The Present Simple Tense

Verb Forms

We use the present simple tense for usual or repeated actions, facts, future schedules and stative verbs.

For I, You, We and They we use the infinitive form of the verb:

SubjectInfinitive
Iplayfootball every Saturday.
Youstartthe job tomorrow.
Weunderstandthe question.
Theywalkto school every day.
The gamesbeginnext Monday.
The planetsmovearound the sun.

For He, She and It (3rd person singular), we usually add s to the infinitive:

SubjectVerb Form
Hereadsevery day.
Tomrunsevery morning.
Sheknowsthe answer.
Sarasingsevery day.
Itbeginsnext week.
Icemeltsat zero degrees.
The trainleavesat eight.

We add es to infinitives ending ss, sh, ch, o and x:

InfinitiveVerb Form
missmisses
washwashes
watchwatches
gogoes
mixmixes

We change y to i for words ending in y:

InfinitiveVerb Form
studystudies
carrycarries

We change have to has:

InfinitiveVerb Form
havehas

SubjectVerb Form
Hemissesher.
Tomcatchesfish every morning.
Shewashesthe dishes every day.
Saragoesthere on Saturdays.
Itmixeswith water.
Hestudiesat 6 o'clock.
Shehasa bicycle.

Now try the quiz below!

The Present Simple Tense - Verb Forms

The Present Simple Tense - Negatives

The Present Simple Tense - Questions

The Present Simple Tense - Short Answers

The Present Simple Tense - Time Phrases ( in / at / on / every )

The Present Simple Tense - Adverbs of Frequency

The Present Simple Tense - Jobs

The Present Simple Tense - Review