Present simple tense in English
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The present simple tense in English is used for routines, habits, general actions and feelings.
How the present simple tense is formed, depends on whether the sentence is:
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Structure: subject / pronoun + conjugated verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
Structure: subject / pronoun + auxiliary (form of to do + not) + verb + rest of the sentence.
The table below shows how the auxiliary is formed for every subject.
Subject | Negative auxiliary |
---|---|
I | do not |
You (singular) | do not |
He / she / it | does not |
We | do not |
You (plural) | do not |
They | do not |
The auxiliary forms are often contracted:
Examples:
Structure: auxiliary (form of to do) + subject / pronoun + infinitive verb + rest of the sentence + question mark
Examples:
The table below shows you all the situations in which the English present simple tense is used.
Situation | Example |
---|---|
You want to describe habits and routines. |
|
You want to describe a general or scientific fact. |
|
You want to describe an action that takes place, never takes place or is repeated constantly. |
|
You want to describe an event that is probably happening in the future. |
|
You want to refer to a past event. (In newspaper headlines and captions to photographs.) |
|
You want to give instructions or indications |
|
You can recognize the use of the present simple tense when the sentence contains words as:
In the present simple the root is used to form the present simple. The third person singular (he, she, it) forms an exception: '-s', '-es' or '-ies' is added to the stem to form the present simple. Keep the following rules in mind when forming the third person singular of the present simple tense:
Add '-es' to the root of the verb to form the third person singular.
Subject | To watch | To rush |
---|---|---|
I | watch | rush |
You (singular) | watch | rush |
He / she / it | watches | rushes |
We | watch | rush |
You (plural) | watch | rush |
They | watch | rush |
For the third person singular the '-y' changes in '-i' and '-es' has to be added to the root.
Subject | To study | To cry |
---|---|---|
I | study | cry |
You (singular) | study | cry |
He / she / it | studies | cries |
We | study | cry |
You (plural) | study | cry |
They | study | cry |
To form the third person singular of the other verbs, '-s' has to be added to the root. The table below shows the conjugation of the regular verbs 'to work', 'to sleep', 'to rush' and 'to study' in the present simple.
Subject | To work | To sleep |
---|---|---|
I | work | sleep |
You (singular) | work | sleep |
He / she / it | works | sleeps |
We | work | sleep |
You (plural) | work | sleep |
They | work | sleep |
The table below shows the conjugation of the irregular verbs 'to swim', 'to feel', 'to have' and 'to be'.
Subject | To swim | To feel | To have | To be |
---|---|---|---|---|
I | swim | feel | have | am |
You | swim | feel | have | are |
He / she / it | swims | feels | has | is |
We | swim | feel | have | are |
You (plural) | swim | feel | have | are |
They | swim | feel | have | are |
Practice your knowledge with the present simple exercises below!
Fill in the correct form of the present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I always dinner for my roommates. (to cook)
We to school every day. (to cycle)
Kim TV every evening. (to watch)
You never the trash out. (to take)
She the queen of England. (to be)
I usually at eleven at night. (to sleep)
You a coffee every morning. (to have)
They at a famous restaurant. (to work)
We who you are. (to know)
Lisa to school every day. (to go)
Fill in the correct form of the English present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I to the supermarket every day. (to go)
He a doctor. (to be)
On Wednesdays they at their grandmother. (to eat)
You to your mom every week. (to talk)
We always hard for exams. (to study)
It in China. (to rain)
You an e-mail to your boss every day. (to send)
Usually we to work by car. (to go)
They always late. (to be)
I languages in an easy way. (to learn)
Complete the following negative sentences using the correct form of the auxiliary for each pronoun.
Remember:
She like eating meat.
We want to go out tonight.
I have a degree in Economics.
They like swimming.
He go on holiday this year.
I like singing.
You study at the University of Valencia.
We go to the beach often.
Susan cook for her family on Saturdays.
They know how to make pancakes.
Fill in the missing form of the auxiliary verb 'to do' to complete the following questions in the present simple.
