Present Simple - Positive

Present Simple - Positive

We use the present simple for facts, habits, routines, general truths and situations that are permanent (don't change much). We often encounter this tense with time expressions like every day, every morning, every Monday, always, often, usually, sometimes and others.

• I play football every Saturday. (habit)
• She drinks coffee every morning. (routine)
• The Earth goes around the Sun. (fact)
• It rains a lot in autumn. (generally true)

The basic form

With I, you, we, they, we use the basic form of the verb. 

• I play football.
• We read novels.
• They live in Bath.
• Ann and Becky speak English.
• Tim and his friend talk about sport.

With he, she, it and singular nouns, we add -s/-es.

• Andy likes chocolate.
• My sister works in a hospital.
• It rains a lot in autumn.
• His friend teaches French.

Spelling of the he/she/it form

With the third person singular subject (he, she, it, one person/thing), we need to add -s or -es to the end of the verb. The correct option depends on the spelling of the verb:

• Most verbs: add -s
  eat → eats, like → likes
• After -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o: add -es
  watch → watches, finish → finishes, go → goes, do → does
• Consonant + y: change -y → -ies
  study → studies, fly → flies, cry → cries
• Vowel + y: just add -s
  enjoy → enjoys, play → plays

Quick reference

• Present simple → facts, habits, routines, general truths and permanent situations
• I/you/we/they → base form
  I work. They live here.
• he/she/it → verb + -s/-es
  She works. He watches TV.
• Spelling:
  most verbs → -s (play → plays)
  -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o → -es (watch → watches)
  consonant + y → -ies (study → studies)