Simple Present Tense: Rules, Formula, Examples and Exercises Worksheet PDF Download

The Simple Present Tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English grammar. We use it to talk about daily routines, habits, general truths, facts, likes, dislikes and regular activities.

For example:

• I wake up early every morning.
• She goes to school by bus.
• The sun rises in the east.
• They play cricket on Sundays.

In this lesson, you will learn the meaning, rules, sentence structure, formulas and examples of the Simple Present Tense. You will also find practice exercises and worksheets with answers to improve your English grammar.

What Is Simple Present Tense?

The Simple Present Tense is used to describe habits, routines, facts, general truths and situations that are generally true or regularly happen.

In simple words, we use this tense when we talk about something that happens regularly or something that is generally true.

Examples of Simple Present Tense

Sentence	Use
I drink milk every morning.	Daily habit
She teaches English.	Regular activity
The Earth revolves around the Sun.	General truth
Water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure.	Scientific fact
He likes chocolate.	Preference

Uses of Simple Present Tense

We use the Simple Present Tense in different situations. The following are its most important uses.

1. To Express Daily Habits and Routines

We use the Simple Present Tense to describe activities that we do regularly.

• I brush my teeth twice a day.
• My father reads the newspaper every morning.
• She walks to school.
• We study English every evening.

2. To Express General Truths

We use this tense for facts and statements that are generally true.

• The Sun gives us light and heat.
• Plants need water to grow.
• Birds have feathers.
• Ice melts when it gets warm.

3. To Express Scientific Facts

Scientific facts and established principles are commonly expressed in the Simple Present Tense.

• The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• Water freezes at 0°C under standard atmospheric pressure.
• Light travels faster than sound.

4. To Express Likes and Dislikes

We use this tense to express our preferences, feelings and opinions.

• I like mangoes.
• She loves music.
• He dislikes loud noises.
• They enjoy playing football.

5. To Describe Regular or Repeated Activities

It is also used for actions that happen repeatedly.

• Our school opens at 8 a.m.
• The train leaves at 6 p.m.
• He visits his grandparents every weekend.

6. To Give Instructions and Directions

The Simple Present Tense is commonly used in instructions, recipes and directions.

• First, you wash the vegetables.
• Then, you cut them into small pieces.
• You turn left at the next crossing.

Simple Present Tense Formula

The sentence structure of the Simple Present Tense depends on the type of sentence. We generally use the first form of the main verb (V1).

1. Affirmative Sentences (Positive Sentences)

Affirmative sentences express a positive statement.

Formula:

Subject + V1 + Object

Subject (He/She/It/Name) + V1 + s/es + Object

Subject	Verb	Example
I	play	I play cricket.
We	play	We play cricket.
You	play	You play cricket.
They	play	They play cricket.
He	plays	He plays cricket.
She	plays	She plays cricket.
Rahul	plays	Rahul plays cricket.

Important Rule: Add s or es to the main verb when the subject is he, she, it or a singular noun in an ordinary affirmative sentence.

2. Negative Sentences

Negative sentences express that an action does not happen or is not true.

Formula:

Subject + do not + V1 + Object

Subject (He/She/It/Name) + does not + V1 + Object

Subject	Helping Verb	Example
I	do not	I do not play cricket.
We	do not	We do not play cricket.
You	do not	You do not play cricket.
They	do not	They do not play cricket.
He	does not	He does not play cricket.
She	does not	She does not play cricket.
Rahul	does not	Rahul does not play cricket.

Important Rule: After does not, always use the first form of the main verb without s or es.

Correct: She does not sing.

Incorrect: She does not sings.

3. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Interrogative sentences are used to ask questions.

Formula:

Do + Subject + V1 + Object + ?

Does + Subject (He/She/It/Name) + V1 + Object + ?

Helping Verb	Subject	Example
Do	I	Do I speak clearly?
Do	We	Do we need a ticket?
Do	You	Do you like tea?
Do	They	Do they play football?
Does	He	Does he speak English?
Does	She	Does she cook food?
Does	Rahul	Does Rahul go to school?

