Present Simple
Fifth Primary Level Forming the Simple Present Tense There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one e
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Fifth Primary Level
Forming the Simple Present Tense There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":
Subject
Verb Form
Example
I
simple form
I sing
You
simple form
You sing
He
simple form + S
He sings
She
simple form + S
She sings
It
simple form + S
It sings
We
simple form
We sing
They
simple form
They sing
In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S.
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Fifth Primary Level -S or -ES? With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:
Verb ending in...
How to make the 3rd person singular
Example
s
Add -ES
He passes
z
Add -ES
She dozes
sh
Add -ES
She wishes
ch
Add -ES
He watches
consonant + y
Change Y to I, then add -ES
It flies
[anything else]
Add -S
He sings
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Fifth Primary Level
Negatives and Questions in the Simple Present Tense
In the simple present tense, negative and question forms are made using the auxiliary verb "do". This page explains the rules.
Forming a negative Negatives in the simple present are formed by adding don't or doesn't before the simple form of the verb:
Subject
Auxiliary
Example
I
don't
I don't sing
You
don't
You don't sing
He
doesn't
He doesn't sing
She
doesn't
She doesn't sing
It
doesn't
It doesn't sing
We
don't
We don't sing
They
don't
They don't sing
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Fifth Primary Level
In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have DOESN'T -- the rest have DON'T.
Forming a question Questions are also created using the auxiliary do. This time, the auxiliary is placed before the subject. Here are the rules:
Auxiliary
Subject
Example
do
I
Do I sing?
do
You
Do you sing?
does
He
Does he sing?
does
She
Does she sing?
does
It
Does it sing?
do
We
Do we sing?
do
They
Do they sing?
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Fifth Primary Level
Forming a WH- question WH- questions (using words such as "what", "when", "where" etc.) are also created by putting the auxiliary do before the subject. Then, you add the WH- word at the beginning. Here are some examples:
Statement
Question
WH- question
I sing
Do I sing?
What do I sing?
You fight.
Do you fight?
Why do you fight?
He lives
Does he live?
Where does he live?
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