Simple Present Tense - Structure, Uses, Examples & Rules to Add -s, -es, -ies

Simple Present Tense Made Easy: Structure, Rules, and Examples

As an English tutor helping students for several years, I created this beginner-friendly guide to the Simple Present Tense. Here you'll find rules, examples, and useful tips to help you speak fluently.

📘 Table of Contents

• 1. Verb 1st Form for Simple Present Tense
• 2. How to Add -s, -es, and -ies to Verbs: Rules & Examples
• 3. When and How to Use Simple Present Tense
• 4. Simple Present Tense Structure: Basic Sentence Patterns
• 5. Uses & Examples: Real-Life Sentences for Everyday Use
• 6. Practice Time!
• 7. FAQs: Simple Present Tense

Let's talk about the simple present tense. It's a way we use verbs to talk about things that happen regularly, are true all the time, or are facts. Imagine you're telling someone about your daily routine, like "I eat breakfast every morning" or "She walks her dog every evening."

Here's the cool thing: It's super easy to use! You just need the base form of the verb, which means you don't add any extra endings like "-ed" or "-ing." For example, instead of saying "I walked," you say "I walk."

Now, why is this important? Well, lots of people search for info on grammar, English, or even language learning. But sometimes, finding simple explanations can be tough because there's a lot of complicated stuff out there. That's where we come in!

Understanding the simple present tense helps you speak and write correctly. Plus, it's crucial for building more advanced skills later on. So if you're learning English or just need a refresher, knowing how to use the simple present tense is a great place to start.

1. Verb 1st Form for Simple Present Tense

Verb Structure = Verb 1st form (Base form)

The verb 1st form in simple present tense is the base form of the verb (also known as V1), and it’s essential for forming correct English sentences, especially for beginners learning English grammar. 

In the simple present tense, we use the base verb form with plural subjects like "I," "you," "we," and "they" (e.g., I eat, they play, we read). 

For he, she, it, we usually add -s or -es (e.g., he plays, she watches). This rule helps in building daily use English sentences like “I walk to school” or “She drinks water.” 

For example:

1. I go to the office daily.
2. He studies regularly.

Remember, If the subject is third person singular (He, She, It) or noun singular or singular indefinite pronoun, add "s" or "es" to the verb.

For example:

• He, She, It – He plays Football every day.
• Noun Singular – John likes coffee.
• Singular Indefinite Pronoun – Everybody loves a holiday.

2. How to Add -s, -es, and -ies to Verbs in Simple Present Tense: Rules & Examples

1. Add "s" - 

• Simply add "s" at the end of the verb. (Used for most of the verbs)

e.g. Play - Plays , Work - Works, Come – Comes, Help - Helps, Sing - Sings, etc.

2. Add "es" - 

• If the verb ends with ch, sh, x, o, ss, zz add "es".

e.g. Catch - Catches, Push - Pushes, Fix - Fixes, Go - Goes, Guess - Guesses, Buzz- Buzzes, etc.

3. Add "ies" - 

• If the verb ends with "y" but before "y" there is a consonant, remove "y" and add "ies".

e.g. Fly - Flies, Cry - Cries, Try - Tries, etc.

3. When and How to Use Simple Present Tense

• We use simple present tense to tell the actions which happen repeatedly.

For example:

1. Jenny goes to school every day.
2. She often writes poems.
3. She drinks milk in the morning daily.

• To express general truths that exist and will exist in the future.

For example:

1. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
2. Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
3. Plants absorb water from the soil.

• News headlines

Sometimes news headlines are written in simple present tense to keep the liveliness of the news

For example:

1. India wins the one-day cricket match against Australia.
2. A car accident kills 5 people.

• To express future event, which is a part of a pre-decided timetable or we use this tense with future events.

For example:

• Exam starts at 10.00 am.
• The train departs at 06.00 pm.
• We will give it to her when she arrives.

Note: The simple present tense is not used to tell actions happening right now.

