English The Simple Present

Overview

Learn how to conjugate verbs in the simple present tense to form basic "Subject - Verb" sentences.

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The Simple Present is a grammatical tense that is used when we talk about something that happens always, usually or habitually. It happened in the past, it happens now, and it will probably happen in the future. To form the simple present, we use the following conjugation table.

Regular Verb Conjugation of “Do/Work/Like”

doworklike
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Examples: 
do my homework every night.
She reads books.
We like the new apartment.

When forming the simple present, we have to be mindful of the third person: For HeShe, and It we always add an “s” at the end of the verb.
However, there are some spelling exceptions:

When a verb ends on –s /-ch /-sh / –x, or if the verb ends with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) we add -es, 

Examples: 
I wash – He/She/It washes.
I miss – He/She/It misses.
I fetch – He/She/It fetches.
I fix – He/She/It fixes.
I go – He/She/It goes.

When a verb ends on consonant-y, we remove the “y” and add –ies.

Examples: 
I cry – He/She/It cries.
I try – He/She/It cries
I fly – He/She/It flies.

Note: This rule does not apply for verbs ending on vowel-y, or verbs that end on a double-vowel.
I pay – He/She/It pays. (not “paies”)
I say – He/She/It says. (not “saies”)
I see – He/She/It sees (not ‘seies”)
I sue – He/She/It sues (not “suies”)

When expressing something in the present tense negative, we use “do not – don’t”

Regular Verb Conjugation of “Do/Work/Like” in the negative

doworklikenegative 2
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Examples: 
I do not work on Sundays.
We do not like the new apartment.
She does not read books.

Questions
Do/Does + subject + infinitive

questions simple present 1
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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The CEFR is an international standard used to describe language ability. Here are specific details of the CEFR for this topic.

General Explanation:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Specific Capabilities at this Level
Writing:
I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. I can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering my name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form.
Spoken Production:
I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know.
Spoken Interaction:
I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I’m trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
Reading:
I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.
Listening:
I can recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.