Skip to content
English Grammar Guide

Present Simple

A1 Present Simple

Section titled “ Present Simple”

I eat. She eats. Notice that extra -s? That’s English doing something Mandarin never does: changing the verb based on who’s doing the action. Present Simple is the tense for habits, facts, routines, and things that are generally true. It’s also the tense where Mandarin speakers forget the -s about 90% of the time — because 他吃 and 我吃 use the exact same verb form.

Before this, know:
Basic Sentence Structure (SVO)Nouns & PronounsA1 — Foundations overview

When do you use Present Simple?

Section titled “When do you use Present Simple?”

Present Simple is not “right now.” That’s Present Continuous (A2). Present Simple covers three vibes:

Use Vibe Example
Habits & routines Things you do repeatedly I drink coffee every morning.
Facts & general truths Always true, universal Water boils at 100°C.
Schedules & timetables Fixed future events on a schedule The train leaves at 8 AM.

She always walks to work.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

The sun rises in the east.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

Formation — the easy part (until he/she/it)

Section titled “Formation — the easy part (until he/she/it)”

Affirmative (positive) sentences

Section titled “Affirmative (positive) sentences”
Subject Verb form Example
I / You / We / They base verb I eat. They play.
He / She / It base verb + s/es She eats. He plays.
Present Simple — Affirmative

I / You / We / They: Subject + base verb

He / She / It: Subject + verb + s/es

I like tea.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

She likes tea.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

Spelling rules for third-person -s

Section titled “Spelling rules for third-person -s”
Base verb ending Rule Example
Most verbs add -s eat → eats, play → plays
-s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o, -z add -es watch → watches, go → goes
consonant + y y → -ies study → studies, try → tries
vowel + y add -s play → plays, say → says
Irregular memorize have → has, do → does, go → goes
He watch TV every night.
He watches TV every night.
Third person (he) → verb + -es: watches.
She studys English.
She studies English.
Consonant + y → y becomes -ies: studies.

Negative sentences — don’t / doesn’t

Section titled “Negative sentences — don’t / doesn’t”

The pattern

Section titled “The pattern”
Subject Negative Example
I / You / We / They don’t + base verb I don’t like coffee.
He / She / It doesn’t + base verb She doesn’t like coffee.

Critical rule: After don’t/doesn’t, the verb goes back to base form — NO -s!

Present Simple — Negative

I / You / We / They: Subject + don’t + base verb

He / She / It: Subject + doesn’t + base verb

I don’t eat meat.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

He doesn’t eat meat.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition
She doesn't eats meat.
She doesn't eat meat.
After doesn't, use base verb (no -s). The -s lives in doesn't, not the main verb.
He not like coffee.
He doesn't like coffee.
English negatives need doesn't (or don't) — not bare not before the verb.

Questions — Do / Does

Section titled “Questions — Do / Does”

Yes/No questions

Section titled “Yes/No questions”
Subject Question starter Example
I / You / We / They Do + subject + base verb Do you like tea?
He / She / It Does + subject + base verb Does she like tea?
Present Simple — Yes/No Question

Do / Does + Subject + base verb + …?

Short answers: Yes, subject + do/does. / No, subject + don’t/doesn’t.

Does she likes coffee?
Does she like coffee?
After Does, base verb — no -s. Does she like.
Do he play basketball?
Does he play basketball?
He → Does, not Do.

Wh- questions

Section titled “Wh- questions”

Same pattern — just add a question word at the front:

Where do you live?

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

What does she do?

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

(Full question formation breakdown in Questions & Negatives.)

Time signal words — your tense GPS

Section titled “Time signal words — your tense GPS”

These words scream Present Simple:

Category Signal words
Frequency always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
Routine every day, every week, on Mondays, twice a month
General time in general, normally, as a rule

I always brush my teeth before bed.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition

She usually wakes up at 7 AM.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition
Present Simple vs. Present Continuous (preview)
Present Simple — habits & facts

I drink coffee every morning.

→ Habit. Routine. Every morning = Present Simple.

She works in finance.

→ General fact about her job.

Present Continuous — right now (A2)

I am drinking coffee right now.

→ Happening at this moment.

She is working on a report.

→ In progress, not finished.

Common errors — the greatest hits

Section titled “Common errors — the greatest hits”

Missing third-person -s

Section titled “Missing third-person -s”
My mom cook dinner every day.
My mom cooks dinner every day.
My mom = she → cooks.
The store open at 9 AM.
The store opens at 9 AM.
The store = it → opens.

Double -s after doesn’t

Section titled “Double -s after doesn’t”
He doesn't goes to the gym.
He doesn't go to the gym.
Doesn't already carries the third-person marker. Main verb = base form.

Using Present Simple for “right now”

Section titled “Using Present Simple for “right now””
Look! She eats a sandwich.
Look! She is eating a sandwich.
Look! = happening now → Present Continuous. (Preview for A2.)

Forgetting do/does in questions

Section titled “Forgetting do/does in questions”
You like pizza?
Do you like pizza?
Yes/no questions need Do/Does at the start.

Irregular third-person forms — memorize these

Section titled “Irregular third-person forms — memorize these”
Base verb Third person Note
have has She has a cat.
do does He does his homework.
go goes It goes fast.
be is She is happy. (completely irregular)

She has a dog.

Article Noun Verb Adjective Preposition
He have two brothers.
He has two brothers.
Have → has for he/she/it.
Present Simple — Full Cheat Sheet

Affirmative: I/You/We/They + base verb · He/She/It + verb+s/es

Negative: I/You/We/They + don’t + base verb · He/She/It + doesn’t + base verb

Question: Do/Does + Subject + base verb + …?

Short answer: Yes, I do. / No, she doesn’t.

Try this right now

Section titled “Try this right now”

Write your daily routine in English — five sentences minimum. Use I twice and he/she (or a name) twice. Check every he/she/it sentence for the -s. Read aloud. Exaggerate the -s. Feel ridiculous. Learn faster.

Related pages: