Discover the present simple of English verbs! Learn how to use it with videos, rules and many examples. Find out how to conjugate the verbs "to be" and "to have" at the present tense. Finally, when you feel ready, test your preparation and improve yourself with printable worksheets and three levels of exercises!
What is the present simple?
The present simple, also called simple present, is the base form of the verb and it has three forms:
Go on and learn everything you need to know about this verb tense!
Watch the videos above, the first one with a slow voice and the other with a faster voice. Listen to the sentences and find out some examples of simple present!
"I GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. MY SCHOOLMATES AND I LEARN NEW THINGS.
I HAVE LUNCH WITH MY MOM, SHE WORKS AT MY SCHOOL.
I GO HOME , I DO MY HOMEWORK AND I PLAY VIDEO GAMES."
The present tense is the base form of the verb, but with the third person singular (HE/SHE/IT), we add an S.
For example:
Watch out!
Download the worksheet below and practice using the affirmative form of the present simple!
To make the negative form of the present simple we use DO or DOES and we add NOT. Follow this structure: PERSONAL PRONOUN + DO/DOES NOT + VERB (base form)
For example:
| Long form | Contracted form |
| I DO NOT READ | I DON'T READ |
| YOU DO NOT READ | YOU DON'T READ |
| HE/SHE/IT DOES NOT READ | HE/SHE/IT DOESN'T READ |
| WE DO NOT READ | WE DON'T READ |
| YOU DO NOT READ | YOU DON'T READ |
| THEY DO NOT READ | THEY DON'T READ |
Download the worksheet below and try to do the exercises about the negative form of this verb tense!
We use DO and DOES to make questions. Follow this structure: DO/DOES + PERSONAL PRONOUN + VERB (base form).
For example:
Download the worksheet below and try to make the interrogative form of a verb by yourself!
Take a look at the table and learn the three forms of the verb TO BE at the simple present!
| AFFIRMATIVE FORM | NEGATIVE FORM | INTERROGATIVE FORM |
| I AM | I'M | I AM NOT | I'M NOT | AM I? |
| YOU ARE | YOU'RE | YOU ARE NOT | YOU'RE NOT | ARE YOU? |
| HE/SHE/IT IS | HE'S/SHE'S/IT'S | HE/SHE/IT IS NOT | HE/SHE/IT'S NOT | IS HE/SHE/IT? |
| WE ARE | WE'RE | WE ARE NOT | WE'RE NOT | ARE WE? |
| YOU ARE | YOU'RE | YOU ARE NOT | YOU'RE NOT | ARE YOU? |
| THEY ARE | THEY'RE | THEY ARE NOT | THEY'RE NOT | ARE THEY? |
Download the worksheet below and practise!
Find out the three forms of the verb TO HAVE and learn how to conjugate it at the simple present tense!
| AFFIRMATIVE FORM | NEGATIVE FORM | INTERROGATIVE FORM |
| I HAVE | I'VE | I HAVE NOT | I HAVEN'T | HAVE I? |
| YOU HAVE | YOU'VE | YOU HAVE NOT | YOU HAVEN'T | HAVE YOU? |
| HE/SHE/IT HAS | HE'S / SHE'S / IT'S | HE/SHE/IT HAS NOT | HE/SHE/IT HASN'T | HAS HE/SHE/IT? |
| WE HAVE | WE'VE | WE HAVE NOT | WE HAVEN'T | HAVE WE? |
| YOU HAVE | YOU'VE | YOU HAVE NOT | YOU HAVEN'T | HAVE YOU |
| THEY HAVE | THEY'VE | THEY HAVE NOT | THEY HAVEN'T | HAVE THEY? |
In addition, when we talk about possessions, realtionships, illnesses and characteristics of people or things we can add GOT after the verb:
Download the worksheet below and test yourself with the present simple of the verb TO HAVE!
