Simple Present Exercises
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How the simple present works
Use the simple present for things you do often and for facts that are generally true.
- Form:
- I/you/we/they work — he/she/it works (add -s in third person singular)
- Negative:
- don't / doesn't + base verb: She doesn't work on Sundays.
- Question:
- Do/Does + subject + base verb: Does he speak French?
- Use:
- routines (I run every day), facts (Dogs have four legs), schedules (The train leaves at 9)
- Signal words:
- always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays
Examples
She works at a hospital and starts at 7 a.m.
routine — third person adds -s
I don't drink coffee in the evening.
negative with don't + base verb
Does your brother live in London?
question with does — main verb stays in base form
Dogs have four legs.
general fact
We usually have dinner at eight.
adverb of frequency before the main verb
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Choose the correct form
Select the correct option to complete each sentence.
1.My sister ___ English at school.
2.___ they ___ in this house?
3.He ___ meat.
4.The museum ___ at 9 a.m. every day.
5.I ___ to music every day.
Complete the sentences
Type the correct simple present form of the verb in parentheses.
Put the words in order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
11. Build the sentence:
12. Build the sentence:
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
True or false?
Decide if each statement about the simple present is true or false.
15.The sentence "She don't like fish" is correct.
16.We use the simple present for facts, for example, "Dogs have four legs."
17.In the question "Does he works here?", the verb form is correct.
18.'Always' goes before the main verb in "I always walk to school."
Use the simple present every day
Use the simple present to talk about your day. I walk to school. My brother works in a shop. We have dinner at eight. These are things that happen again and again.
With he, she or it, add -s to the verb: he works. After -ch or -o, add -es: she watches, he goes. With consonant + y, change y to -ies: the baby cries.
For a question, start with do or does: Do they live here? Does she work here? After does, use the base verb work, not works.
For a negative, use don't or doesn't: I don't drink coffee. She doesn't eat meat. After doesn't, use the base verb again.
Words such as always, often and never tell us how often something happens. Put them before the main verb: I often listen to music. She never drinks coffee.
Frequently asked questions
When do we use the simple present?
Use it for routines (I walk to school every day), facts (Dogs have four legs) and schedules (The train leaves at nine).
Why does the verb take -s with he, she and it?
With he, she and it, add -s: I work, but he works. Some verbs add -es (watch → watches, go → goes). A consonant + y changes to -ies (study → studies).
What is the difference between 'don't' and 'doesn't'?
'Don't' (do not) is used with I, you, we and they; 'doesn't' (does not) is used with he, she and it. After both, the main verb stays in its base form: She doesn't work (never 'doesn't works').
Where do adverbs of frequency go in the sentence?
Put always, usually, often, sometimes and never before the main verb: I usually walk to school. After be, put them after the verb: I am usually tired.
Do we use -s after doesn't?
No. Use the base verb: She doesn't work, not She doesn't works. The -s is already in does.
Answer key
1. My sister ___ English at school.
Answer: teaches
Third person singular (my sister = she) adds -es to verbs ending in -ch: teaches.
2. ___ they ___ in this house?
Answer: Do / live
Questions with 'they' use 'do', and the main verb stays in the base form: Do they live…?
3. He ___ meat.
Answer: doesn't eat
Third person negative: doesn't + base verb. The -s goes on 'does', never on the main verb.
4. The museum ___ at 9 a.m. every day.
Answer: opens
Timetables and schedules use the simple present, and 'the museum' is third person: opens.
5. I ___ to music every day.
Answer: often listen
Adverbs of frequency like 'often' go before the main verb: I often listen.
6. She ___ to work by bike.
Answer: goes
Verbs ending in -o add -es in third person: go → goes.
7. My parents ___ in a small village.
Answer: live
'My parents' = they, so the verb takes no -s: live.
8. He ___ TV after dinner.
Answer: watches
Verbs ending in -ch add -es in third person: watch → watches.
9. The baby ___ a lot during the day.
Answer: cries
Consonant + y changes to -ies: cry → cries.
10. Our class ___ at nine o'clock.
Answer: starts
'Our class' is third person singular, so add -s: starts.
11. never / She / coffee. / drinks
Answer: She never drinks coffee.
Never goes between the subject and the main verb: She never drinks.
12. at nine. / starts / The film
Answer: The film starts at nine.
The film is one thing, so start takes -s: The film starts at nine.
13. don't / We / on Sundays. / work
Answer: We don't work on Sundays.
Negative: subject + don't + base verb + time expression.
14. your brother / Does / speak / English / ?
Answer: Does your brother speak English?
Yes/no question: Does + subject + base verb + object.
15. The sentence "She don't like fish" is correct.
Answer: False
False — third person singular uses 'doesn't': "She doesn't like fish."
16. We use the simple present for facts, for example, "Dogs have four legs."
Answer: True
We use it when we state a general fact.
17. In the question "Does he works here?", the verb form is correct.
Answer: False
False — after 'does', the main verb returns to its base form: "Does he work here?"
18. 'Always' goes before the main verb in "I always walk to school."
Answer: True
True — adverbs of frequency go before the main verb (but after the verb 'be': "I am always late").