Present simple
Look at these examples to see how we use the present simple.
I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables.
My dad phones me every day.
She doesn't like her job.
What time do you get up at weekends?
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We can use the present simple to talk about things we do regularly.
I go to the gym three times a week.
We drink coffee at work.
We can also use it for things which are generally true.
She loves her job.
A lot of people work at home now.
Remember that we add s or es for he, she and it. Sometimes we also change y to i.
My favourite TV show starts at 8 o'clock.
She finishes work early on Fridays.
My brother studies at university.
The he, she and it forms for have, do and go are irregular.
He has a flat in the city centre.
She does yoga on Tuesdays.
My dog goes for a walk every morning.
For the negative, we use don't or doesn't.
We don't eat meat.
She doesn't have a lot of free time.
For questions, we use do or does.
Do you watch a lot of films?
Does he speak English?
| + Affirmative | - Negative | ? Question |
|---|---|---|
| I like ice cream. | I don't like ice cream. | Do I like ice cream? |
| You go to the gym. | You don't go to the gym. | Do you go to the gym? |
| He/she/it eats meat. | He/she/it doesn't eat meat. | Does he/she/it eat meat? |
| We watch a lot of films. | We don't watch a lot of films. | Do we watch a lot of films? |
| They work at home. | They don't work at home. | Do they work at home? |
Short answers
We can answer questions with Yes, I/you/we/they do, Yes, he/she/it does, or No, I/you/we/they don't or No, he/she/it doesn't.
Do you like cheese?
Yes, I do.Does she play football on Saturdays?
No, she doesn't.
Questions with question words
We can also put question words like what, where, who or what time before do or does.
Where do you work?
What time does he have lunch?
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello Mongeli,
It's perfectly fine to use 'do' twice in this way. The first time is as an auxiliary verb to create the interrogative and the second is as the main verb which carries the meaning.
The sentence you wrote is grammatically correct but is not accepted as the question specifies that you should us 'do' as the main verb:
In other answers the verb in brackets is used for the main verb (start, go, not like etc) and in this question it is no different.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you Peter for explaining the answer to me. You helped me improve my English and expanded my English knowledge. I hope you have a pleasant rest of your day.
Mongeli.
Good Morning our great teacher.
Why do we use have instate of has in the following example :
She doesn't have a lot of free time.
Hello Husseinzakariahassan,
When we form a negative in the present simple we use do not or does not followed by the base form (infinitive) of the main verb. The base form here is have.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
goooooooood
- My friend Elisa works at an office near her home, so she goes often to work on foot.
-Do you two meet together sometimes for a coffee?
-Unfortunately, no. When I’m on my way home from work, she has already left her office, just like me. But when I’m on my way to work, she is already at her office early. But on the weekend, she takes the train from London to Romford to see her parents.
This grammar is very easy.
Clarification on the Correct Usage of "Who" in WH Questions
I need clarification regarding the correct usage of "Who" as a subject and as an object in WH questions. Could you please confirm the correctness of the following examples?
Examples:
Using "Who" with "I am":
Using "Who" with "I have":
Using "Who" with "I do it.":
Extended Examples:
Additional Queries:
Could you confirm which of these questions are correct? Additionally, please provide explanations for the rules governing the use of "Who" as the subject and the object in WH questions.
Thank you!
Kesari Prakash, India
Hello Prakash,
This is a little longer than the questions we usually answer on the site. Please remember that we're a very small team here providing a free service to many thousands to users. It's difficult for us to answer questions like this due to the time constraints we have.
The second question is fine. The first would only be used to ask for clarification when we did not understand a reference made by someone else and not used in isolation. For example:
He's an idiot.
Who is?
The guy driving the car in front of us.
The same point applies here with regard to the usage of questions like this. Also, the singular form is much more common when forming questions with 'who'. It is possible to use a plural verb but we do it only when we are sure that we are talking about a group of people; if it is uncertain how many (one or more than one) then we prefer a singular verb.
See the comment above.
I always takes a singular verb - 'do' is a singular form for first and second person (I do / you do). The plural form for the first person is 'we'.
Questions with 'be' are formed by inversion rather than with an auxiliary verb and the verb 'be' agrees with the complement whether singular or plural:
Who am I? / Who are you? / Who is she? / Who are they? etc
Where the complement is a noun rather than a pronoun 'who' takes the third person form, singular or plural:
Who is the teacher? / Who are the teachers?
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team