Present Simple

We use the Present Simple to talk about things that habitually happen or things that are generally
true:
I live in Spain.
She works from 9.30 to 2.30.

Affirmative
I start at 6:30.
You start at 6:30.
He / She / It starts at 6:30.
We start at 6:30.
You start at 6:30.
We start at 6:30.
They start at 6:30.

Spelling rules for he / she / it

I work / play / live.
He works / plays / lives.
I watch / finish / go / do.
She watches / finishes / goes / does.
We study.
He studies.
They have breakfast.
She has breakfast.

Negative
Contractions: don’t (= do not) and doesn’t (= does not).
I don’t start at 6.30.
You don’t start at 6.30.
He/She/It doesn’t start at 6.30.
We don’t start at 6.30.
You don’t start at 6.30.
We don’t start at 6.30.
They don’t start at 6.30.

A1 English Course: Unit 2 Grammar Reference

Questions
Do I start at 6.30?
Do you start at 6.30?
Does he/she/it start at 6.30?
Do you start at 6.30?
Do we start at 6.30?
Do they start at 6.30?

Short answers
Yes, I do / No, I don’t.
Yes, you do / No, you don’t.
Yes, he/she/it does / No, he/she/it doesn’t.
Yes, you do / No, you don’t.
Yes, we do / No, we don’t.
Yes, they do / No, they don’t.

Word order in questions

Auxiliary + subject + infinitive

Do you watch TV?
Does he watch TV?

Question word / phrase + auxiliary + subject + infinitive

When do we have class?
What time do they get up?

Notice that ‘do’ and ‘does’ can be:

1 The auxiliary verb to make questions.
e.g., Do you speak Spanish? Does he work?
2 A ‘normal’ verb.
e.g., I do homework; She does exercise.

A1 English Course: Unit 2 Grammar Reference

Adverbs of frequency

We use adverbs of frequency to say how often you do something.

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb / infinitive (except ‘be’) but after the verb ‘be’.

I always have a shower in the morning.

Do you usually get up at 6:00?
He doesn’t often watch T.V.
We’re sometimes late.
She hardly ever has a bath.
He is s never on time.

Prepositions of time (in / on / at)

in on at
In the morning On Monday, on Tuesday, etc. At half past six
In the afternoon On Saturday afternoon At quarter to seven
In the evening At night
At the weekend

A1 English Course: Unit 2 Grammar Reference