Present simple explained: rules, examples and practice

Statements: when do you add s?

Use the base verb with I, you, we and they. With he, she and it, usually add s. Some verbs take es: go becomes goes and watch becomes watches. After a consonant plus y, change y to ies: study becomes studies. Play becomes plays because the letter before y is a vowel.

• I study English every day.
• She studies English every day.
• He watches a lesson after work.

Negatives: return to the base verb

Use do not or don't with I, you, we and they. Use does not or doesn't with he, she and it. After doesn't, use the base verb without another s. She doesn't studies is therefore incorrect; write She doesn't study.

• They don't work on Fridays.
• He doesn't drink coffee.

Questions with do and does

Put Do or Does first, then the subject and the base verb: Does she speak English? A short answer is Yes, she does or No, she doesn't. Do not use do when be is the main verb. To ask about You are ready, say Are you ready?

• Do you read every day?
• Does he play football?
• Are they students?

A habit or something happening now?

Compare I read every evening with I am reading now. The first describes a habit; the second describes an activity happening now. Expressions such as usually, often and every day help you interpret the context, but understanding the meaning is more useful than choosing a tense from one keyword alone.