SIMPLE
PRESENT TENSE
"Present Simple Made Simple: Your Key to Clear Communication"
Prepared by Rahaf Ramadan
We use this tense form to refer to:
● Things that are always true.
● Situations that exist now and will go on indefinitely for general time.
● Habits or things that happen regularly.
● Universal truth or facts.
● Rules or directions or instructions.
● To express fixed arrangements, present or future.
e.g. The sun rises in the east.
He always comes here on Sundays.
Dana and Reem are girls.
I get up at 6 every morning.
Open your books and turn to page 120.
Your exam starts at 09.00.
Table of contents
01 02
Affirmative Negative
(Positive) Sentences
Sentences
03 04
Interrogative Mark of
Sentences Identification
(key words)
01
Affirmative (Positive) Sentences
Pattern - Subject + V1 / V1 + s/es/ies....
Examples:
1.I learn my lesson.
2.Adele sings a sweet song.
3.You write a letter.
4.They learn their lessons.
5.He goes to school.
6.We play hockey.
Rule 1. 's' or 'es' or 'ies' is added to the first form of the verb
when the subject is in the 3rd person (He, She, It) and of
Singular number. (as shown in sentence No. 2 and 5 above). Any
singular noun subject is treated as a 3rd person. (Except I which
is 1st person)
Rule 2. If the subject of a sentence is in Plural number (We,
They), the verb used will also be in plural form i.e. 's' or 'es‘ or
'ies' is not added to verbs. (See sentences No. 4 and 6 above)
Rule 3. 'I' and 'You' subjects do not take verbs with ’s’ or 'es'
or 'ies'. (See sentence No. 1 and 3 above)
Spelling Rules:
1) Add 'es' to the first form of verb if it ends in 'ch, sh, o, ss, zz or x.
Push pushes Fix fixes
Pass passes Watch watches
Brush brushes Buzz buzzes
Cross crosses Go goes
Catch catches Leave leaves
2) If a verb ends in 'y' 3) But if there is a vowel
and there is a consonant (a,e,i,o,u) before 'y' then
before 'y', then 'y' is only 's' is added to the first
replaced with 'i' and 'es' form of the verb.
is added to the verb. ● play- plays
● cry – cries ● obey-obeys
● fly – flies ● enjoy-enjoys
● carry – carries ● buy – buys
4) To all other verbs add only 's'.
eats, asks, keeps, brings, swims,
writes etc.
02
Negative Sentences
Pattern - Subject + do/does + not + V1......
1.I do not learn my lesson.
2.They do not play hockey.
3.He does not write a letter.
4.Adele does not sing a sweet song.
5.You do not go to school.
6.We do not read our books.
7.He never tells a lie.
8. She is not happy.
Rule 1. In negative sentences 'does not' is used before the first
form of verb with the III person singular subjects (He, She, It
or any name of person, place or thing). Do not use ’s’ or 'es'
or 'ies' with the verbs, as shown in sentences 3 and 4 above.
Rule 2. 'do not' is used with the subjects plural in number (you,
we, they), as shown in sentences 2, 5 and 6 above and with I
person singular (I) as in sentence 1 above.
Rule 3. The word 'never' shows negativity in itself, so when
using 'never' before a verb, do not use 'do/does not'. But verb
takes its ’s’ or 'es' or 'ies' form. You may see sentence no. 7
above.
Rule 4. When using "is," "am," or "are" as helping verbs in the
present simple tense to create negative sentences, you typically
just add "not" after the helping verb. As in sentence no.8.
03
Interrogative Sentences
Pattern - Do/Does + subject + V1..? OR Wh-Question Word + do/does + subject + V1..?
1.Does he read a book?
2.Do I give you a pen?
3.Does your mother love you?
4.Why does she come here?
5.Which book do you want?
6.When does he go to school?
7.How many pencils do they want?
8.Who comes to your house daily?
9.Does she not write a letter?
10.Who does not like milk?
11. Are they students?
Rule 1. In Interrogative sentences 'Does' is used before the third person noun
subjects in singular number and the first form of the verb does not have 's'
or 'es' or 'ies'. (See sentences 1 and 3 above)
Rule 2. Before I, you, We, They and other subjects in plural number 'Do' is
used and then verb in the first form is used. (See sentence No. 2 above)
Rule 3. Interrogative Sentences beginning with Question words like What,
Where, Why, When, Where How etc. 'do or does' is used before the subject.
(as shown in sentences 4 and 6 above)
Rule 4. If the wh-question words are used as adjective in the sentence then
the concerning noun words may immediately follow them. (See sentences 5
and 7 above).
Rule 5. If the wh-question word itself functions as a subject, then it follows the main
verb directly as shown in sentence No. 8 above. Do/does are not written in such
situations.
Rule 6. Interrogative - Negative sentences can also be framed, following the rules
given above, along with adding 'not' after the subject word as given in sentence No. 9.
Rule 7. Interrogative - Negative sentences beginning with wh-question words
functioning as subject take 'do' or 'does' before 'not'. (For example see sentence No. 10
above)
Rule 8. Use the mark of interrogation (?) at the end of these sentences.
Rule 9. To form interrogative sentences in the present simple tense using the helping
verbs "is," "am," or "are," you invert the subject and the helping verb. As given in
sentence 11
WH-question words
• Who: Used to ask about a person or people.
Example: Who is coming to the party?
• What: Used to ask about things, actions, or
events.
Example: What time does the movie start?
• When: Used to inquire about time or
duration.
Example: When is your birthday?
• Where: Used to ask about place or location.
Example: Where are you going?
• Why: Used to ask for the reason or cause.
Example: Why did you choose that restaurant?
• How: Used to ask about the manner, method,
or condition.
Example: How did you solve the problem?
• Whom: Used to inquire about the object of a
verb or preposition. It is used in the object
position.
Example: Whom did you invite to the party?
• Whose: Used to inquire about possession or
ownership.
Example: Whose book is this?
04
Mark of Identification
(key words)
We may identify the Tense of a
sentence by the verb form used in it.
But when we are asked to fill in the
blanks with the correct form of the
verb, we need to identify the tense
examining the adverbials of time
used in such sentences. When the
sentences contain the following
'Adverbs of time', they are usually
in the Present Indefinite Tense.
01 always, often, sometimes, usually, 04
generally, frequently, seldom, on Sundays/Mondays.......
rarely, never, regularly, daily,
occasionally.
02 05
every day/night/month/year in the mornings/evenings
etc. etc.
03 each
etc.
day/night/month/year 06 once/twice… a day/week/month
etc.
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
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Present Simple
(Positive –
Negative -
Question)
Present Simple
Water boils at 100 C.
My mom is from England.
I go to the gym 4 times a week.
I wake up at 7:00.
She goes to the mall every Thursday.
The plane takes off at 10:00.
The class starts at 1:00 p.m.
● Water boils at 100 C. (Scientific fact)
● My mom is from England. (Personal fact)
Present Simple
Functions ● I go to the gym 4 times a week. (habit/routine)
● I wake up at 7:00. (habit/routine)
● She goes to the mall every Thursday. (habit/routine)
● The plane takes off at 10:00. (schedule/timetable)
● The class starts at 1:00 p.m. (schedule/timetable)
Time Expressions used with simple present
● Every day
● Every Thursday
● On Tuesdays
● Often
● Sometimes
● Always
● Rarely
● usually
Wh- Questions
Wh- word auxiliary subject infinitive
What is your name?
When do you study usually?
Where does she eat her meals?
How does he play this game?
Why do they love this place?
Who - - lives In this
house?
exercises
Answer key: last
slide
exercises
exercises
Answer key
