Simple Present Tense
The Simple Present Tense, also known as Present Indefinite Tense, is used to express an action in present time which is usually done on a regular basis. The action can be a habit, general truth, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. Read the following sentences:
- He drinks tea every morning.
- I get up every day at five o'clock.
- The sun rises in the east.
Rules: 1st form of verb is used in sentence
Simple Present Tense Formula
Below is Simple Present Tense formula to understand its structure. It is easy to learn to make correct sentences of all types of this tense.
Positive Sentence Formula
Formula of Simple Present Tense to make its positive sentences
- Subject + 1st form of verb + object
Note:
- If the subject in a sentence is third person singular (i.e. he, she, it or proper noun) then "s" or "es" is added to the first form of verb in the sentence. You may study how spelling for the verb differs in case of third person singular.
- If the subject in a sentence is 1st person (singular, singular plural), 2nd person (singular, plural) and 3rd person plural (i.e. I, we, you, they or plural noun) then "s" or "es" is not added to the first form of verb.
Examples
- She cooks food.
- They play cricket.
Negative Sentence Formula
- Subject + helping verb ("does" or "do") + not + 1st form of verb + object
Note:
- In negative sentence of Present Simple Tense, helping verb "does" or "do" alongwith "not" is used. If the subject in a sentence is "he, she, it or singular proper noun" then "does not" is used. In case of "I, we, you, they or plural subjects" "do not" is used in place of "does not".
- 1st form of verb is used and "s" or "es" is not added to it.
- If we use 'never', we have to put it before verb and in this case "do not" or "does not" are not used in the sentence.
Examples
Present Indefinite Tense negative sentences examples
- She does not cook food.
- They do not play cricket.
- He never tells a lie.
Interrogative Sentence Formula
- Helping verb ("Does" or "Do") + subject + (1st form of verb) + object
Note:
- In interrogative sentence of Present Simple Tense, helping verb "Do" or "Does" is placed at the beginning of sentence. If the subject in a sentence is "he, she, it or singular proper noun" then "Does" is used. In case of "I, we, you, they or plural subjects" "Do" is used in place of "Does".
- 1st form of verb is used and "s" or "es" is not added to it.
Examples
Simple Present Tense interrogative sentences examples.
- Does she cook food?
- Do they play cricket?
- How does she cook food?
Note:
- The words "what, where, when, how, etc." will be used before "do" or "does" in such kind of interrogative sentences.
Interrogative Negative Sentence Formula
- Helping verb ("Does" or "Do") + subject + not + (1st form of verb) + object
Note:
- In Present Simple Tense, interrogative negative sentences are just like interrogative affirmative sentences with only use of "not" after subject.
Examples
Simple Present Tense interrogative negative sentences examples.
- Does she not cook food?
- Do they not play cricket?
Rule: Must put Question Mark (?) in the end of interrogative and negative interrogative sentences.
Important Points
Simple present tense is used to express:
- A Habitual Action: For example
She gets up every day at 7'O clock.
I drink tea every evening.
- General Truths: For example
Milk is white
The sun rises in the East
- An Exclamation:
There they go!
Here comes the plane!
- Any future event that has fixed timetable
The bus leaves at 4:30 PM
The concert starts at 7:00 PM
Different Forms of Simple Present Tense
Affirmative Form
- I eat
- We eat
- You eat
- He / She eats
- They eat
Question Form
- Do I eat?
- Do we eat?
- Do you eat?
- Does he/she eat?
- Do they eat?
Negative Form
- I do not eat
- We do not eat
- You do not eat
- He/ she does not eat
- They do not eat
Simple Present Tense Examples
Positive Sentences
10 Simple Present Tense examples.
- I watch television.
- They play football.
- You love swimming.
- He teaches English.
- She writes a letter.
- Students read their lesson.
- It rains in morning.
- The college opens on 21st May.
- The film starts at 6:30 and finishes at 9:00.
- Patient takes medicine.
Negative Sentences
10 negative sentences of Present Indefinite Tense
- I do not watch television.
- We do not read newspaper.
- They do not play football.
- You do not love swimming.
- He does not teach English.
- She does not write a letter.
- Students do not read their lesson.
- The college does not open on 21st May.
- It does not rain in morning.
- Patient does not take medicine.
Present Interrogative Sentences
10 interrogative sentences of present indefinite tense
- Do I watch television?
- Do we read newspaper?
- Do they play football?
- Do you love swimming?
- Do students read their lesson?
- Does he teach English?
- Does she write a letter?
- Does it rain in morning?
- Does patient take medicine?
- When does the next train leave for Shanghai?
Interrogative Negative Sentences
Simple present tense interrogative negative sentences examples.
- Do you not teach English?
- Do I not walk daily?
- Do they not drive cars?
- Do you not operate patients?
- Does she not buy books?
- Does John not drink milk?
- Does it not rain here daily?
How spelling for the verb differs in case of third person? The spelling for the verb in case of the third person singular differs depending on the ending of that verb:
- For verbs that end in o, ch, sh, ss, x, or z we add "es"
- go - goes
- catch – catches
- wash – washes
- discuss – discusses
- fix – fixes
- buzz – buzzes
- For verbs that end in a consonant + y, we remove the y and add "ies"
- marry – marries
- study – studies
- carry - carries
- worry - worries
- For verbs that end in a vowel + y, we just add "s"
- play – plays
- enjoy – enjoys
- say – says
- In most of the cases, only "s" is added