3.

Present Simple (affirmative

and negative)
When do we use the Present Simple?

We use the Present Simple to talk about routines and habits.

I often go to the cinema on Saturdays.

My baby sister sleeps all day and cries all night.

They don’t always help their parents at home.

Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 1

 How many examples of the Present Simple can you
find in the text below?

On Saturdays, my sister and I have breakfast late – at

about 10 o’clock. After breakfast, my sister studies in
her room. Then she goes into town with her friends.
I don’t often study in the morning. I usually play with
our dog, Spud. Spud loves ball games. We always
have fun together.

There are seven examples of the Present Simple. Look!

Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 1

How do we make the Present Simple (1)?
Present Simple
Affirmative I/You/We/They get up late.
He/She/It gets up late.

I/You/We/They don’t (do not) eat breakfast.

Negative
He/She/It doesn’t (does not) eat breakfast.

Time expressions
They sometimes complain.
They don’t often go to the cinema.
She is usually tired.
I go to the cinema once a week.
She never eats meat.

Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 1

How do we make the Present Simple (2)?
After he/she/it,
the verb ends in
-s, -es or -ies.

SPELLING RULES: I/You/We/They He/She/It Rules

he/she/it
Most verbs They work here. He works here. + -s
We start at 9. The lesson starts at 9.
Verbs ending in -ss, You wash your face. He washes his face. + -es
-ch,-o, -sh and -x They go to school. She goes to school.
Verbs ending in You worry about it. She worries about it. –y + -ies
consonant + -y We study hard. He studies hard.
have I have a shower. She has a shower. have → has

Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 1

How do we make the Present Simple (3)?
We always phone Gran on Sundays.
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education
Adverbs of frequency
We don’t use not with never
They always walk to school.
because never already has a
I am usually late. negative meaning.
We don’t never eat meat.
They don’t often go to the cinema.
You sometimes complain.
We never eat meat.
With Present Simple
Word order
verbs, the adverb goes
before the main verb.
She is often tired.
With the verb to be,
the adverb goes after
the verb.
Wider World 2e 1
 Practice Time
Complete the text with the correct form of the Present Simple.

Cody
always tells (tell, always) us he’s happy to see the
In the morning, my parrot Cody 1 ______________
wakes (wake) us up! We 3_____________
sun and 2_________ don’t have (not have) a problem with this in
usually starts (start, usually) at 4 a.m. and he
winter. But in summer he 4_________________
5 doesn’t stop watches
don’t like (not like) it at all! When Dad 7___________
_______________ (not stop) – we 6____________
is sometimes (be, sometimes) very excited and Dad
(watch) football on TV, Cody 8________________
9 shouts (shout) at him. Cody 10_________
___________ knows (know) a lot of words. He can say, ‘Pretty

boy!’ and ‘Lovely celery!’ but his favourite words are ‘Shut up, Cody!’

Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 1