Simple Present Tense

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.

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.

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?

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?