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The Simple Present Tenses: Rules, When to Use It, and Common Mistakes

The simple present tenses talks about daily actions, facts, and things that continue. Learn its rules, proper usage, common mistakes, and fun activities to assist your child in practicing here!
authorImageChandni 6 May, 2025
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Simple Present Tenses

Simple Present Tenses: The English language has different ways, or "tenses," to talk about time. Each tense shows when an action happens, whether in the past, present, or future. The simple present tense is one of the easiest ways to talk about things happening now or regularly.

Think about the things you do every day. For example:
  • You brush your teeth.
  • The sun rises in the morning.
  • Your friends play games at recess.
All of these sentences use the simple present tense to talk about actions that happen again and again, or things that are always true. Learning the simple present tense helps us talk about these daily habits, facts, and more!

What is the Simple Present Tense?

The simple present tense is used to describe actions, conditions, or events that are happening regularly , habitually , or that generally exist . It is also used to state facts , truths , or conditions that are permanent . The simple present tense is formed using the root form of the verb for all subjects, except for the third-person singular (he, she, it), where we add -s or -es to the verb.

Rules for Using the Simple Present Tenses

The simple present tense has specific rules depending on the type of sentence you want to make. Let’s break down each rule to understand how to form positive statements, negatives, and questions.

Basic Form of Verbs

In the simple present tense, most verbs stay in their base form when used with subjects like I, you, we, or they. However, when the subject is he, she, or it, you need to modify the verb by adding -s or -es. Examples:
  • I read books every day. (No change for "I")
  • She reads books every day. (Add -s for "she")

Adding -s or -es with He, She, and It

When the subject is he, she, or it, follow these rules to change the verb correctly: If a verb ends in s, sh, ch, x, or o, add -es to make it agree with the subject.
  • He watches TV every evening. (Verb ends in “ch” so add -es)
  • She goes to school daily. (Verb ends in “o” so add -es)
For most other verbs that don’t end with these specific letters, add -s to the base form.
  • He walks to the park.
  • It rains heavily in the spring.

Verbs Ending in -y

When dealing with verbs that end in -y, there are special rules to follow: If a verb ends in -y and has a consonant before the -y (like in "study"), change the y to i and add -es:
  • She studies English every night.
  • He tries his best in class.
If a verb ends in y and has a consonant before the y (like in "study"), change the y to ‘i’ and add -es:
  • She studies English every night.
  • He tries his best in class.
If there’s a vowel before the word y (like in "play"), just add s without changing anything:
  • It plays softly in the background.
  • He enjoys action movies.

Making Negative Sentences with Don’t and Doesn’t

Using don’t or doesn’t correctly create a clear negative sentence without changing the main verb’s form. To make negative sentences in the simple present tense, use don’t (do not) or doesn’t (does not) before the base form of the verb. This rule changes depending on the subject: For I, you, we, or they, use don’t.
  • I don’t like broccoli.
  • They don’t go to the library often.
For he, she, or it, use doesn’t.
  • He doesn’t play basketball on weekends.
  • She doesn’t like horror movies.

Forming Questions with Do and Does

In the simple present tense, to ask yes-or-no questions, start the question with Do or Does. This depends on the subject: Use Do with I, you, we, and they:
  • Do you play soccer every week?
  • Do they like pizza?
Use Does with he, she, and it:
  • Does she enjoy painting?
  • Does it rain here often?

Making Wh- Questions in the Simple Present Tense

For questions that start with Wh- words (like who, what, where, when, and why), place the Wh-word at the beginning of the sentence, followed by do or does. This pattern is used to ask questions that need more information, not just a "yes" or "no" answer. Structure: Wh-word + do/does + subject + base form of the verb Examples:
  • Where does he live? (asking for a location)
  • What do you like to do after school? (asking about an activity)

Examples of the Simple Present Tenses in Action

Let’s look at how the simple present tense works in different kinds of sentences.

Positive Sentences

  • I ride my bike to school.
  • She plays the piano every day.
  • They swim in the pool.

