Present Simple for Beginners
Quick Answer
The present simple is the form English uses for habits, facts, and things that are usually true. There are three shapes: positive (“I work”), negative (“I don’t work”), and question (“Do you work?”). And inside each shape, there is a small change for he/she/it.
Click any single lesson below to learn one shape at a time.
What Is the Present Simple?
Use the present simple for habits and facts. The six lessons below practise ordinary verbs such as work, live and like. The verb be has different forms: I am, she is, they are. Look at these examples:
- I live in London. (true now)
- She drinks coffee every morning. (every day habit)
- The shop opens at nine. (usually true)
The Six Lessons
Each lesson teaches one small piece. Pick one, learn it, take the quiz, then come back for the next.
| Shape | Subjects | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive (base) | I, you, we, they | I work. | Learn It |
| Positive +s | he, she, it | She works. | Learn It |
| Negative don’t | I, you, we, they | I don’t work. | Learn It |
| Negative doesn’t | he, she, it | She doesn’t work. | Learn It |
| Question Do | I, you, we, they | Do you work? | Learn It |
| Question Does | he, she, it | Does she work? | Learn It |
The Rule in One Line: Three shapes (positive / negative / question), and one small change for he/she/it.
Learn It Step by Step
Build the present simple one piece at a time: positive sentences first, then negatives, then questions.
Step 1: I, You, We, They + Verb
For I, you, we, and they, the verb does not change. Just put the subject and the verb together: I work, you work, we work, they work.
Examples:
- I live in London. (Subject “I” + verb “live” — no change.)
- You speak English well. (Subject “you” + verb “speak” — no change.)
- We study every day. (Subject “we” + verb “study” — no change.)
Common mistake
Adding -s after I/you/we/they
✗ I works in a hospital.
✓ I work in a hospital.
How to remember: I, you, we, they = base verb. No -s. No “am.” No “to.” Just subject + verb.
Step 2: He, She, It + Verb + -s
For he, she, and it, you must add -s to the end of the verb. He works, she speaks, it rains.
Examples:
- He lives in Berlin. (Verb “live” + s = “lives”.)
- She drinks coffee every morning. (Verb “drink” + s = “drinks”.)
- It rains a lot in winter. (Verb “rain” + s = “rains”.)
Common mistake
Forgetting -s
✗ He work in a hospital.
✓ He works in a hospital.
How to remember: He / She / It → +s on the end. Same three subjects, same one letter. Always.
Step 3: Don’t
Use don’t to make a negative sentence with I, you, we, or they. Pattern: subject + don’t + verb (base form, no -s).
Examples:
- I don’t like spicy food. (I + don’t + like — verb stays simple.)
- You don’t need a ticket. (You + don’t + need.)
- They don’t live here. (They + don’t + live.)
Common mistake
Using don’t with he/she/it
✗ He don’t like coffee.
✓ He doesn’t like coffee.
How to remember: Don’t = do + not. Goes with I, you, we, they. The verb after it stays simple, never +s.
Step 4: Doesn’t
Use doesn’t to make a negative sentence with he, she, or it. Pattern: subject + doesn’t + verb (base form, no -s).
Examples:
- He doesn’t like fish. (He + doesn’t + like.)
- She doesn’t live here. (She + doesn’t + live.)
- It doesn’t work. (It + doesn’t + work.)
Common mistake
Keeping -s on the verb
✗ He doesn’t likes coffee.
✓ He doesn’t like coffee.
How to remember: Doesn’t = does + not. Goes with he, she, it. The -s is already inside “does” — so the next verb is plain.
Step 5: Questions With Do
To ask a present-simple question with I, you, we, or they, start with do. Pattern: Do + subject + verb (base form)?
Examples:
- Do you speak English? (Do + you + speak.)
- Do they live here? (Do + they + live.)
- Do we have time? (Do + we + have.)
Common mistake
Using do with he/she/it
✗ Do he like coffee?
✓ Does he like coffee?
How to remember: Do + I/you/we/they + verb? The helper is “do.” The verb after the subject stays plain.
Step 6: Questions With Does
To ask a present-simple question with he, she, or it, start with does. Pattern: Does + subject + verb (base form, no -s)?
Examples:
- Does he speak English? (Does + he + speak.)
- Does she live here? (Does + she + live.)
- Does it work? (Does + it + work.)
Common mistake
Keeping -s on the verb
✗ Does she likes coffee?
✓ Does she like coffee?
How to remember: Does + he/she/it + verb? The -s is already inside “does.” The verb that follows is plain.
Test Yourself: Present Simple
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. She _______ in a hospital.
2. I _______ like horror films.
3. _______ he speak English?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You now have a map of the present simple. The next step is to take each piece one at a time.
The first lesson is the simplest one — the positive base form. Just subject and verb, with no changes. From there, the rest of the present simple builds up step by step.
Next lesson: Basic English Questions
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.