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,
why in the first phrase: ' what time does he start work?' I have 'START' and not STARTS, with 'he'.
Hello macs,
It's because it's a question. In both questions and negative forms, the 's' that we normally add to the end of the base form ('start' > 'starts') is not used.
It might help to think that in questions and negatives, this 's' goes with the auxiliary verb 'does' ('Does she eat meat?') or 'doesn't' ('She doesn't eat meat') instead of with the main verb ('She eats meat').
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
I wish these activities would be avaliable in a worksheet too :(
Hello. Could you please help me? Is the following sentence correct using "doesn't work"?
- Nabil doesn't work today. He never works on fridays.
Thank you
Hello Ahmed Imam,
No, that's not correct because it refers to now.
'isn't working' is the correct form here.
It might helpful to think of the present continuous form as showing a kind of contrast with the present simple -- today versus the habitual.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team