Use the present simple for habits, routines, facts and things that are generally true. It's the tense you use to talk about your job, your week and the things you like. The tricky parts are the -s on he, she and it, and the helper verbs do and does in questions and negatives.
The pattern
She works from home on Fridays.
Does he take the bus to work?
My roommate doesn't eat meat.
01He, she, it: add -s
With I, you, we and they, use the base verb: I work, they live. With he, she, it (and any single person or thing, like my boss or the bus), add -s. A few spelling rules change the ending.
- My boss drives a pickup truck.
- The bus leaves at 7:40 a.m.
- My brother studies nursing in Ohio.
| Verb ends in | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | add -s | works, drives, plays |
| -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o | add -es | misses, washes, watches, fixes, goes |
| consonant + y | y becomes -ies | studies, carries, tries |
| have | irregular | has |
02Negatives: don't and doesn't
Put don't (do not) or doesn't (does not) before the base verb. The -s moves to the helper, so the main verb has no -s: she doesn't work, not she doesn't works.
- I don't drink coffee after lunch.
- Our landlord doesn't answer texts on the weekend.
- They don't live here anymore.
03Questions and short answers
Start with Do or Does, then the subject, then the base verb. For information questions, put the question word first: Where do you work? What time does the store open?
Answer yes/no questions with a short answer: Yes, I do. No, she doesn't. When who or what is the subject, don't use do or does: Who lives upstairs?
- Do you like your new apartment? Yes, I do.
- Does your sister drive? No, she doesn't.
- How often does the train come?
04Routines and frequency words
Words like always, usually, often, sometimes and never go before the main verb but after am, is or are: I usually walk to work. He is always late.
- We often eat dinner at 6:00.
- She never checks email on vacation.
- Is he usually this busy?
05Common mistakes
She don't like spicy food.
She doesn't like spicy food.
He, she and it take doesn't.
Does he works here?
Does he work here?
After does, the main verb has no -s.
My brother go to college in Ohio.
My brother goes to college in Ohio.
One person (he) needs -es on go.
Where you live?
Where do you live?
Present simple questions need do or does.