8. He listens to music on his way to work.
9. We work from 9 to 5.
10. They have lunch at noon.
11. I exercise after work.
12. She cooks dinner for her family.
13. He watches TV in the evening.
14. We walk the dog every evening.
15. They do their homework after dinner.
16. I check my email in the morning.
17. She calls her mother every Sunday.
18. He plays video games on weekends.
19. We clean the house on Saturdays.
20. They go shopping every Friday.
21. I take the train to work.
22. She studies English every day.
23. He practices the piano for an hour.
24. We visit our grandparents every month.
25. They go to bed at 10 PM.
2. She brushes her teeth after breakfast.
3. He takes a shower in the morning.
4. We eat breakfast together.
5. They go to school by bus.
6. I drink coffee in the morning.
7. She reads the newspaper every day.
8. He listens to music on his way to work.
9. We work from 9 to 5.
10. They have lunch at noon.
11. I exercise after work.
12. She cooks dinner for her family.
13. He watches TV in the evening.
14. We walk the dog every evening.
15. They do their homework after dinner.
16. I check my email in the morning.
17. She calls her mother every Sunday.
18. He plays video games on weekends.
19. We clean the house on Saturdays.
20. They go shopping every Friday.
21. I take the train to work.
22. She studies English every day.
23. He practices the piano for an hour.
24. We visit our grandparents every month.
25. They go to bed at 10 PM.
📌 Facts and General Truths (25 examples)
26. The sun rises in the east.
27. The sun sets in the west.
28. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
29. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
30. Birds fly.
31. Fish swim.
32. Cats meow.
33. Dogs bark.
34. The Earth goes around the Sun.
35. Plants need water to grow.
36. Fire burns.
37. Ice melts when it’s hot.
38. Metal conducts electricity.
39. Oil floats on water.
40. Humans breathe oxygen.
41. The moon orbits the Earth.
42. Winter comes after autumn.
43. Summer comes after spring.
44. Babies cry when they are hungry.
45. Children like to play.
46. Adults work to earn money.
47. Students study at school.
48. Teachers explain lessons.
49. Doctors help sick people.
50. Chefs cook delicious food.
27. The sun sets in the west.
28. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
29. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
30. Birds fly.
31. Fish swim.
32. Cats meow.
33. Dogs bark.
34. The Earth goes around the Sun.
35. Plants need water to grow.
36. Fire burns.
37. Ice melts when it’s hot.
38. Metal conducts electricity.
39. Oil floats on water.
40. Humans breathe oxygen.
41. The moon orbits the Earth.
42. Winter comes after autumn.
43. Summer comes after spring.
44. Babies cry when they are hungry.
45. Children like to play.
46. Adults work to earn money.
47. Students study at school.
48. Teachers explain lessons.
49. Doctors help sick people.
50. Chefs cook delicious food.
📌 Feelings and Opinions (25 examples)
51. I like pizza.
52. She loves her job.
53. He hates waking up early.
54. We enjoy spending time together.
55. They prefer tea over coffee.
56. I think English is easy.
57. She believes in ghosts.
58. He knows the answer.
59. We understand the problem.
60. They agree with me.
61. I feel happy today.
62. She feels tired after work.
63. He feels nervous before exams.
64. We feel excited about the trip.
65. They feel proud of their children.
66. I want a new phone.
67. She needs some help.
68. He hopes to travel one day.
69. We wish you good luck.
70. They trust their doctor.
71. I admire my parents.
72. She respects her boss.
73. He fears spiders.
74. We love our country.
75. They care about the environment.
52. She loves her job.
53. He hates waking up early.
54. We enjoy spending time together.
55. They prefer tea over coffee.
56. I think English is easy.
57. She believes in ghosts.
58. He knows the answer.
59. We understand the problem.
60. They agree with me.
61. I feel happy today.
62. She feels tired after work.
63. He feels nervous before exams.
64. We feel excited about the trip.
65. They feel proud of their children.
66. I want a new phone.
67. She needs some help.
68. He hopes to travel one day.
69. We wish you good luck.
70. They trust their doctor.
71. I admire my parents.
72. She respects her boss.
73. He fears spiders.
74. We love our country.
75. They care about the environment.
📌 Negative Sentences (25 examples)
