Present Simple
Present Simple (present tense + common aspect)
Affirmative: Subject + Base Form of the Verb
[Note: for 3rd Person Singular (he/ she/ it) add ‘s/es’ to the base form]
I/ You/ We/ They work in a bank.
He/ She works in a bank.
He/ She works in a bank.
Negative: Subject + don’t/ doesn’t + Base Form of the Verb
I/ You/ We/ They don’t (do not) work.
He/ She/ It doesn’t (does not) work.
He/ She/ It doesn’t (does not) work.
Affirmative Interrogative:
Yes/No Question: Do/Does + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
Does he play?
: Am/is/are + subject+ ------?
Is he good?
Wh-question: Question Word + do/does + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
Where do I/ you/we/they work?
Where does he/ she work?
Where does he/ she work?
Negative Interrogative:
Yes/No Question: Don’t/Doesn’t + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
Doesn’t he play?
: Am/is/are + subject+ ------?
Isn’t he good?
Wh-question: Question Word + don’t/doesn’t + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
Why don’t you work?
1. Usual, regular action:
Ø I usually go fishing at weekends. I don’t go fishing at weekends. Do I go fishing at weekends?
Ø You always know the answer. You don’t always know the answer. Do you always know the answer?
Ø She never puts milk in her tea. She doesn’t put milk in her tea. Does she ever put milk in her tea?
Ø My father plays the violin. My father doesn’t play the violin. Does your father play the violin?
Ø We sometimes go to the cinema on Friday. We don’t go to the cinema on Friday. Do we go to the cinema on Fridays?
Ø They never walk in the wood. They don’t walk in the wood. Do they walk in the wood?
2. General existence; stating a fact:
Ø An ostrich has two legs. A rabbit doesn’t have two legs. How many legs does a spider have?
Ø The earth goes around the sun. The sun doesn’t go around the earth. Does the moon go around the earth?
Ø Water is liquid at room temperature. Gold isn’t liquid at room temperature. Is gold solid at room temperature?
3. Dramatic narrative (theatre, sports, etc. events):
Johnson takes the ball, he bounces it to the floor, then he throws and scores two points.
4. Timetables
Ø The train leaves at half past four. The train doesn’t leave at five. What time does the train leave?
The course starts on 1 July. The course doesn’t start in June. When does the course start?