Grammar
Present simple: uses, form, and examples
I take the bus to work. My sister takes the train. These sentences describe usual actions, so they use the present simple.
Use the present simple to describe routines, facts, states, and schedules, including the correct he, she, or it form and do or does questions.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She works near the station. /ʃiː wɜːks nɪə ðə ˈsteɪʃən/
The short answer
Use the present simple for routines, repeated actions, general facts, states, and fixed schedules. With he, she, and it, most affirmative verbs add -s or -es. Use do or does for most questions and negatives.
The clinic opens at eight every weekday.
Why it works: Opens has -s because the subject is the clinic, and every weekday shows a regular schedule.
5 more examples
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I usually cook dinner after work.
Usually shows that cooking dinner is part of a routine.
Not this:I
am cookingdinner right now. What changes: The present continuous shows an action happening now. -
Maya reads the news before breakfast.
Reads has -s because Maya is one person.
Not this:Maya and Leo
readthe news before breakfast. What changes: With two people, use the base form read. -
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
The present simple can state a general fact.
Not this:The water
is freezingin the bottle. What changes: This sentence describes a process happening at the moment. -
The train leaves at 6:40 tomorrow morning.
A fixed timetable can use the present simple, even when the event is in the future.
Not this:The train
is leavingnow. What changes: This sentence reports an action in progress or about to happen now. -
Does your neighbor speak Spanish?
Does begins the question, so speak stays in the base form.
Not this:Your neighbor
doesn't speakSpanish. What changes: Doesn't makes the present-simple negative, and speak remains a base verb.
Read the full guide
The present simple does not mean that an action happens at this exact moment. It often shows a habit, a repeated event, a state, or a scheduled time. Compare I work from home on Fridays with I am working from home today. The first sentence describes a usual arrangement. The second describes a temporary action now or around now.
Use it for routines and repeated actions
Use the present simple for actions that happen again and again. The action may happen every day, every week, or only sometimes. Adverbs such as usually, often, and never can show how often the action happens.
I call my grandmother on Sundays.
On Sundays shows that the call is a regular habit.
They often eat lunch in the park.
Which form fits a usual morning activity: 'I ____ coffee before class'?
Use drink: I drink coffee before class. The subject I takes the base form.
Use it for facts and states
The present simple also states facts that are generally true. It describes many states too, including what someone knows, wants, needs, likes, or owns. These meanings are usually not limited to one short moment.
The Earth moves around the Sun.
This is a general fact, so it uses the present simple.
Nora needs a new password.
Needs describes Nora's present situation, not an action she is doing.
Choose the verb for a fact: 'Plants ____ water to grow.'
Use need. Plants is plural, so the sentence uses the base form.
Use it for fixed schedules
A timetable, program, or official schedule can use the present simple for a future event. The time expression makes the future meaning clear. This is common for transport, classes, meetings, films, and opening times.
The film starts at seven tonight.
Tonight is future time, but starts refers to the fixed program.
Our class ends at noon on Friday.
Which form fits a bus timetable: 'The bus ____ at 8:15 tomorrow'?
Use arrives: The bus arrives at 8:15 tomorrow. A timetable is a fixed schedule.
Add -s or -es with he, she, and it
In an affirmative present-simple sentence, he, she, it, and a singular noun usually need an ending on the verb. Add -s to many verbs: works, reads, and drinks. Add -es after verbs that end in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o: passes, washes, watches, fixes, and goes.
My brother watches a cooking show on Saturdays.
Watches has -es because the verb watch ends in -ch and the subject is singular.
The store closes at nine.
Complete the sentence: 'My phone ____ when the battery is low.'
Use stops. My phone is singular, so stop becomes stops.
Make negatives with do not or does not
Use do not or don't with I, you, we, and they. Use does not or doesn't with he, she, it, and singular nouns. The main verb follows do or does in the base form. Do not add -s to it.
We don't open the office on weekends.
Don't makes the negative with the plural subject we.
Sam doesn't drive to work.
Doesn't carries the singular ending, so drive has no -s.
Choose the correct sentence: 'She doesn't works here' or 'She doesn't work here'?
Use She doesn't work here. After doesn't, the verb is work, not works.
Make questions with do or does
For most present-simple questions, put do or does before the subject. Use do with I, you, we, and they. Use does with he, she, it, and a singular noun. The main verb stays in the base form.
Do you work nearby?
Do begins the question because you takes the base-form pattern.
Does the museum close on Mondays?
Does is used with the singular noun the museum, while close stays in the base form.
Which question is correct: 'Does Amir lives nearby?' or 'Does Amir live nearby?'
Use Does Amir live nearby? Does already marks the singular subject.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the present simple for routines, repeated actions, facts, states, and fixed schedules. Add -s or -es with he, she, it, and singular nouns in affirmative sentences. Use do or does for most questions and negatives, then keep the main verb in its base form.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present simple: uses, form, and examples"
When do I use the present simple?
Use the present simple for routines, repeated actions, general facts, states, and fixed schedules. It often answers questions about what someone usually does, what is normally true, or when a regular service starts.
I usually cook dinner after work.
Why do some present-simple verbs end in -s?
In affirmative sentences, add -s or -es to most verbs with he, she, it, or a singular noun. Say She reads and The store closes. With I, you, we, and they, use the base form: I read and They close.
I am cooking dinner right now.
How do I make a present-simple negative?
Use don't with I, you, we, and they. Use doesn't with he, she, it, and singular nouns. Put the main verb in the base form after don't or doesn't: We don't travel often and He doesn't travel often.
Maya reads the news before breakfast.
How do I ask a question in the present simple?
For most verbs, begin with do or does. Use do with I, you, we, and they, and does with he, she, it, or a singular noun. The main verb stays in the base form, as in Does she speak French?
Maya and Leo read the news before breakfast.
Can the present simple refer to the future?
Yes. Use the present simple for a future event when it is part of a fixed timetable or schedule. A time phrase makes the future meaning clear, as in The meeting starts at 10:00 tomorrow.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.