Important Rule: Use do with I, we, you and they. Use does with he, she, it and singular nouns.

4. Negative Interrogative Sentences

Negative interrogative sentences are questions that contain a negative meaning.

Formula:

Do + Subject + not + V1 + Object + ?

Does + Subject + not + V1 + Object + ?

Examples:

• Do you not understand the question?
• Do they not live here?
• Does he not go to school?
• Does she not like coffee?

In everyday English, contractions are also common:

• Don’t you understand?
• Don’t they live here?
• Doesn’t he go to school?
• Doesn’t she like coffee?

5. WH-Questions in Simple Present Tense

WH-questions begin with words such as what, where, when, why, who and how.

Formula:

WH-word + do/does + Subject + V1 + Object + ?

Examples:

• Where do you live?
• What does she eat for breakfast?
• When do they play football?
• Why does he study English?
• How do you travel to school?

Special case: When who or what is the subject of the sentence, we generally do not use do or does.

• Who teaches you English?
• What makes this machine work?
• Who lives in that house?

Rules for Adding S and ES to Verbs

One of the most important rules of the Simple Present Tense is adding s or es to the verb with third-person singular subjects in affirmative sentences.

Rule 1: Add S to Most Verbs

For most verbs, simply add s.

Base Verb	Third-Person Singular
Read	Reads
Write	Writes
Eat	Eats
Play	Plays
Drink	Drinks
Sleep	Sleeps

Rule 2: Add ES to Verbs Ending in s, ss, sh, ch, x and z

Many verbs ending in these sounds take es.

Base Verb	Third-Person Singular
Go	Goes
Wash	Washes
Watch	Watches
Pass	Passes
Fix	Fixes
Buzz	Buzzes

Rule 3: Verbs Ending in Consonant + Y

When a verb ends in a consonant followed by y, change y into ies.

Base Verb	Third-Person Singular
Study	Studies
Try	Tries
Carry	Carries
Fly	Flies
Worry	Worries

Rule 4: Verbs Ending in Vowel + Y

When a verb ends in a vowel followed by y, simply add s.

Base Verb	Third-Person Singular
Play	Plays
Enjoy	Enjoys
Buy	Buys
Say	Says

Rule 5: Special Forms

Some common verbs have special third-person singular forms.

Base Verb	Third-Person Singular
Have	Has
Do	Does
Go	Goes

Simple Present Tense with the Verb Be

The verb be has three present forms: am, is and are. It is used differently from ordinary action verbs. Do not use do or does to form ordinary negative and question sentences with am, is and are.

Affirmative Structure

Formula: Subject + am/is/are + Complement.

Subject	Be Verb	Example
I	am	I am a student.
He	is	He is happy.
She	is	She is a teacher.
It	is	It is cold today.
We	are	We are ready.
You	are	You are intelligent.
They	are	They are friends.

Negative Structure

Formula: Subject + am/is/are + not + Complement.

• I am not tired.
• She is not at home.
• They are not busy.

Interrogative Structure

Formula: Am/Is/Are + Subject + Complement + ?

• Am I late?
• Is she your sister?
• Are they students?

Common Words Used with Simple Present Tense

Some words and expressions are commonly used with the Simple Present Tense to show how often an action happens.

Word or Phrase	Meaning	Example
Always	Every time	She always arrives early.
Usually	Most of the time	He usually drinks tea.
Often	Many times	We often visit the park.
Sometimes	On some occasions	I sometimes cook dinner.
Rarely	Not often	He rarely watches television.
Never	Not at any time	She never tells lies.
Every day	Daily	I exercise every day.
Every week	Weekly	They play football every week.

Position of Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency generally come before the main verb.

• She always helps her mother.
• They often play outside.
• He never arrives late.

With the verb be, these adverbs generally come after am, is or are.

• She is always polite.
• They are usually busy.
• I am never late.

