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Present Simple Tense

(Positive, Negative and Questions)

"I eat breakfast."

Subject + Verb ...

The present simple tense is used to talk about things that are happening now or that happen regularly. We use it for actions or states that are true in general.


For example,

"I play soccer every Saturday"

or

"It is not Wednesday."



 


Regular verbs section:


To make a positive sentence, we use Subject + Verb + Object. "He", "she", "it" and names add an "s" to the end of the verb.


For example,


To play:

I play

You play

He plays

She plays

We play

They play

It plays

(Name) plays


To make a negative sentence, we add "do/does not" before the verb. The verb "to do" follows the same pattern as above.


For example,


To do:

I do not ...

You do not ...

He does not ...

She does not ...

We do not ...

They do not ...

It does not ...

(Name) does not ...


"I do not play basketball."

or

"She does not like coffee."


To make a 'Yes/No'question, we use the verb "do" again but this time, we put it before the subject.


For example,

Do I ...?

Do you ...?

Does he ...?

Does she ...?

Do we ...?

Do they ...?

Does it ...?

Does (name) ...?


"Do you like pizza?"

or

"Does he watch soccer?"


To make an information question, we add a 'wh-' word to the start.


For example,

What

Where

When

Why

Who

How

Which


"Where do you live?"

or

"When does it start?"


 

'To Be' section:


The verb 'to be' is used to give descriptions so it follows different rules. Notice how "he", "she", "it" and names still use "s" at the end.


For example,


I am ...

You are ...

He is ...

She is ...

We are ...

They are ...

It is ...

(Name) is ...



To make a negative sentence, we add "not" after "to be".


For example,


I am not ...

You are not ...

He is not ...

She is not ...

We are not ...

They are not ...

It is not ...

(Name) is not ...


To make a question sentence, we use the verb "to be" before the subject.


For example,


Am I...?

Are you...?

Is he...?

Is she...?

Are we...?

Are they...?

Is it...?

Is (Name)...?


To make an information question, we add a 'wh-' word to the start.


For example,

What

Where

When

Why

Who

How

Which


"Where are you?"

or

"Why is it cold?"

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