Simple Present Tense

SimplePresent

Simple Present
Full form +
I live.
You live.
She lives.
He lives.
It lives.s.
We live.
You live.
Full form –
I do not live.

You do not live.
She does not live.
He does not live.
It does not live.
We do not live.
They do not live.
Short form –
I don’t live.

You don’t live.
She doesn’t live.
He doesn’t live.
It doesn’t live.
We don’t live.
They don’t live.
Short answers +/-
Yes, I do./No, I don’t.
Yes you do./No you don’t.
Yes, she does./No, she doesn’t.
Yes, he does./No, he doesn’t.
Yes, it does./No, it doesn’t.
Yes, we do./No we don’t.
Yes, they do./No, they don’t.

When speaking, native speakers ALWAYS use the short forms/contractions. We use the short form for informal messaging. We use the full form in formal writing.

Forming the Present Simple third person singular
Most Verbs:  +s
live —> lives

Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, or -x:   +es
kiss —> kisses
wish —> wishes
teach —> teaches
mix —> mixes

Verbs ending in consonant +y:    y+ies
try —-> tries
carry —-> carries

Verbs ending in vowel +y: +s
say —–> says
play —–> plays

Exceptions:
go —–> goes
do —–> does
have —–> has

We use the Simple Present to talk about:
A. Routines:
I go to the swimming pool every week.
They play soccer on weekends.
B. Facts:
She lives in Monterrey.
Water is wet.

Check your Understanding 1
Make negative sentences and questions from the example sentences.

Example:
I go to the swimming pool every week.
Answers:
Negative: I don’t go to the swimming pool every week.
Question: Do you go to the swimming pool every week?
1. They play soccer on weekends.
2. She lives in Monterrey.
3. Water is wet.

Check your answers:
1. They don’t play soccer on weekends.
Do they play soccer on weekends?
2. She doesn’t live in Monterrey.
Does she live in Monterrey?
3. Water isn’t dry.
Is water wet?
Check your Understanding 2
Complete the paragraph with the simple present.

Everybody __________ (say) that Niagara Falls is the best place for a honeymoon. It ________  (have) some great restaurants and romantic hotels. My parents _________ (love) it and my father ____ (try) to take us there every three years. My girlfriend _______ (wish) she could go to.

Check your answers:
says/has/love/tries/wishes