76. I don’t like coffee.
77. She doesn’t eat meat.
78. He doesn’t smoke.
79. We don’t have a car.
80. They don’t watch TV.
81. I don’t speak Chinese.
82. She doesn’t understand the question.
83. He doesn’t know her name.
84. We don’t live in London.
85. They don’t work on weekends.
86. I don’t drink alcohol.
87. She doesn’t use social media.
88. He doesn’t play sports.
89. We don’t eat fast food.
90. They don’t believe in magic.
91. I don’t like loud music.
92. She doesn’t enjoy parties.
93. He doesn’t feel well today.
94. We don’t need help.
95. They don’t want to go.
96. I don’t remember his name.
97. She doesn’t recognize me.
98. He doesn’t care about money.
99. We don’t agree with you.
100. They don’t have any children.
77. She doesn’t eat meat.
78. He doesn’t smoke.
79. We don’t have a car.
80. They don’t watch TV.
81. I don’t speak Chinese.
82. She doesn’t understand the question.
83. He doesn’t know her name.
84. We don’t live in London.
85. They don’t work on weekends.
86. I don’t drink alcohol.
87. She doesn’t use social media.
88. He doesn’t play sports.
89. We don’t eat fast food.
90. They don’t believe in magic.
91. I don’t like loud music.
92. She doesn’t enjoy parties.
93. He doesn’t feel well today.
94. We don’t need help.
95. They don’t want to go.
96. I don’t remember his name.
97. She doesn’t recognize me.
98. He doesn’t care about money.
99. We don’t agree with you.
100. They don’t have any children.
❌ 7. Negative Form: Don’t vs Doesn’t
📌 DON’T = Do not
Use with I, you, we, they
• I don’t like coffee.
• You don’t speak French.
• We don’t have time.
• They don’t know the answer.
• You don’t speak French.
• We don’t have time.
• They don’t know the answer.
📌 DOESN’T = Does not
Use with he, she, it
• He doesn’t work on Sundays.
• She doesn’t eat meat.
• It doesn’t work.
• She doesn’t eat meat.
• It doesn’t work.
⚠️ Important: When using “doesn’t”, the main verb does NOT have -s!
✅ He doesn’t work. ❌ He doesn’t works.
✅ He doesn’t work. ❌ He doesn’t works.
❓ 8. Question Form
📌 DO + subject + verb?
Use with I, you, we, they
• Do I need a ticket?
• Do you like pizza?
• Do we have time?
• Do they know the answer?
• Do you like pizza?
• Do we have time?
• Do they know the answer?
📌 DOES + subject + verb?
Use with he, she, it
• Does he play guitar?
• Does she work here?
• Does it work?
• Does she work here?
• Does it work?
❌ 9. Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|
| ❌ She go to school. | ✅ She goes to school. |
| ❌ He don’t like coffee. | ✅ He doesn’t like coffee. |
| ❌ Does she works here? | ✅ Does she work here? |
| ❌ I no like pizza. | ✅ I don’t like pizza. |
| ❌ He like apples. | ✅ He likes apples. |
✍️ 10. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the correct form
1. She ______ (work) in a hospital.
2. They ______ (live) in London.
3. He ______ (not/like) coffee.
4. ______ you ______ (speak) English?
5. We ______ (eat) breakfast at 7 AM.
2. They ______ (live) in London.
3. He ______ (not/like) coffee.
4. ______ you ______ (speak) English?
5. We ______ (eat) breakfast at 7 AM.
Exercise 2: Choose don’t or doesn’t
1. I ______ like spiders.
2. She ______ eat meat.
3. They ______ have a car.
4. He ______ play football.
5. We ______ watch TV.
2. She ______ eat meat.
3. They ______ have a car.
4. He ______ play football.
5. We ______ watch TV.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When do we add -es instead of -s to verbs?
▼
Add -es to verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o. Examples: watch → watches, wash → washes, kiss → kisses, fix → fixes, go → goes.
What is the difference between ‘don’t’ and ‘doesn’t’?
▼
Use ‘don’t’ with I, you, we, they. Use ‘doesn’t’ with he, she, it. Example: ‘I don’t like coffee.’ ‘She doesn’t like tea.’
What are adverbs of frequency?
▼
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. Common adverbs: always (100%), usually (90%), often (70%), sometimes (50%), rarely (10%), never (0%).