Simple Present - Short Forms

affirmative negative
I am English. = I'm English. I am not English. = I'm not English.

We are English.= We're English. We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.

He is English. = He's English. He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.

I have got a dog. = I've got a dog. I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.

He has got a dog. = He's got a dog. He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.

I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis

He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.

 Use

Use Example
action in the present taking place once, never or several times Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.
actions in the present taking place one after another She takes her bag and leaves.
facts (something is generally known to be true) The sun sets in the west.
action set by a timetable or schedule The train leaves at 9 pm.
verbs of possession, senses, emotions and mental activity I love her.

Typical Signal Words

always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
 Verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions and
mental activity

When you love someone, that's a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action (like running for
example). Whenever you want to express a state, possession, sense or emotions, use the
simple form (not the progressive). The following words all belong to this group:
be (state)
believe (mental activity)
belong (possession)
hate (feeling and emotion hear (senses)
like (feeling and emotion)
love (feeling and emotion)
mean (mental activity)
prefer (mental activity)
remain (state)
realize (mental activity)
see (senses)
seem (feeling and emotion)
smell (senses)
I love her.
think (mental activity)
understand (mental activity)
want (feeling and emotion)
wish (feeling and emotion)