Simple Present
How to Form the Simple Present
In the simple present, most regular verbs use the root form, except in the third-person singular (which ends in -s).
First-person singular: I write
Second-person singular: You write
Third-person singular: He/she/it writes (note the ‑s)
First-person plural: We write
Second-person plural: You write
Third-person plural: They write
For a few verbs, the third-person singular ends with -es instead of -s. Typically, these are verbs whose root form ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z.
First-person singular: I go
Second-person singular: You go
Third-person singular: He/she/it goes (note the ‑es)
First-person plural: We go
Second-person plural: You go
Third-person plural: They go
For most regular verbs, you put the negation of the verb before the verb, e.g. “She won’t go” or “I don’t smell anything.”
The verb to be is irregular:
First-person singular: I am
Second-person singular: You are
Third-person singular: He/she/it is
First-person plural: We are
Second-person plural: You are
Third-person plural: They are
How to Make the Simple Present Negative
The formula for making a simple present verb negative is do/does + not + [root form of verb]. You can also use the contraction don’t or doesn’t instead of do not or does not.
To make the verb to be negative, the formula is [to be] + not.
How to Ask a Question
The formula for asking a question in the simple present is do/does + [subject] + [root form of verb].
Common Verbs in the Simple Present
Infinitive | I, You, We, They | He, She, It |
to ask | ask / do not ask | asks / does not ask |
to work | work / do not work | works / does not work |
to call | call / do not call | calls / does not call |
to use | use / do not use | uses / does not use |
to have | have / do not have | has / does not have |
The Verb to Be in the Simple Present
Infinitive | I | You, We, They | He, She, It |
to be | am / am not | are / are not | is / is not |
https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=611
Published: Oct 22, 2020
Latest Revision: Oct 22, 2020
Ourboox Unique Identifier: OB-921422
Copyright © 2020