Present Simple Tense – Rules and Examples for English

1. Using the Present Simple

1.1. Repeated actions (regularly, always, every day, often, sometimes or never)

My friend often draws nice posters.

1.2. General statements

The sun rises in the east.
(The sun rises in the east.)

1.3. Fixed actions (also in the future – e.g. timetables)

The plane flies to London every Monday.

1.4. Successive actions in the present (first – then, afterthat)

First I get up, then I have breakfast.

1.5. Instructions

Open your books at page 34.

1.6. With special verbs

understand English.

2. Signal words in Present Simple

  • every day
  • often
  • always
  • sometimes
  • never

3. Formation of Present Simple

Infinitive → 3rd person singular (he, she, it)infinitive -s

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in Present Simple

Long formsShort forms
read books./
You read books.
He reads books.

4.2. Negative sentences in Present Simple

You can’t make a negative word in present simple (except in few exceptions) without using an auxiliary verb.

Long formsShort forms
do not clean the room.don’t clean the room.
You do not clean the room.You don’t clean the room.
He does not clean the room.He doesn’t clean the room.

4.3. Questions in Present Simple

Even in questions in Present Simple, the auxiliary verb is used next to the infinitive.

Long formsShort forms
Do I play football?/
Do you play football?
Does he play football?

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