Grammar A1 - Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense serves as the default mode in English, used to describe habits, daily routines, and generally true facts rather than actions occurring in the immediate moment.

• Constructing Positive Statements:

  • For the subjects I, you, we, or they, the verb is used in its base dictionary form (e.g., "I eat," "we travel").
  • When the subject is a singular third person—he, she, or it—an "s" must be added to the end of the verb (e.g., "works," "drives"). This "s" is often forgotten, so speakers should practice listening for this sound.

• Negatives and Questions:

  • Because English verbs require assistance to form negatives or questions, the helper verb "do" is used.
  • To make a negative, "do" is combined with "not" to create "don't". When referring to he, she, or it, the helper becomes "doesn't".
  • Once "doesn't" is used, the main verb remains in its simple base form because the helper has already accounted for the "s".
  • For questions, the helper "do" or "does" is moved to the beginning of the sentence to indicate that a response is expected.