Present Simple
We use the Present Simple tense when we're talking about:
She usually wakes up at 7 o'clock in the morning.
I go to the gym three times a week.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Earth moves around the Sun.
We come from Iran.
He has two sisters.
Let’s see how we use the verb "work" in the Present Simple tense, as an example.
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
I work.
You work.
She works.
He works.
It works.
We work.
You work.
They work.
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I do not / don't work.
You do not / don't work.
She does not / doesn't work.
He does not / doesn't work.
It does not / doesn't work.
We do not / don't work.
You do not / don't work.
They do not / don't work.
POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Do I work?
Do you work?
Does she work?
Does he work?
Does it work?
Do we work?
Do you work?
Do they work?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Don't I / Do I not work?
Don't you / Do you not work?
Doesn't she / Does she not work?
Doesn't he / Does he not work?
Doesn't it / Does it not work?
Don't we / Do we not work?
Don't you / Do you not work?
Don't they / Do they not work?
In the Present Simple, the auxiliary verbs "do" and "does" help us make negatives and questions.
+She works for a big company.
-She does not / doesn't work for a big company.
+?Does she work for a big company?
-?Does she not / Doesn't she work for a big company?
Yes, she does. // No, she doesn't.
+They live in a modern apartment.
-They do not / don't live in a modern apartment.
+?Do they live in a modern apartment?
-?Do they not / Don't they live in a modern apartment?
Yes, they do. // No, they don't.
When we make the Present Simple tense with a third person singular subject (he / she / it), the general rule is to add an "s" to the base form of the verb. However, if the verb ends in "s", "x", "z", "sh", or "ch", we add "es" instead.
She teaches physics.
He usually washes the dishes in the evening.
My mechanic always fixes my car very well.
Their doorbell buzzes loudly.
He kisses his children when he comes back home.
With a third person singular subject (he / she / it), when the verb in a sentence ends in a "y" which is preceded by a consonant, we change the final "y" to "i" and add "es" to the end of the verb.
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Exercises
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1.A: What ____ your husband ____? (do)B: He's an engineer. He ____ for a big mulitnational company. (work)
A: What does your husband do?B: He's an engineer. He works for a big mulitnational company.
2.A: Do you ____ your job? (like)B: Yes, I ____. I ____ my job. (love)
A: Do you like your job?B: Yes, I do. I love my job.
3.A: When ____ your children ____ to bed? (go)B: My daughter ____ to bed very late, but my son ____. He usually ____ at about 10 p.m. (go / sleep)
A: When do your children go to bed?B: My daughter goes to bed very late, but my son doesn't. He usually sleeps at about 10 p.m.
4.My neighbor has a dog. It ____ a lot, but it's very friendly. We ____ a dog ourselves, so my children usually ____ with it. (bark / have / play)
My neighbor has a dog. It barks a lot, but it's very friendly. We don't have a dog ourselves, so my children usually play with it.