The Simple Present

Using the right tense

The Simple Present

• Express[es] the idea that an action is repeated or usual.

• A habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.

• Something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html

Forming the Simple Present

Add s to the end of the verb for he, she, it (third person).

think tease read have*I think tease read have

He, she, it thinks teases reads has

They, We think tease read have

You think tease read have

Forming the Simple Present

Add es to the end of the verb for he, she, it (third person singular) if it ends in ss, sh, ch.

brush touch missI brush touch miss

He, she, it brushes touches misses

They, We brush touch miss

You brush touch miss

Simple Present in sentences

• The students run in the play ground.– This is an action that occurs every day. The subject

is plural. Do not add s to the verb.• Dennis makes his bed in the morning. – This is a habit. It is the present tense. The subject

is singular, so add s to the verb.• Her aunt Sally teaches the first grade.– This is an unchanging situation. This verb makes

the ch sound at the end, so add es to the verb.

To be: Simple Present

To be

Singular subject Yellow is my favorite color

I I am a student.

He, she, it It is a nice day.

Plural subject Men are athletes, too.

They, We They are coming.

You (takes a plural verb) You are my friend.

Simple Present with NotUse the infinitive plus do/does to express a negative.

yell have take

I I do not yell. I do have not any money.

I do not take vitamins.

He, she, it

He does not yell It does not have any money.

She does not take vitamins.

They, We

We do not yell We do not have any money.

They do not take vitamins.

You You do not yell You do not have any money

You do not take vitamins.

More tips

• Make sure your subject and verb agree.• When using the simple present with third

person singular (he, she, it), use an s at the end of the verb.

• The simple present is for events that are happening now.