Present Simple

Tables showing the Present Simple tense in use. 

The Present Simple is formed from the infinitive without the particle «to». In the third person singular the ending -s is added. 

Present Simple (positive)

I	work	in an office.
You	work	in an office.
He	works	in an office.
She	works	in an office.
It	works	in an office.
We	work	in an office.
You	work	in an office.
They	work	in an office.

The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of the Present Simple of the auxiliary verb «to do» and the infinitive of the notional verb without the particle «to». 

Present Simple (negative)

I	don’t (do not) work	in an office.
You	don’t (do not) work	in an office.
He	doesn’t (does not) work	in an office.
She	doesn’t (does not) work	in an office.
It	doesn’t (does not) work	in an office.
We	don’t (do not) work	in an office.
You	don’t (do not) work	in an office.
They	don’t (do not) work	in an office.

Present Simple (question)

Do	I	work	in an office?
Do	you	work	in an office?
Does	he	work	in an office?
Does	she	work	in an office?
Does	it	work	in an office?
Do	we	work	in an office?
Do	you	work	in an office?
Do	they	work	in an office?

Special questions begin with wh- words followed by general questions (the table above)

Present Simple (wh- question)

Where	do	I	work	?
When	do	you	work	in an office?
What	does	he	do	in an office?
What	does	she	do	in an office?
What	does	it	do	in an office?
Why	do	we	work	in an office?
Whom	do	you	work	in an office with?
How many hours	do	they	work	in an office?

If the predicate is the verb «to be», affirmative and negative sentences are formed like this: 

Present Simple - be (positive and negative)

I	am (’m not/am not)	a student.
You	are (aren’t /are not)	a student.
He	is (isn’t/is not)	a student.
She	is (isn’t/is not)	a student.
It	is (isn’t/is not)	a desk.
We	are (aren’t/are not)	students.
You	are (aren’t/are not)	students.
They	are (aren’t/are not)	students.

In the negative sentences the correct form of «to be» + «not» is used. In the interrogative sentences the correct form of the verb «to be» is placed before the subject. 

Present Simple - be (question)

Am	I	a student?
Are	you	a student?
Is	he	a student?
Is	she	a student?
Is	it	a desk?
Are	we	students?
Are	you	students?
Are	they	students?

1.1 Use the Present Simple to talk about routines.

Examples

I go to work at 9 o’clock.

On Sundays, we go shopping.

She gets up late.

With I, we, you, they use the same verb, for he, she, it use verb+s (meet - meets, work - works; but go - goes, do - does, watch - watches, fix - fixes etc.)

To make negative statements, use «do not» (don't) for I, we, you or «does not» (doesn't) + base verb forhe, she, it. 

To make questions use Do (for I, we, you) or Does(for he, she, it) + subject + base form. To give short answers, use «do» or «does» in the positive and «don’t» or «doesn’t» in the negative.

Examples

• I meet my friends on Fridays. 

• I don’t meet my friends on Sundays. 

She meets her friends on Fridays. (meet + s = meets)

She doesn’t meet her friends on Sundays. 

• Do you meet your friends on Fridays? - Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.

• Does she meet her friends on Sundays? - Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.

When do you meet your friends?

Where does she meet her friends?

They go shopping every day.

They don’t go shopping every day.

He goes shopping every day. (go + s = goes)

He doesn’t go shopping every day.

Do they go shopping every day? - Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.

Does he go shopping every day? - Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.

What do they do every day?

Where does he go shopping?

1.2 Use the Present Simple tense with verbs «like», «love», «hate» and «prefer» to talk about likes, dislikes, and opinions.

Examples

I like reading books.

He loves football.

She hates waking up early.

They prefer tea over coffee.

1.3 Use the Present Simple to describe actions happening in live events (like sports games or broadcasts) as if they’re happening right now. 

Examples

The player passes the ball and scores!

The swimmer dives into the pool as the race begins.

1.4 Use the Present Simple for scheduled or fixed events in the future, such as timetables, or other planned events.

Examples

The train leaves at 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Our class starts next Monday.

The movie premieres this Friday.