Slide 1
Present Simple Tense: Mastering the Basics
Slide 2
What is the Present Simple Tense?
• A verb tense used to describe:
● Habitual actions
● General truths
● Scheduled events
• Expresses actions happening regularly or permanently
• Also known as the simple present tense
Slide 3
When to Use Present Simple
• For daily routines: "I brush my teeth every morning."
• For facts or general truths: "The Earth revolves around the Sun."
• For scheduled events: "The bus arrives at 3 PM."
• To describe likes and dislikes: "She loves chocolate."
Slide 4
Forming Positive Sentences
• Subject + base form of the verb
• For third-person singular (he/she/it), add -s, -es, or -ies to the verb
• Examples:
● I play soccer. (First person)
● You study English. (Second person)
● He watches TV. (Third person singular)
● They work hard. (Third person plural)
Slide 5
Forming Negative Sentences
• Use "do not" (don't) or "does not" (doesn't) before the base form of the verb
• Structure: Subject + do/does + not + base form of the verb
• Examples:
● I do not (don't) like spinach.
● She does not (doesn't) play the piano.
● They do not (don't) live in New York.
Slide 6
Forming Questions
• Start with "do" or "does" followed by the subject and base form of the verb
• Structure: Do/Does + subject + base form of the verb
• Examples:
● Do you speak French?
● Does he play basketball?
● Do they live nearby?
Slide 7
Time Expressions
• Common time expressions used with present simple:
● Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
● Every day/week/month/year
● On Mondays, in the morning, at night
• Example: "I always eat breakfast in the morning."
Slide 8
Spelling Rules for Third Person Singular
• Add -s to most verbs: play → plays, sing → sings
• Add -es to verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o: wash → washes, go → goes
• For verbs ending in consonant + y, change y to i and add -es: study → studies
Slide 9
Irregular Verbs in Third Person Singular
• Some verbs have irregular forms in the third person singular:
● Be → is/are
● Have → has
● Do → does
● Go → goes
• Example: "She has a cat." (Not "She haves a cat.")
Slide 10
State Verbs
• Some verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses
• Common state verbs: like, love, hate, know, understand, believe, want
• Example: "I know the answer." (Not "I am knowing the answer.")
Slide 11
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Forgetting to add -s/-es for third person singular
• Using -ing form instead of base form
• Incorrect use of do/does in questions and negatives
• Example: "She don't like coffee." (Incorrect)
Correct: "She doesn't like coffee."
Slide 12
Practice Exercise: Fill in the Blanks
1. My sister _____ (study) French at school.
2. The sun _____ (rise) in the east.
3. They _____ (not/go) to the beach very often.
4. _____ (do) you like pizza?
5. John _____ (wash) his car every Saturday.
Slide 13
Practice Exercise: Correct the Errors
1. She don't know the answer.
2. Does they live in London?
3. I am liking chocolate ice cream.
4. He play tennis every weekend.
5. The Earth rotate around the Sun.
Slide 14
Real-Life Applications
• Writing emails or messages
• Describing routines and habits
• Explaining how things work
• Talking about schedules and timetables
• Expressing opinions and preferences
Slide 15
Review and Key Points
• Used for habitual actions, general truths, and scheduled events
• Add -s/-es for third person singular in positive sentences
• Use do/does for questions and negatives
• Pay attention to spelling rules and irregular verbs
• Practice regularly to master the present simple tense!