Remember:
he like swimming in the sea?
you want to watch a movie with me?
they come ot the party with us?
Kim study in Norway?
we want to eat in a restaurant tonight?
I have to clean the kitchen this week?
you play tennis on Wednesdays?
she go to Spain this summer?
Laura normally show up to our meetings?
you mind if I go now?
Fill in the correct form of the present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I always dinner for my roommates. (to cook)
We to school every day. (to cycle)
Kim TV every evening. (to watch)
You never the trash out. (to take)
She the queen of England. (to be)
I usually at eleven at night. (to sleep)
You a coffee every morning. (to have)
They at a famous restaurant. (to work)
We who you are. (to know)
Lisa to school every day. (to go)
Fill in the correct form of the English present simple. The verbs are given between brackets.
I to the supermarket every day. (to go)
He a doctor. (to be)
On Wednesdays they at their grandmother. (to eat)
You to your mom every week. (to talk)
We always hard for exams. (to study)
It in China. (to rain)
You an e-mail to your boss every day. (to send)
Usually we to work by car. (to go)
They always late. (to be)
I languages in an easy way. (to learn)
Complete the following negative sentences using the correct form of the auxiliary for each pronoun.
Remember:
She like eating meat.
We want to go out tonight.
I have a degree in Economics.
They like swimming.
He go on holiday this year.
I like singing.
You study at the University of Valencia.
We go to the beach often.
Susan cook for her family on Saturdays.
They know how to make pancakes.
Fill in the missing form of the auxiliary verb 'to do' to complete the following questions in the present simple.
Remember:
he like swimming in the sea?
you want to watch a movie with me?
they come ot the party with us?
Kim study in Norway?
we want to eat in a restaurant tonight?
I have to clean the kitchen this week?
you play tennis on Wednesdays?
she go to Spain this summer?
Laura normally show up to our meetings?
you mind if I go now?
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I’m Mediha, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but have been living in Croatia for many years. I love making learning fun and have successfully helped my students improve their English in a pleasant atmosphere. I have experience helping my learners prepare for exams, job interviews, presentations etc. Whether business English, general conversational English or to help you prepare for a particular situation, feel free to book a trial lesson and we can discuss your needs and how I can help you! I graduated on University of Philosophy, and became (MA) master of English. I have many years of experience. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
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Mediha is great teacher. She understands personality of the student and she helped me to find correct goals, methodology and guides me great. I recommend here and I will use here services for sure in the future
Mediha D.
Thank You very much, Mirsad! I appreciate Your postive feedback and I hope we continue to work together on Your progress. I can see a bright future for You in this field as a confident public speaker
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I am a certified TEFL English teacher. I am flexible and I teach based on your learning style. For instance, if you learn best with visuals I will incoporate vidoes and picyures into our lessons. My lesson plans focus on grammar, writing, and pronunciation. Learning a new language is fun and I make my lessons fun and innovative.
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Vanessa is a new teacher and eager to help you learn English. Her lessons are fun and interactive. She teaches from A1 to B2.
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I'm Rick, a CELTA-certified English language teacher.
Raised bilingually by an English mother and Dutch father. Lived, studied and worked in London.
Originally a classically trained singer and therefore have a sharp ear for pronunciation and vowel formation.
As a singer, I'm used to speaking and singing a lot of different languages (Italian, German, French, Russian, Czech, English, Dutch) and am used to working, and speaking English, with people from all around the world, which I like very much!
I have a lot of experience with online teaching, as well as live in person.
I teach grammar, listening, reading and speaking, using materials from different course books, adapted to the needs of you as a student.
My lessons are a combination of depth and personal touch.
I'm flexible, creative and fun, so send me a message and I hope to be helping you out with your English language learning in the near future!
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Rick is a new teacher on our platform, and he is eager to help you learn English. He has experience in giving exam training and teaches English from the level A1 until B2. Furthermore, he is very structured and adjusts his classes to your needs. You will surely learn a lot from him!
