The present simple at CEFR Level A1. In English grammar, the present simple is used to talk about habits and routines.
Here is an example of the present simple in a sentence:
I work on weekdays.
The present simple can also be used to talk about something you don’t do.
I don’t eat meat.
The present simple verb can change if you talk about other people.
| Positive + | Negative – | |
| I | work | don’t work. |
| You | work | don’t work. |
| We | work | don’t work. |
| He | works | doesn’t work. |
| She | works | doesn’t work. |
| It | works | doesn’t work. |
| They | work | don’t work. |
The present simple also changes if you ask questions about other people.
| Do | I | work? |
| Do | you | work? |
| Do | we | work? |
| Does | he | work? |
| Does | she | work? |
| Does | it | work? |
| Do | they | work? |
For he, she or it, the present simple changes:
| I miss | He misses | verb ends in ‘s’ | add +es |
| I fly | He flies | verbs ends in consonant + ‘y’ | add +ies |
| I wash | He washes | verb ends in ‘sh’ | add +es |
| I fix | He fixes | verb ends in ‘x’ | add +es |
| I buzz | It buzzes | verb ends in ‘z’ | add +es |
Another change that happens with the present simple is with have.
| I have a new car. | I don’t have a new car. | Do I have a new car? |
| You have a new car. | You don’t have a new car. | Do you have a new car? |
| We have a new car. | We don’t have a new car. | Do we have a new car? |
| He has a new car. | He doesn’t have a new car. | Does he have a new car? |
| She has a new car. | She doesn’t have a new car. | Does she have a new car? |
| It has new tyres. | It doesn’t have new tyres. | Does it have new tyres? |
| They have a new car. | They don’t have new car. | Do they have a new car? |
Now test your skills with a practice exercise. Click the link in the table below.