4. Simple Present Tense Structure: Basic Sentence Patterns

4.1 Simple Present Positive Sentences: Structure and Examples with Verb Base Form

Positive : S + V1 + O

1. I play football.
2. You study daily.
3. He goes to school.
4. She makes tea.
5. It rains in the rainy season.
6. We speak English.
7. They help the poor.
8. John writes a story.
9. Birds fly in the sky.

4.2 How to Form Negative Sentences in Simple Present Tense with Do/Does + Not

Negative : S + do/does + not + V1 +O

1. I do not play football.
2. You do not study daily.
3. He does not go to school.
4. She does not make tea.
5. It does not rain in the rainy season.
6. We do not speak English.
7. They do not help the poor.
8. John does not write a story.
9. Birds do not fly in the sky.

4.3 Yes/No Questions in Simple Present Tense: How to Use Do and Does Correctly

Yes / No type questions : Do / Does + S + V1 + O + ?

1. Do I play football?
2. Do you study daily?
3. Does he go to school?
4. Does she make tea?
5. Does it rain in the rainy season?
6. Do we speak English?
7. Do the help the poor?
8. Does John write a story?
9. Do birds fly in the sky?

4.4 WH Questions in Simple Present Tense: Structure and Common Examples

Wh type questions : Wh word + do/does + S + V1 + O + ?

1. Where do I play football?
2. What do you study daily?
3. How does he go to school?
4. When does she make tea?
5. When does it rain?
6. How do we speak English?
7. How do they help the poor?
8. What does John write?
9. How do birds fly in the sky?

5. Simple Present Tense Uses & Examples: Real-Life Sentences for Everyday Use

1. Habits and Routines:

• Every morning, I wake up at 7 a.m.
• She always brushes her teeth before going to bed.

2. Facts and General Truths:

• The sun rises in the east.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

3. Scheduled Events:

• The train leaves at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
• Our class starts at 10 a.m. on Mondays.

4. Instructions and Procedures:

• First, you open the book. Then, you read the first chapter.
• We mix flour, eggs, and sugar to make a cake.

5. Hobbies and Interests:

• He plays guitar in a band.
• They collect stamps from different countries.

6. Feelings and Opinions:

• I love chocolate ice cream.
• She thinks learning new languages is fun.

Remember, in the simple present tense, the verb remains unchanged regardless of the subject (except for third-person singular subjects, where "-s" or "-es" is added). It's the tense used to describe actions that are habitual, factual, or generally true.

6. Practice Time!

Let’s practice! Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the Simple Present Tense.

1. She _______ (go) to school every day.
2. They _______ (watch) TV in the evening.
3. The cat _______ (chase) the mouse.
4. I _______ (not like) broccoli.
5. Does he _______ (play) tennis?

Answers:

1. goes
2. watch
3. chases
4. do not (don’t) like
5. play

Keep practicing, and soon the Simple Present Tense will be second nature to you. Happy learning!

Take the English Quiz

📚 Learn All 12 English Tenses:

• Simple Present Tense
• Present Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Simple Past Tense
• Past Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Perfect Continuous Tense
• Simple Future Tense
• Future Continuous Tense
• Future Perfect Tense
• Future Perfect Continuous Tense

7. FAQs : Simple Present Tense 

1. What is the Simple Present Tense?

It describes habits, general truths, and routines.

2. When do we use Simple Present Tense?

For daily routines, general truths, scheduled events, and permanent situations.

3. How do we form Simple Present Tense?

Use the base verb for I/you/we/they, and add -s or -es for he/she/it.

4. Simple Present Tense Common mistakes?

Not adding ‘s’ for he/she/it and using the wrong verb form.

5. Simple Present Tense Questions and negatives?

Use "do/does" for questions and "do/does not" for negatives.

References

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3. BBC Learning English. (n.d.). Grammar lessons: Simple present tense. https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
4. Dave’s ESL Cafe. (n.d.). Grammar lessons for English learners. https://www.eslcafe.com
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