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Hello, my name is Corinne and I am a qualified ESL English teacher from England. I have been teaching in classrooms and online for over 3 years and I have many satisfied students.
My lessons are student-centred and usually take place on Skype. I treat every student as an individual and tailor my lessons to meet their goals. I use a variety of text books and free online resources including exercises, articles and videos. I usually give out a little homework at the end of each lesson to reinforce what we have done together.
In your first lesson, we will discuss your needs and check your current level. From this, we can decide what sort of lessons will suit you the best. Perhaps you struggle with grammar and sentence structure? Perhaps you need to practice English for a specific purpose, like understanding lectures, making phone calls at work, or travelling? Or perhaps you need a structured course so that you can learn English step by step?
Whatever you need, I’m here to help. I see it as my job to make you feel safe, build your confidence and make your lessons enjoyable. I look forward to hearing from you and to helping you on your path to speaking better English. Book your first lesson now and let’s get started.
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I learn a lot during my lessons with Corinne and I recommend her a lot! She is a fantastic teacher and a really sympathic person. I like her very much.
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Have you always dreamed of becoming an expert in the English language? Now you can!
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Wendy is an enthusiastic new teacher. She is very patient and has a passion for the languages she teaches. She has lots of useful learning materials, and you will certainly feel welcome in her class.
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Susan is a new teacher and eager to help you learn or improve your English. She is very patient, and you'll surely feel comfortable in her presence.
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I Offer English teaching, Phonics, word and sound pronunciation.
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**** Please contact me before booking a lesson, thanks! :-)*** Hello everyone, I'm Federica and I'm an italian and english teacher. Before being a teacher I've been a student infact I graduated in languages so I know very well how hard can be learning a new language. I'm interested in music, cinema, literature and I enjoy talking about several topics. I've been teaching since 2009 and in 2012 I've qualified as italian language teacher. I've experience with children and adults, with in company courses, with total beginners as well as with advanced. Also I've succesfully prepared a number of students for the most important english and italian certification (CELI, CILS, FIRST, PET, KET). Over the last years I've became specialized in one-to-one or small groups lessons because in this way I can create a tailored programme for each student. I follow a communicative approach and in my classes there's lot of room for speaking but I don't neglect grammar, listening and writing. I provide you with material, sometimes selfmade, other times taken from books, videos, or songs, but always useful to help you to immerse in the target language! At the end of every lesson I always assign homework in order to revise the things learnt. I define myself as a happy, positive and very patient person and I do my best to make the class a funny and relaxed moment. I look forward to meet you online!
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My boy 11yo had very helpful and nice lessons with Federica, a first experience which it worths to repeat as soon as possible. Thanks to Federica.
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Hello! I am a CELTA-qualified native English teacher offering lessons carefully tailored to your needs. Learn by dynamic conversation exchange, written pieces, songs lyrics, podcasts, and fun and challenging exercises.
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Let me help you improve your English for any purpose. I am a native English speaker with a Master's degree in English, a Bachelor of Science degree and a CELTA teaching qualification.
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For B2-C2 level students who enjoy photography: Would you would like to improve your English conversation and your photography? In a typical lesson, you will show me your latest photos and describe how and why you took them. Then we will discuss how photos are assessed in photographic competitions and, if necessary, we can go over the essentials of using a digital camera (although it's perfectly fine if you use your mobile phone to take photos).
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Hello! I am a CELTA-qualified native English teacher offering lessons carefully tailored to your needs. Learn by dynamic conversation exchange, written pieces, songs lyrics, podcasts, and fun and challenging exercises.
I have a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and have been rock climbing for about 25 years. As an Italian language learner myself, I believe that talking about your passions is one of the most effective ways of mastering a new language. I look forward to hearing about your interests!
I offer a free 15-minute meeting to discuss your personal goals for learning. Let’s work together to bring you closer to those English language goals!
-Parlo italiano-
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she is a professional mother language teacher. She is strongly problem solving oriented. She offers a wide range of tools to learn the language. She has a nice way of teaching.