Negative Sentences

  • I don’t like spicy food.
  • He doesn’t watch horror movies.
  • We don’t have school on Saturdays.

Questions

  • Do you eat breakfast every morning?
  • Does he go to the library after school?
  • Do they like sports?

When Do We Use the Simple Present Tense?

1. Habitual Actions or Routines

The simple present tense is often used to describe actions that are repeated regularly, whether daily, weekly, or on any consistent basis. Examples:
  • I wake up at 7:00 AM every day.
  • She studies in the evening.
  • We meet our friends every Friday.

2. General Facts or Truths

The simple present tense is used to state facts or truths that are always valid or are scientifically proven. Examples:
  • The Earth orbits the Sun.
  • Water boils at 100°C.
  • Cats generally have four legs.

3. Instructions or Directions

When giving directions or instructions, we often use the simple present tense. Examples:
  • First, turn left.
  • Add two tablespoons of sugar.
  • Boil the water for five minutes.

4. Future Events (Scheduled or Timetabled)

The simple present tense can also be used to describe future events that are scheduled or part of a timetable, especially when referring to transportation, meetings, or events. Examples:
  • The train leaves at 6:00 PM.
  • The meeting starts at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
  • My flight arrives at 8:30 AM.

5. Permanent or Universal Situations

It is used for things that are permanent or generally true across time. Examples:
  • He lives in New York.
  • The sun rises in the east.
  • She teaches English.

Common Mistakes in the Simple Present Tense

Here are a few common mistakes students generally commit while using the simple present tense: Forgetting to add -s or -es with he, she, or it
  • Correct: “She plays piano.”
  • Incorrect: “She play piano.”
Using “do” instead of “does” for he, she, or it in questions
  • Correct: “Does he like music?”
  • Incorrect: “Do he like music?”
Confusing simple present with present continuous
  • Simple present: “He works on weekends.”
  • Present continuous: “He is working now.”

Using the wrong form in negatives

  • Correct: “They don’t visit often.”
  • Incorrect: “They doesn’t visit often.”

Fun Facts About the Simple Present Tense

  • Universal Truths : The simple present tense is often used for scientific facts because these things don’t change. For example, “Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.”
  • Timeless Stories : The simple present tense can be used to tell stories or jokes to make them feel alive and immediate. For example, “A man walks into a store and says...”
  • Sports Commentaries : In sports, the simple present tense describes live events. You might hear, “He passes the ball; she scores!

Simple Present Tense Practice Activity

Fill in the blank with the correct simple present form of the verb.
  1. He ____ (like) to play video games.
  2. They ____ (walk) to school every day.
  3. She ____ (watch) cartoons on weekends.
  4. We ____ (not eat) junk food often.
  5. ____ you ____ (read) books every night?

Simple Present Tense Qui z

Test your knowledge with these fun fact questions! True or False : We use the simple present tense to describe actions that happen only once. Answer : False! The simple present tense describes actions that happen regularly. True or False : In the simple present, we add -es to verbs that end in "s," "sh," "ch," "x," and "o." Answer : True! Adding -es is a special rule for certain verbs in the simple present. True or False : “The bus arrives at 8 AM” is in the simple present tense. Answer : True! Scheduled events also use the simple present tense.
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FAQs

Can the simple present tense be used to talk about future events?

Yes, we use the simple present to discuss future events that are scheduled or fixed, like timetables. For example, “The train leaves at 9 AM tomorrow” describes a future event using the simple present.

How do time expressions affect the simple present tense?

Time expressions (like “always,” “often,” and “every day”) indicate how frequently an action happens. Adding them makes the simple present tense clearer, as in “She always studies at night.”

Can we use the simple present tense with stative verbs?

Yes, stative verbs (like “know,” “love,” “believe”) are often used in the simple present because they describe feelings, thoughts, or conditions. For example, “She knows the answer” shows a state, not an action.

What’s the difference between simple present and present continuous tense?

The simple present describes regular actions or facts, while the present continuous shows actions happening right now. Compare “She plays soccer” (regularly) to “She is playing soccer” (right now).
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