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
good
why fly turn to flies
Hello hisham109,
A lot of nouns that end in -y change to -ies to form the plural. For example:
fly > flies
party > parties
fairy > fairies
However, when the word ends in -ey it simply adds an -s. For example:
donkey > donkeys
monkey > monkeys
This -y > -ies pattern is also found in verbs when you make the third-person present simple form:
I look > She looks
I walk > He walks
but
I fly > She flies
I cry > He cries
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Can anyone explain question 6 to me ? why we use 'DO' instead 'Does' in the phrase, we are talking about a cat we should use does, thanks for the reply
Hello Bell01,
The correct form is 'do' because the noun is plural ('cats'). We would use 'does' if it were one cat.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
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