Present Simple Tense

Before we look at how and why we use Present Simple, it is very important to know these three verbs – BE, GET and HAVE. These verbs are very important for using Present Simple, but they are also very important as auxiliary verbs in other, more difficult tenses. Get them right and it will help your English A LOT!

Let’s have a look at THE FORM for each verb and WHY IT IS IMPORTANT.

1. BE

Note – the contracted form is more common 

(I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’re, they’re)

For NEGATIVE FORMS, we can contract SUBJECT and BE (HE’S not),                                                 or BE and NOT (he ISN’T), without any difference.                                                                          
BUT we CANNOT DO THIS with I (I’m not     I amn’t)

2. DO

Note – We use (do) with verbs and (be) with adjectives, location, jobs etc. 

So, when we make negatives and questions with verbs, we must use the correct form of DO! In the past tense, the form is DID?/ DIDN’T for all subjects, so it’s easier than the present, which has do and does/ don’t and doesn’t. 

Examples

  • He doesn’t work on Sunday
  • We didn’t eat lunch today. 
  • Do you have to go? 
  • Does it take a long time?

Note – sometimes we treat have differently in the negative and question form. I think this is particularly true for Irish people. So, you might hear someone say:

“I haven’t a car”, instead of, “I don’t have a car”

Or

“Have you the keys?”, instead of, “Do you have the keys?”

This might be connected to HAVE and HAVE GOT being the same thing, but it sounds old-fashioned and the correct form, “I don’t have”/ “Do you have?” is certainly more common. 

Finally, if you are using have or have got, be careful with the negative, don’t mix them up!

For example:   

I don’t haven’t got (or don’t have) got

I He doesn’t hasn’t got,  

               The Present Simple Tense

Present Simple tense is used for:

  • Facts
  • Habits/ regular, repeated actions
  • Things which are generally true
  • Opinions. 

We also use it for other reasons, such as: 

  • future events which follow a timetable or schedule
  • with future time words (and will) such as when. as soon as etc
  • as part of the first conditional

See the chart below for the form, main uses and examples of other uses of this tense. 

Some of the most common mistakes students make when using the present simple tense include:

1. The third person singular (he, she, it) 

      Students often fail to add the s/ es/ ies to positive sentences for he/ she/ it. See below (3) for the spelling pattern for third person singular.     

      Students often use the wrong auxiliary (doesn’t/ does) when making negative sentences and asking questions.  He don’t doesn’t like it.  

      Students sometimes put the ‘s’ on the subject and not the verb:                                                  

      Its depend  It depends on the person. 

      Students often also use not as a negative instead of don’t/ doesn’t            

      He not He doesn’t like vegetables.

      2. Students often combine the verb to be (I’m) with another verb (I’m go I go to the gym every Friday).                                             

        Remember, we use the verb (be) with:

        Adjectives – I’m tired, it’s sunny, He’s Irish, it’s awful, she’s beautiful   

        For location – I’m at home, They are at the park, He’s on the way

        For jobs – I’m a teacher, She’s a dentist, He isn’t a scientist 

        and other facts like price (it’s ten euros)  and time (it’s ten o’ clock).

        3. Spelling pattern for this person singular (he, she, it)

          Note – Remember that be and have are irregular. Do and go are also considered irregular but I have included them in the chart below. 

          Try these exercises to practice the Present Simple tense form and use. 

          Present Simple Tense – Exercise 1
          Present Simple Tense – Exercise 2


          Finally – Present Simple or Continuous – how do I know which to use?

          The next section deals with the Present Continuous and gives more examples, but I will mention two things here, …..

          1. We use Present Simple for more permanent situations, so we can say:

          I work in Tesco (this sounds permanent, unlikely to change) or

          I’m working in Tesco (this sounds more temporary, likely to change)

          1. We cannot use stative verbs in a continuous tense, so we have to use present simple with stative verbs – need, want, seem, believe etc. 
          • He’s wanting  He wants to go on holiday with his friends. 
          • I’m needing to go into town. 
          • It’s tasting It tastes delicious. 
          • He is seeming He seems annoyed.