Simple Present Tense Examples

Here are some useful Simple Present Tense examples for everyday English practice.

Positive Sentences

1. I read books every night.
2. She sings beautifully.
3. My brother works in a bank.
4. We celebrate festivals together.
5. The shop opens at 9 a.m.
6. My mother prepares breakfast.
7. Children learn new things at school.
8. He speaks English fluently.

Negative Sentences

1. I do not waste my time.
2. She does not eat meat.
3. They do not watch television every day.
4. He does not drive a car.
5. We do not make noise in the library.

Interrogative Sentences

1. Do you speak English?
2. Does she work here?
3. Do they live in Delhi?
4. Does your brother play cricket?
5. Do we have enough time?

Difference Between Simple Present and Present Continuous Tense

Students sometimes confuse the Simple Present Tense with the Present Continuous Tense. The main difference is that the Simple Present usually describes habits, facts and regular activities, whereas the Present Continuous usually describes actions happening around the present time.

Simple Present	Present Continuous
I read books every day.	I am reading a book now.
She cooks dinner every evening.	She is cooking dinner now.
They play football on Sundays.	They are playing football now.
He works in a bank.	He is working from home this week.

Common Mistakes in Simple Present Tense

Here are some common mistakes that students should avoid while using the Simple Present Tense.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence	Reason
He go to school.	He goes to school.	Add es to go with he.
She do not sing.	She does not sing.	Use does with she.
Does he plays cricket?	Does he play cricket?	Use V1 after does.
They goes to market.	They go to market.	Do not add s or es with they.
I does my homework.	I do my homework.	Use do with I.
She studys daily.	She studies daily.	Change consonant + y to ies.

Simple Present Tense Worksheet

Practice the following exercises to check your understanding of the Simple Present Tense. Try to answer the questions before checking the answer key.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs given in brackets.

1. She ______ to school every day. (go)
2. They ______ cricket on Sundays. (play)
3. My father ______ in a bank. (work)
4. He ______ English very well. (speak)
5. We ______ our homework in the evening. (do)
6. The Sun ______ in the east. (rise)
7. Riya ______ her room every morning. (clean)
8. Birds ______ in the sky. (fly)
9. My brother ______ milk every day. (drink)
10. The baby ______ when it is hungry. (cry)

Exercise 2: Change into Negative Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences in the negative form.

1. She likes apples.
2. He plays football.
3. They live in Mumbai.
4. I drink coffee.
5. Rahul studies English.

Exercise 3: Change into Interrogative Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences as questions.

1. You speak English.
2. She cooks food.
3. They play hockey.
4. He reads newspapers.
5. Your father works in a hospital.

Exercise 4: Choose the Correct Option

Select the correct answer for each question.

1. He ______ to school every morning.
   • (a) go
   • (b) goes
   • (c) going
   • (d) gone
2. They ______ football every evening.
   • (a) plays
   • (b) playing
   • (c) play
   • (d) played
3. She ______ not like coffee.
   • (a) do
   • (b) does
   • (c) is
   • (d) are
4. ______ you speak Hindi?
   • (a) Does
   • (b) Is
   • (c) Do
   • (d) Are
5. The Earth ______ around the Sun.
   • (a) revolve
   • (b) revolves
   • (c) revolving
   • (d) revolved
6. My sister ______ English books.
   • (a) read
   • (b) reads
   • (c) reading
   • (d) to read
7. Does Rahul ______ cricket?
   • (a) plays
   • (b) played
   • (c) play
   • (d) playing
8. We ______ not watch television every day.
   • (a) does
   • (b) do
   • (c) is
   • (d) has
9. She ______ her homework regularly.
   • (a) do
   • (b) does
   • (c) doing
   • (d) done
10. Which sentence is correct?
    • (a) He don’t work here.
    • (b) He doesn’t works here.
    • (c) He doesn’t work here.
    • (d) He not work here.

