ESL Inventory

Present Simple: Rules, Examples & Exercises

The present simple tense is used to talk about habits, routines, general truths, and facts. We also use it to express opinions and preferences.

Try this exercise to test what you know about the Present Simple.

EXERCISE: Present Simple – True/False

Choose ‘true’ is the sentence is correct, and ‘false’ if the sentence is not correct.

1 / 10

We play soccer on weekends.

2 / 10

He don’t study at this school anymore.

3 / 10

We don’t watch television during dinner.

4 / 10

They don’t eat meat because they are vegetarians.

5 / 10

She goes to the gym every morning.

6 / 10

The train leave at 6:30 p.m. every evening.

7 / 10

Do they know the way to the museum?

8 / 10

Does he like coffee?

9 / 10

Do you speak Spanish fluently?

10 / 10

Do the sun rise in the east?

Your score is

0%

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Was this too hard? Study the article below and check the bottom of this page for more exercises.

Structure

The present simple tense is formed using:

  • Affirmative: Subject + base verb (add -s for he/she/it).
    • I study, she studies
  • Negative: Subject + do not/does not (don’t/doesn’t) + base verb.
    • I study, she doesn’t study
  • Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + base verb?
    • Do you study? Does she study?

Base Verb Rules

  • Add -s for he/she/it: play → plays, read → reads.
  • For verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -x, -ss, -o, add -es: watch → watches, go → goes.
  • For verbs ending in a consonant + -y, change -y to -ies: study → studies.

Conjugation Table

Present Simple conjugation infographic showing affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms with the verb “work.” Includes examples for all subjects (I, you, she, he, it, we, they), highlighting third person singular “-s” in affirmative, use of “do/does not” in negatives, and “do/does” for questions. Clean ESL grammar chart with icons representing each subject and color-coded verb changes.
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When to Use Present Simple

The present simple is used in these situations:

Infographic showing the Present Simple uses: routine, general facts, permanent situations, short actions now, timetables. Full article please visit: www.esl-inventory.com
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Finding confusing with Present Continuous? Click here.

Time Expressions for Present Simple

The present simple often uses these time expressions:

always
usually
sometimes
never
every day/week/year

She always eats breakfast.
They usually walk to work.
He sometimes visits his grandparents.
I never watch horror movies.
We play football every Saturday.

More Adverbs of Frequency

Key Points on Present Simple

  1. Affirmative: Add -s or -es for he/she/it.
  2. Negative: Use do not/does not + base verb.
  3. Interrogative: Start with do/does, then use subject + base verb.
  4. Use time expressions like always, sometimes, and every day to give context.

Present Simple Exercise list

EXERCISE: Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple

Write complete sentences in the Present Simple. Use affirmative, negative, or question forms as indicated.
Example:
Prompt: she – play the piano – every Saturday (affirmative)
Answer: She plays the piano every Saturday.

1 / 10

it – rain – a lot – in spring (affirmative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

2 / 10

she – have – a cat (question)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

3 / 10

They – eat – meat (negative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

4 / 10

my brother – play – football – on Sundays (affirmative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

5 / 10

I – work – at the hospital (negative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

6 / 10

You – like – chocolate (question)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

7 / 10

she – read – books – before bed (affirmative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

8 / 10

they – study – English – on Mondays (question)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

9 / 10

he – watch TV – in the evening (affirmative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

10 / 10

we – go to school – by bus (negative)

Write a complete sentence in the Present Simple.

Your score is

0%

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Speaking Practice on Present Simple

Affirmative form: PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2 | EnglishRoom1 | EnglishRoom2 | Ego4u1 | Ego4u2 | Ego4u3 | Ego4u4 | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | GrammarCL |

Negative form: EnglischHilfen1 | EnglischHilfen2 | PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2 | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 MontseMorales1 | MontseMorales2 | MontseMorales3 | GrammarCl | Ego4u1 | Ego4u2 | Ego4u3 | Ego4u4 | Englishpedia |

Interrogative form: AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | PerfectEnglish | GrammarCl | PerfectEnglish2 | Ego4u1 | Ego4u2 | Ego4u3 | Ego4u4 | EnglischHilfen | English4u

Mixed forms: English4u | PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2 | Perfect English3 | LiveWorksheets1 | LiveWorksheets2 | Test-English | Oxford Online | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | Using English | Anglais Facile | MyEnglishPages | EnglischHilfen1 | EnglischHilfen2 | Ego4u | EnglishRoom | Englishpedia1 | Englishpedia2 | EnglishClub | SpeakSpeak1 | SpeakSpeak2 | SpeakSpeak3