Present Simple

The Present Simple tense expresses habits.

The Present Simple expresses habits or usual

activities. Common time words are every day, every
year, every month, often, sometimes, and never. The
simple present uses do and does in negatives and
questions.

The verb after 3rd person singular (she, he, it) has a
final -s: talks.

Singular Plural
1st person: I talk We talk

2nd person: You talk You talk

3rd person: She talks They talk

He talks
It rains
Eating breakfast is a habit, a usual activity.

Every morning = Monday morning, Tuesday morning,

For example: Wednesday morning, Thursday morning, Friday
morning, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning.
(a) I eat breakfast every morning.

(b) Olga speaks English every day.

(c) We sleep every night. Other frequency expressions

(d) They go to the beach every weekend.
Every is singular. The noun that follows (morning)
must be singular.

Frequency Adverbs INCORRECT: every mornings

Subject + Frequency adverbs + Verb

We can express frequency by saying how many times
The words in this list are called "frequency adverbs." something happens in a day, a week, a month, a year.
They come between the subject and the simple
present verb.

always Ivan always eats breakfast.

usually Maria usually eats breakfast.
often They often watch TV.
sometimes We sometimes watch TV.
seldom Sam seldom drinks milk.
rarely Rita rarely drinks milk.
never I never drink milk.

For example:

I see my doctor every year.

once a day I drink tea once a day.

twice a day I drink tea twice a day.
three times a day I drink tea three times a day.
four times a day I drink tea four times a day.
three times a week I see my grandparents three
times a week.
twice a year I see my cousin, Sam, twice a
year.
Position of Frequency Adverbs IRREGULAR SINGULAR VERBS
Frequency adverbs come after the simple present Have, do, go have irregular forms for 3rd person
tense forms of be: am, is, and are. singular.
Subject + BE + Frequency Adverb
have  has
I am always late.
go goes
You are usually late.
He is often late. do does
She is sometimes late.
It is seldom late.
We are rarely late.
They are never late. I have a book. She has a book.
I do my work. He does his work.
They go to school. She goes to school.
Ending of verb: -sh, -ch, -s, -x
Add -es.
-sh push pushes

-ch teach teaches

-s kiss kisses
Verb+INFINITIVE
-x fix fixes
Like, want, need can be followed by an infinitive.

infinitive = to + V1
Ending of verb: consonant + -y
I like to travel. It’s fun.
Change y to i, add -es.
I want to travel. I have vacation time next month.
cry cries
I need to travel for my job. I have no choice.
try tries

NEGATIVE
Ending of verb: vowel + -y
I do not drink coffee.
Add -s. You do not drink coffee.
We do not drink coffee.
pay pays They do not drink coffee.
He does not drink coffee.
enjoy enjoys She does not drink coffee.
It does not drink coffee.

Do and Does are ‘’helping verbs’’.

In 3rd person singular, there is no -s on the main
verb, drink; the final -s is part of the helping verb,
does.
INCORRECT: She does not drinks coffee.

Contractions: do not = don’t ;

does not=doesn’t
QUESTION Where and What/ When and What time

Do/Does + Subject + Verb 1 ? Where/What + do/does + subject + Verb(1) ?

Do I work? Do they live in Miami? -Yes, they do.

Do you work? -No, they don’t.
Does he work? Where do they live? -In Miami.
Does she work? Does Gina live in Rome? -Yes, she does.
Does it work? -No, she doesn’t.
Do you work? Where does Gina live? -In Rome.
Do we work?
Do they work? Do they need help? -Yes, the do.
-No, they don’t.
The main verb in the question does not have a final -s. What do they need? -Help.
The final -s is part of ‘’does’’. Does Lee need help? -Yes, he does.
-No, he doesn’t.
INCORRECT: Does she works? What does Lee need? -Help.

When do you go to class? -At 9 o’clock.

When the main verb is a form of be, do is not used.
What time do you go to class? -At 9 o’clock.
Am I late? When does Anna eat dinner? -At 6 pm.
Are you ready? What time does Anna eat dinner? -At 6 pm.
Is he a teacher? What time do you usually go to -At 6 pm.
Are we early? class?
Are they at home?
Are you a student?

INCORRECT: Do you be a student?

Do, don’t, does and doesn’t are used in the short

answers to yes/no questions in Present Simple.

QUESTION SHORT ANSWER

Do you like fish? Yes, I do.
No, I don’t.
Does Liam like fish? Yes, he does.
No, he doesn’t.

Note:
Do can also be a main verb:

Brad does his homework.

Does Brad do his homework?