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I am a BA in Education graduate, with vast experience in primary, secondary and higher education levels, as well as in other activities related to education. I believe I have a diverse background which makes me a very adaptable teacher and with a lot to offer.
Most of my experience is in high school ,in adult education and university students. I have been able to develop a good relationship with my students, which has translated to better communication and an altogether more rounded experience for them and myself. My lesson planning has always aimed to reflect my students’ needs and interest applied into useful communicative language structures that they can actually use in their lives.
In my last years as a teacher, I have focused on preparing test-takers for the TOEFL. It has been a completely different experience from what I have had before, but I have helped my students accomplish the desired scores in the proposed time.
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Daniel is a wonderful teacher. He can deduce what the needs of each student are and make the class in an entertaining and enriching way. I definitely recommend this teacher!
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I’m Mediha, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but have been living in Croatia for many years. I love making learning fun and have successfully helped my students improve their English in a pleasant atmosphere. I have experience helping my learners prepare for exams, job interviews, presentations etc. Whether business English, general conversational English or to help you prepare for a particular situation, feel free to book a trial lesson and we can discuss your needs and how I can help you! I graduated on University of Philosophy, and became (MA) master of English. I have many years of experience. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
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Mediha is great teacher. She understands personality of the student and she helped me to find correct goals, methodology and guides me great. I recommend here and I will use here services for sure in the future
Mediha D.
Thank You very much, Mirsad! I appreciate Your postive feedback and I hope we continue to work together on Your progress. I can see a bright future for You in this field as a confident public speaker
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I am a certified TEFL English teacher. I am flexible and I teach based on your learning style. For instance, if you learn best with visuals I will incoporate vidoes and picyures into our lessons. My lesson plans focus on grammar, writing, and pronunciation. Learning a new language is fun and I make my lessons fun and innovative.
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Vanessa is a new teacher and eager to help you learn English. Her lessons are fun and interactive. She teaches from A1 to B2.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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I'm Rick, a CELTA-certified English language teacher.
Raised bilingually by an English mother and Dutch father. Lived, studied and worked in London.
Originally a classically trained singer and therefore have a sharp ear for pronunciation and vowel formation.
As a singer, I'm used to speaking and singing a lot of different languages (Italian, German, French, Russian, Czech, English, Dutch) and am used to working, and speaking English, with people from all around the world, which I like very much!
I have a lot of experience with online teaching, as well as live in person.
I teach grammar, listening, reading and speaking, using materials from different course books, adapted to the needs of you as a student.
My lessons are a combination of depth and personal touch.
I'm flexible, creative and fun, so send me a message and I hope to be helping you out with your English language learning in the near future!
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Rick is a new teacher on our platform, and he is eager to help you learn English. He has experience in giving exam training and teaches English from the level A1 until B2. Furthermore, he is very structured and adjusts his classes to your needs. You will surely learn a lot from him!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Hello, my name is Corinne and I am a qualified ESL English teacher from England. I have been teaching in classrooms and online for over 3 years and I have many satisfied students.
My lessons are student-centred and usually take place on Skype. I treat every student as an individual and tailor my lessons to meet their goals. I use a variety of text books and free online resources including exercises, articles and videos. I usually give out a little homework at the end of each lesson to reinforce what we have done together.
In your first lesson, we will discuss your needs and check your current level. From this, we can decide what sort of lessons will suit you the best. Perhaps you struggle with grammar and sentence structure? Perhaps you need to practice English for a specific purpose, like understanding lectures, making phone calls at work, or travelling? Or perhaps you need a structured course so that you can learn English step by step?
Whatever you need, I’m here to help. I see it as my job to make you feel safe, build your confidence and make your lessons enjoyable. I look forward to hearing from you and to helping you on your path to speaking better English. Book your first lesson now and let’s get started.
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I learn a lot during my lessons with Corinne and I recommend her a lot! She is a fantastic teacher and a really sympathic person. I like her very much.
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