The present simple

The present simple is used to make simple statements See also:

of fact, to talk about things that happen repeatedly, Present continuous 4 Present for future
events 19 Adverbs of frequency 102
and to describe things that are always true.

THE PRESENT SIMPLE

To make the present simple of most verbs,
use the base form (the infinitive without “to”).

The base form of Adverbs of frequency

the verb “to eat.” are often used with the
present simple.

With “he,” “she,” and “it,” add “-s” to the base form.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM The base form of the verb.

SUBJECT VERB REST OF SENTENCE

With “he,” “she,” and “it,” “-s” is added.

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 “-S” AND “-ES” ENDINGS
With some verbs, “-es” is added for “he,” “she,” and “it.”
These include verbs ending with “-sh,” “-ch,” “-o,” “-ss,” “-x,” and “-z.”

“-es” is added to “-es” is added to “-es” is added to

verbs ending verbs ending verbs ending
with “-o.” with “-sh.” with “-ch.”

“-es” is added to “-es” is added “-es” is added to

verbs ending to verbs ending verbs ending
with “-ss.” with “-x.” with “-z.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING THE PRESENT SIMPLE

When the present simple is used with There is no need to add the auxiliary verb
“he,” “she,” “it,” or one person’s name, “do” when forming the present simple. It is
it always ends in “-s” or “-es.” only used to form questions and negatives.

An “s” is added to the

base form “start.”

“Start” without an “s” is only used “Do” is only used as an auxiliary verb when
for “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.” forming negatives or questions.

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 “BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
“Be” is an important verb with an
irregular present simple form.

“Are” also follows “Is” also follows

“we” and “they.” “she” and “it.”

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “BE” REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Contractions can

also be used.

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 “HAVE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE HOW TO FORM
“Have” is an irregular verb. The third person
singular form is “has” not “haves.”
SUBJECT “HAVE” OBJECT

“Has” is used for the third person

singular: “he,” “she,” and “it.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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 The present simple negative
To make negative sentences using “be” in the present See also:
simple, “not” is added after the verb. For other verbs, Present simple 1 Present overview 5
Types of verbs 49
the auxiliary verb “do not” or “does not” is used.

NEGATIVES WITH THE VERB “BE”

The verb “be” takes the
same form in positive and
negative sentences. The only
difference is adding “not.”

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT + “BE” “NOT” REST OF SENTENCE

NEGATIVE CONTRACTIONS
“Is not” and “are not”
can be contracted in “You are”
two ways. The becomes “you’re.”
subject and verb can
be contracted, or the
verb and “not.” They
mean the same thing.
“Are not” becomes “aren’t.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

“I amn’t” is incorrect.

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 NEGATIVES WITH OTHER VERBS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE
For verbs other than
“be,” “do not” or
“does not” goes
before the verb to
make the negative.

Verb in
base form.

HOW TO FORM

SUBJECT “DO / DOES” + “NOT” BASE FORM REST OF SENTENCE

The base form is used no

matter what the subject is.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

This is the contracted

form of “does not.”

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING NEGATIVE SENTENCES

The main verb in a negative sentence

always stays in its base form, even if
the subject is “he,” she,” or “it.”

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 Present simple questions
Questions in the present simple with “be” are formed by See also:
swapping the verb and subject. For other verbs, the auxiliary Present simple 1 Forming questions 34
Question words 35 Open questions 36
verb “do” or “does” must be added before the subject.

QUESTIONS WITH “BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

To form questions in the In a statement, the subject
comes before the verb.
present simple using “be,”
reverse the order of the
subject and the verb.

In a question, the verb moves The subject comes after the verb.
to the start of the sentence.

HOW TO FORM
“BE” SUBJECT REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Question words can be used before

the verb to form open questions.

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 QUESTIONS WITH “DO” AND “DOES”
For questions with
verbs other than
“be,” start the
question with
“do” or “does.”
Don’t swap the
subject and the
main verb. Add “do” to questions Add “does” to The main verb goes
with “I,” “you,” “we,” questions with in its base form.
and “they.” “he,” “she,” and “it.”

HOW TO FORM
“DO / DOES” SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB REST OF SENTENCE

The verb never takes an “-s” or

“-es” when you ask a question.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Question words can be used before

“do” or “does” to form open questions.

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING PRESENT SIMPLE QUESTIONS

Never add “-s” or “-es” to the base form of the verb when asking
a question, even in the third person singular (“he,” “she,” or “it”).

The main verb always goes in Do not add “-s” or “-es” to the main
its base form in questions. verb when asking a question.

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 The present continuous
The present continuous is used to talk about continued See also:
actions that are happening in the present moment. Present simple 1 Action and state verbs 50
Infinitives and participles 51
It is formed with “be” and a present participle.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present continuous is This is the present simple. It describes
used to describe a current, a repeated action or situation.
continued action.

The present continuous This is the present continuous. It describes

uses the verb “be.” what is happening right now.

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “AM / IS / ARE” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

Present participle

FURTHER EXAMPLES The subject and the verb

can be contracted.

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 PRESENT PARTICIPLE SPELLING RULES
The present participle is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form
of the verb. Some participles have slightly different spelling rules.

Last letter Last letters Last letters are consonant–vowel–consonant

is an “-e.” are “-ie.” and the final syllable is stressed.

Add “-ing” to form Leave out “e.” Change Double the last
regular present participles. “-ie” to “y.” letter, unless it’s
“w,” “x,” or “y.”

TIP
Present participles
FURTHER EXAMPLES follow the same
spelling rules
as gerunds.
Don’t double the last letter because
the final syllable is not stressed.

COMMON MISTAKES STATE VERBS IN CONTINUOUS TENSES

Action verbs can be used in simple and continuous forms.

State verbs are not usually used in continuous forms.

ACTION STATE

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 QUESTIONS IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
To ask questions in the present “He” is the subject.
continuous, swap the subject
and the form of “be.”

In a question, the verb moves This action is happening right now.

to the start of the sentence.

HOW TO FORM

“AM / IS / ARE” SUBJECT VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Question words such as “what,” “where,” and “how”

can be used before the verb to form open questions.

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 THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE
To make the negative of the present
continuous, add “not” after “be.”

The present participle

Add “not” after “be” to make the stays the same when
negative. Contractions are also possible. you make the negative.

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “AM / IS / ARE” + “NOT” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

The present participle

doesn’t change.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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