Simple Present Tense Worksheet Answers

Answers to Exercise 1

1. She goes to school every day.
2. They play cricket on Sundays.
3. My father works in a bank.
4. He speaks English very well.
5. We do our homework in the evening.
6. The Sun rises in the east.
7. Riya cleans her room every morning.
8. Birds fly in the sky.
9. My brother drinks milk every day.
10. The baby cries when it is hungry.

Answers to Exercise 2

1. She does not like apples.
2. He does not play football.
3. They do not live in Mumbai.
4. I do not drink coffee.
5. Rahul does not study English.

Answers to Exercise 3

1. Do you speak English?
2. Does she cook food?
3. Do they play hockey?
4. Does he read newspapers?
5. Does your father work in a hospital?

Answers to Exercise 4

Question	Correct Answer	Explanation
1	(b) goes	He is a third-person singular subject, so use goes.
2	(c) play	They takes the base form of the verb.
3	(b) does	Use does not with she.
4	(c) Do	Use do to form questions with you.
5	(b) revolves	The Earth is a singular subject.
6	(b) reads	My sister is a singular subject.
7	(c) play	Use the base form after does.
8	(b) do	Use do not with we.
9	(b) does	Does is the correct form with she.
10	(c) He doesn’t work here.	Use doesn’t followed by the base form work.

Important Points to Remember

• The Simple Present Tense describes habits, routines, facts and general truths.
• Use V1 with I, we, you and they in affirmative sentences.
• Add s or es to the main verb with he, she, it and singular nouns in affirmative sentences.
• Use do not or don’t with I, we, you and they.
• Use does not or doesn’t with he, she, it and singular nouns.
• Always use the base form of the main verb after do and does.
• Use do and does to make ordinary questions with action verbs.
• Use am, is and are with the verb be.
• Adverbs of frequency help describe how often an action happens.

Download Simple Present Tense PDF – Free Study Guide

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visual examples, sentence formulas, practice worksheets
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📘 Simple Present Tense – Complete Study Guide

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• Detailed Simple Present Tense rules
• Four sentence structures with examples
• Do and Does shortcut tricks
• V1 and S/ES verb rules
• Am, Is and Are usage
• Visual grammar examples
• Practice worksheets and MCQs
• Answer key with explanations

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How to use this study guide?

1. Read the grammar rules carefully.
2. Understand the visual examples.
3. Practise the worksheet without checking answers.
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5. Revise the one-minute revision sheet.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Simple Present Tense?

The Simple Present Tense is used to describe habits, daily routines, general truths, facts and regular activities. For example: I go to school every day.

2. What is the formula of Simple Present Tense?

For ordinary affirmative sentences, the basic structure is Subject + V1 + Object. With he, she, it or a singular noun, add s or es to the verb. Negative and interrogative sentences generally use do or does.

3. When do we use Simple Present Tense?

We use it for daily habits, repeated actions, general truths, scientific facts, likes, dislikes and regular schedules.

4. What are the helping verbs of Simple Present Tense?

Do and does are used to form ordinary negative and interrogative sentences with action verbs. Am, is and are are forms of the verb be and are used directly in sentences about identity, condition or state.

5. When do we use do and does?

Use do with I, we, you and they. Use does with he, she, it and singular nouns when forming ordinary negative sentences and questions with action verbs.

6. Do we add s or es in negative sentences?

No. After does not or doesn’t, use the base form of the verb. For example: She doesn’t play tennis.

7. What are some examples of Simple Present Tense?

Examples include: I read books, She cooks food, They play cricket, He works in a bank and The Sun rises in the east.

8. Is Simple Present Tense used for future events?

Yes. It can describe fixed schedules and timetables in the future. For example: The train leaves at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Conclusion

The Simple Present Tense is an important part of English grammar. It helps us describe our daily routines, habits, facts, general truths and regular activities. To use it correctly, remember the rules for adding s or es, the use of do and does, and the difference between affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Read the examples carefully and practise the exercises regularly. The more you use these sentence structures in everyday communication, the more confidently you will use the Simple Present Tense.

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