subject + verb (+ -s for he/she/it)Plain affirmative — only subject and verb. Add -s after he, she, it.
Present Simple
A1Present Simple talks about habits, routines, and timeless truths. Add -s to the verb after he, she, it; build negatives and questions with do or does.
What you'll learn
- Form affirmative sentences with I, you, we, they.
- Add -s, -es or -ies after he, she, it.
- Build negatives with don't and doesn't.
- Ask yes/no questions with Do and Does.
- Recognize markers like every day or usually.
Structure
subject + do/does + not + verbAuxiliary carries the tense; main verb stays bare — no -s.
Do/Does + subject + verb + ?Auxiliary fronts the question; main verb stays bare.
Yes, subject + do/does. / No, subject + don't/doesn't.Echo the question's auxiliary — no main verb in the answer.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Sheworks
She works every day.
Most verbs just add -s in 3rd person singular (work → works).
When to use
Habits
Daily and weekly routines — what someone does regularly. Pair with always, usually, every day, on Mondays.
General truths
Statements that are always true — geography, science, definitions. Water boils at 100°C.
Schedules
Fixed timetables and arrangements run by someone else. The train leaves at 7am.
Permanent states
Long-term situations — profession, residence, relationships. She lives in Berlin.
Markers
alwaysusuallyoftensometimesrarelyneverevery dayevery weekon Mondaystwice a week
Spelling
most verbs
→ + swork → worksends in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z, -o
→ + eswatch → watchesconsonant + y
→ drop y, + iesstudy → studiesIn contrast
vs present-continuous
Present Simple = habit or general truth. Present Continuous = happening right now or around now.
vs stative-verbs
Stative verbs (know, want, believe) take Present Simple even when the meaning is happening now.
Common mistakes
Wrong
She work in a bank.
Correct
She works in a bank.
After he, she, it the verb takes -s.
Wrong
She doesn't works here.
Correct
She doesn't work here.
Once doesn't carries the tense, the main verb is bare — no second -s.
Wrong
He don't like coffee.
Correct
He doesn't like coffee.
He, she, it always take does / doesn't, never do / don't.
Wrong
She likes coffee?
Correct
Does she like coffee?
Yes/no questions need an auxiliary at the front — intonation alone is not enough.
Common misconceptions
❝ The -s in third person is optional if the subject is clear. ❞
Standard English requires -s with he, she, it. Dropping it sounds wrong even when the meaning is obvious.
❝ If something happens regularly, use Present Continuous because it sounds more active. ❞
Habits use Present Simple. Present Continuous is for actions in progress at this moment.
Skills in this rule (9)
AFFIRMATIVE_BASEw5Use base verb after I, you, we, they
After non-third-person subjects the verb stays in its base form, no ending change.
ADD_S_FOR_HE_SHE_ITw5Add -s/-es/-ies to the verb after he, she, it
After third-person singular subjects the verb takes -s, -es or -ies. The choice depends on the spelling of the base form.
SPELL_S_ES_IESw4Choose -s, -es or -ies based on the verb ending
Most verbs add -s. Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z, -o add -es. A consonant + y becomes -ies.
NEG_DO_DOES_NOTw5Build negatives with do not / does not + base verb
Use do not (don't) for I/you/we/they and does not (doesn't) for he/she/it. The main verb stays in base form — no -s on the verb.
QUESTIONS_DO_DOESw5Form yes/no questions with Do/Does + subject + base verb
Start the question with Do for I/you/we/they or Does for he/she/it. Subject follows the auxiliary; the main verb stays bare.
SHORT_ANSWERSw3Give short answers with the matching auxiliary
Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't. The auxiliary in the answer mirrors the do/does of the question.
USE_FOR_HABITSw4Use Present Simple for habits and routines
Repeated actions over time — what the subject does regularly, often paired with a frequency marker.
USE_FOR_FACTSw3Use Present Simple for facts and timeless truths
General statements about the world — geography, science, definitions, fixed schedules.
PICK_FREQUENCY_MARKERSw3Recognize frequency and time markers
Words like always, usually, every day signal Present Simple. They live before the main verb but after be.