Present Simple – Forms, Examples & Practice

To master any language, one of the most important rules is learning how to form tenses. They establish the backbone of how we express time in communication. A basic, yet fundamental tense in the English language is the present simple, an essential component of our language rules used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. In this article, we will dive into the rules and usage of this tense, shedding light on how to apply it correctly in numerous contexts.

Definition: Present simple

The present simple (also: simple present) tense is a common verb tense used to describe habits, facts, fixed arrangements, and unchanging situations, such as jokes and stories. As the name already indicates, it is an elementary tense, as it is formed by using the base form or infinitive of the verb. However, when using he, she, or it, a special verb conjugation is needed.

Formula of present simple active voice

The present simple tense is one of the three simple tenses – which include past simple and future simple – and plays a fundamental part in the English language. This tense is characterized by its clear-cut structure that relies simply on the base form (infinitive) of verbs.

Even though it is an easily memorizable tense, pronouns or subject-verb-agreement need to be considered to use it correctly. The only mistake one can make when forming the present simple in active voice, is to forget the additional suffixes “-s,” “-es,” or “ies,” which are added to the verb when the named or unnamed subject is in the third-person singular. In this section, we will explore the rules and patterns involved in creating the present simple tense for both regular and irregular verbs by providing clear examples and explanations.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs of the present simple tense in third-person singular adhere to a predictable conjugation pattern. This means that you simply add an “-s” at the end of the root form of the verb.

In the table below, you can find more examples of regular verbs in 3rd person singular.

Irregular verbs

Most English verbs follow regular conjugation patterns, but there are a few irregular verbs that do not adhere to the standard rules. The concept of irregular verbs is more prominent in the past simple and past participle verb forms. However, in the present tense, the irregularities are seen in verbs that follow these patterns:

Below are several example sentences.

An example for each irregular verb pattern can be seen in the table below.

Auxiliary verbs

Primary auxiliary verbs are essential in forming various tenses and questions. They consist of “to be,” “to have,” and “to do.” As expected, their conjugations are very different from other verbs, which also applies to the present simple tense.

We have combined all regular and irregular verbs in a PDF document that you can obtain by clicking on the download box below.

Practice worksheet

Now that you know how to form the affirmative present simple tense, it is time for your first exercise. Below, you can find ten example sentences that include regular, irregular, and auxiliary verbs in numerous contexts. Let’s test if you can get them all correct.

Active question form of present simple

To form yes or no questions in the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does,” with the latter being used in the third-person singular. It is then followed by the subject, the base form of the main verb, and a question mark.

Questions with question words

When a simple yes or no is not enough, we use question words that require more elaboration in their answers. Those question words are: what, where, when, why, who, how, how many, and how much. They are then followed by “do” or “does,” the subject, and the base form of the main verb.

Negative question form of present simple

Negative questions in the present simple tense can be formed in two ways:

1. Using “do not/does not” or its contraction “don’t/doesn’t.”
2. Inverting the subject and auxiliary verb “do/does.”

The first question structure of present simple with the apostrophe is regularly used in spoken English and informal writing. It can convey a slight surprise or a need for confirmation of something the speaker believes to be true or is uncertain about.

The second question structure of present simple tends to be a bit more formal and is often found in written English. It emphasizes the negative aspect more clearly, which is typically used to indicate disbelief or surprise.

Negative questions with question words

When forming negative questions with question words in the present simple tense, the structure is the same, as you use “don’t/doesn’t” and the root form of the main verb.

Below, we have provided an image that contains the structures of the present simple active voice.

Formula of present simple passive voice

Now that we have explained the structure of the present simple’s active voice in the previous paragraphs, it is time to talk about the form of its passive voice. Passive is used when the focus is on the action rather than on the doer of the action. It is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb “to be” in its present simple form and the past participle (3^rd past form) of the main verb. When people are involved in a passive sentence, we use the agent “by” to show the subject of the action. Unlike with active voice, the object in a sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Below, you can find an image that summarizes the formula of the present simple passive voice.

Indicators for present simple

The English language has many tenses and for each one, there are time expressions that simplify figuring out which tense to use. Here are common indicators for the present simple tense, along with numerous examples.

They provide information about the regularity or repetition of actions and are commonly used with the present simple tense to indicate habitual or regular actions. They include words like always, usually, frequently, rarely, never, etc.

Refers to regular activities that are daily/weekly/monthly.

Refers to specific days when habitual actions take place.

Short answers in present simple

Short answers in the present simple tense are concise responses that either confirm or deny the occurrence of an action or state, typically using auxiliary verbs. Here is how to form short answers in present simple, along with examples.

Active voice

Passive voice

Practice exercise

To wrap up this article, you can fill in the gaps for this last practice exercise. The correct answers for present simple conjugations are provided in the second tab. Mastering English tenses can be challenging, so have fun, and don’t worry if you don’t get everything correct the first time.