In grammar, the tense of a verb tells us when an action occurs. English has 12 different verb tenses, but in this article we’ll focus on the simple present tense. This tense describes actions that are happening right now (for example, the cat sleeps).
The simple present is often used to describe habits or unchanging situations. It can also convey general truths and planned events in the future. It’s best suited for simple action verbs with no infinitive form, or those with an added s or es (e.g., write, walk). You can use the simple present tense in questions that start with do/does or doesn’t and add a one-word time expression, such as always, usually, sometimes, or never.
You can also use the simple present tense to ask about an ongoing or regular activity with no specific time period attached: Do you check your email at work every day?
The simple present tense can also be used to form negative statements using the formula do/does not + [subject] and contractions such as don’t and doesn’t. For more information, see the section on English auxiliaries and contractions. The simple present tense can also be combined with other tense forms to create different verb types. For more details, see the section on English auxiliary verbs and other tense forms.
Structure of Simple Present Tense
Positive : Subject + Verb (V1)
Negative : Subject + Do / Does not + Verb (V1)
Questions : Do / Does not + Subject + Verb (V1)
10 Example of Simple Present Tense
- She reads a book every night.
- I go to school by bus.
- He plays cricket on Sundays.
- The sun rises in the east.
- Birds fly in the sky.
- We watch TV in the evening.
- They eat lunch at 1 p.m.
- My father drinks tea every morning.
- It rains a lot in July.
- You speak English well.
Simple Present Tense Worksheet with Answers
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets
- He __ to school every day. (go)
- She __ breakfast at 8 a.m. (have)
- The dog __ loudly. (bark)
- They __ football in the park. (play)
- My mother __ delicious food. (cook)