Present Simple

Simple present is also called present simple.

The simple present expresses an action in the present taking place once, never or several
times. It is also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a
timetable or schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present.

be
Use:

 am with the personal pronoun II

 is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or with the singular form of nouns)
 are with the personal pronouns we, you or they (or with the plural form of nouns)

example: I am hungry.

affirmative negative question

I I am. I am not. Am I?
he/she/it He is. He is not. Is he?
you/we/they You are. You are not. Are you?

have
Use:

 have with the personal pronouns I, you, we und they (or with the plural form of nouns)
 has with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)

example: I have a dog. / I have got a dog.

'have got' is mainly used in British English. You can also use 'have' on its own (especially in American
English). In this case, however, you must form negative sentences and questions with the auxiliary verb
'do' (see 'All other verbs').

positiv negativ question

I/you/we/they I have got. / I have. I have not got. / I do not have. Have I got? / Do I have?
he/she/it He has got. / He has. He has not got. / He does not have. Has he got? / Does he have?
 All other verbs
Use:

 the infinite verb (play) with the personal pronouns I, you, we and they (or with the plural
form of nouns)
 the verb + s (plays) with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of
nouns)

affirmative negative question

I/you/we/they I play. I do not play. Do I play?

he/she/it He plays. He does not play. Does he play?

Negative sentences and questions are formed with the auxiliary verb 'do'.

The 3rd person singular of 'do' is 'does'. This means that in negative sentences and questions the 's' of the
main verb is placed behind 'do'.

Exercise on Present Simple

1.- Write down the missing sentences.

affirmative negative question

I I am hungry
you You are Sam
he He is not here
she Is she loud?
it It is ok..
we Are we fine?
you You are not friendly
they Are they happy?

2.- Write down the missing sentences. Use 'have got'.

affirmative negative question

I I have got a dog.
you You have got a bike.
he He has not got a beard.
she Has she got a sister?
it It has got a window.
we Have we got a car?
you You have not got time.
they Have they got money?

3.- Write down the missing sentences. Use 'have' and the auxiliary 'do'.
 affirmative negative question
I I have a dog.
you You have a bike.
he He does not have a beard.
she Does she have a sister?
it It has a window.
we Do we have a car?
you You do not have time.
they Do they have money?

4.- Write down the missing sentences.

affirmative negative question

I I play
you You help
he He does not answer.
she Does she sing?
it It rains
we Do we dream?
you You do not read.
they Do they work?

5-. Write positive sentences in present simple

1) Italian people________________(eat) a lot of pasta.

2) The train from Madrid______________(arrive) at 2:45.
3) Tom________________(like) cooking very much.
4) Sarah________________(play) cards on Mondays.
5) The Thames______________( Flow) through London.
6) Some Americans_______________(drink) six cups of coffee a day.
7) The spaghetti _________________(taste) delicious.
8) The evening performance _________________(start) at 8:30.
9) Helen ___________________(work) as a shop assistant.
10) Susan _____________________(take) a shower everyday.

6-. Write negative sentences in present simple

1) Susan____________________ (take) a shower everyday.
2) I ______________________(read) the newspaper before having dinner.
3) The Parkers_____________________ (spend) the summer in the Caribbean islands.
4) A lot of people _________________________(suffer) from stress.
5) Peter___________________________ (smoke) a cigar after having lunch.
6) The dress________________________- (look) terrible.
7) Mr. Thompson ________________________(reside) at 1015 Greenway Avenue.
8) It __________________________(snow) a lot in Sweden.
9) Tom____________________________ (visit) his father every Friday.
10) Stella _______________________________-(return) to the office at 12:30.
11) William______________________________- (wash) his car every morning.

7.- Arrange the words below to make questions.

1) she / to collect / stickers ___________________________________________________________
2) they / to play / a game ____________________________________________________________
3) the cat / to sleep / in the cat's bed ____________________________________________________
4) she / often / to dream _____________________________________________________________
5) he / to play / streetball ____________________________________________________________
6) you / to be / from Paris ____________________________________________________________
7) the pupils / to wear / school uniforms _________________________________________________
8) you / to go / to the cinema __________________________________________________________
9) she / to have / friends ______________________________________________________________
10) he / to read / books ________________________________________________________________
8.- Ask for the bold part of the sentence.

1) Julia likes pop-music. _____________________________________________________________

2) Maria comes from Spain. __________________________________________________________
3) They play in the garden. ___________________________________________________________
4) Rick rides his bike. ________________________________________________________________
5) I go to the cinema on Saturdays. ____________________________________________________
6) We go to Mallorca because it is warm there.. __________________________________________
7) Joe repairs his bike. _______________________________________________________________
8) Robin drives his car carefully. _______________________________________________________
9) Peter runs with his dog every day. _____________________________________________________
10) Eric goes to Italy for a holiday. ______________________________________________________

9.- Form positive sentences in Simple Present.

1) they / us / call______________________________________________________________________
2) Mary / in a musical / dance___________________________________________________________
3) she / her bike / push_________________________________________________________________
4) she / the match / watch______________________________________________________________
5) I / bread / buy_____________________________________________________________________
6) we / her / an apple / give_____________________________________________________________
7) I / rainy weather / hate_______________________________________________________________
8) he / cash / pay_____________________________________________________________________
9) the candle / burn___________________________________________________________________
10) the snowman / in the sun / melt_______________________________________________________

10.- Form negative sentences in Simple Present.

1) he / the car / wash__________________________________________________________________

2) you / Australian / be________________________________________________________________
3) I / bread / buy_____________________________________________________________________
4) they / races / run___________________________________________________________________
5) you / the house / see________________________________________________________________
6) she / her teeth / brush_______________________________________________________________
7) We / our clothes / change____________________________________________________________
8) my crush / at me / smile______________________________________________________________
9) he / cash / pay_____________________________________________________________________
10) Jane and Michael / their presents / swap________________________________________________

11.- Form questions in Simple Present.

1) Greg / the ball / kick_______________________________________________________________

2) you / Australian / be_______________________________________________________________
3) Jeff and Linda / home / cycle________________________________________________________
4) we / the leader / follow_____________________________________________________________
5) my crush / at me / smile____________________________________________________________
6) they / good / feel__________________________________________________________________
7) the lesson / early / begin____________________________________________________________
8) Rupert / the number / dial___________________________________________________________
9) the candle / burn__________________________________________________________________
10) he / his father / embarrass___________________________________________________________
Simple Present - Exceptions in Spelling

The 3rd person singular is usually formed by adding s. But there are a few exceptions to the rule:

The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.

example: he can, she may, it must

Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.

example: do - he does, wash - she washes

A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s.

example: worry - he worries

But: A final y after a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) is not modified.

example: play - he plays

1.- Write down the third person singular of the following verbs.

1) I can – he___________________
2) I go – it____________________
3) I wish – she________________
4) I must – he________________
5) I hurry – it_________________
6) I do – she__________________
7) I may – he_________________
8) I kiss – it____________________
9) I worry – she_________________
10) I teach – he___________________-

2.- Write down the verbs in the third person singular. Note the exceptions in spelling.

1) I can swim. – She ______________ swim.

2) I miss the bus. – She ______________ the bus.
3) I know you. – She _________________ you.
4) I sit down. – She ________________ down.
5) I often cry. - She often _________________
6) I play chess. – She ____________________ chess.
7) I come home. – She ____________________ home.
8) I must go now. – She __________________ go now.
9) I fly to Rome every year. – She _______________ to Rome every year.
10) I always do my best. - She always _____________________ her best.