In this chapter
Welcome to Part III. So far, most of your verbs have been be and have got. Now you will learn to talk about what people do: where they work, what they eat, when they get up. For this we use the present simple — the most useful tense in everyday English.
The present simple has one small but important rule: with he, she and it, the verb takes an -s. For negatives and questions, English uses the helper verbs do and does. Learn these two ideas and you can talk about your whole day.
Learning objectives
By the end of this chapter
- I can use the present simple for habits, routines and facts.
- I can add -s, -es or -ies to the verb for he, she and it.
- I can make negatives with don't and doesn't.
- I can ask questions with do and does and give short answers.
Habits, routines and facts
Use the present simple for things that happen regularly (habits and routines) and things that are always true (facts).
The pattern
Subject + verb (+ -s with he / she / it)
I work. She works.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | work |
| he / she / it | works |
-
I ( subject ) work ( verb ) in an office. ( place )
A routine.
-
She ( subject ) works ( verb ) in a hospital. ( place )
Add -s with she.
-
We ( subject ) live ( verb ) in Madrid. ( place )
-
The sun ( subject ) rises ( verb ) in the east. ( place )
A fact — always true.
Quick checkHe ___ in a bank.
Spelling the -s
Most verbs just add -s . A few change their spelling — the rules are like the plural rules in Chapter 6.
| Verb ends in… | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | add -s | work → works, play → plays, read → reads |
| -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o | add -es | watch → watches, wash → washes, go → goes, do → does |
| consonant + y | y → -ies | study → studies, fly → flies |
| have | irregular | have → has |
-
She ( subject ) watches ( verb ) TV ( object ) every evening. ( time )
watch → watches.
-
He goes to school by bus.
go → goes.
-
My brother studies law.
study → studies.
-
Tom has a big family.
have → has.
Quick checkShe ___ English every day. (study)
Negatives with don't and doesn't
For negatives, use the helper verb do: don't (do not) with I, you, we, they and doesn't (does not) with he, she, it. After doesn't, the main verb has no -s.
The pattern
Subject + don't / doesn't + base verb
| Subject | Negative |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | don't work |
| he / she / it | doesn't work |
-
We ( subject ) do ( helper verb ) not ( not ) watch ( verb ) TV. ( object )
Usually said: We don't watch TV.
-
She ( subject ) does ( helper verb ) not ( not ) eat ( verb ) meat. ( object )
The -s moves to does; eat has no -s.
-
I don't like coffee.
don't = do not.
-
He doesn't work on Sundays.
doesn't + work — no -s on work.
Quick checkShe ___ like coffee.
Questions and short answers
Questions also use do and does. Put do or does before the subject, then the base verb — again, with no -s.
The pattern
(Question word) + Do / Does + subject + base verb…?
-
Do ( helper verb ) you ( subject ) like ( verb ) tea? ( object )
-
Does ( helper verb ) he ( subject ) play ( verb ) football? ( object )
does + play — no -s on play.
-
Where ( question word ) do ( helper verb ) you ( subject ) live? ( verb )
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak French? | Yes, I do. | No, I don't. |
| Does she live here? | Yes, she does. | No, she doesn't. |
| Do they work at home? | Yes, they do. | No, they don't. |
Quick checkPut the words in order to make a question.
Errors to avoid
These are the mistakes learners make most often with this grammar. Read the wrong sentence, then the right one, and notice the change.
-
Incorrect: He work every day.
Correct: He works every day.
Add -s to the verb for he, she and it.
-
Incorrect: She doesn't works here.
Correct: She doesn't work here.
After doesn't, use the base verb with no -s.
-
Incorrect: Do she like music?
Correct: Does she like music?
Use does with he, she and it.
-
Incorrect: I no like fish.
Correct: I don't like fish.
Make negatives with don't, not no.
Hear it in use
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then play one line at a time and say it after the speaker. The words in colour are this chapter’s grammar.
Conversation
A typical day
Leo and Hana are new colleagues. They talk at lunch.
- Leo
So, Hana, do you live near the office?
- Hana
No, I don't. I live in Brighton, and I take the train every morning.
I live, I take — no -s with I.
- Leo
Really? What time do you get up?
- Hana
At six. My train leaves at seven.
My train = it, so the verb takes -s: leaves.
- Leo
That's early! Does your husband work in London too?
- Hana
No, he doesn't. He works from home — he teaches online.
teach → teaches: add -es after ch.
- Leo
And what do you do after work?
The first do makes the question; the second do is the main verb.
- Hana
I go to the gym on Mondays, and I play tennis on Fridays.
- Leo
I don't play tennis, but I love football.
- Hana
My son loves football too. He watches every match!
watch → watches.
What to remember
- 1 Use the present simple for habits, routines and facts: I work in an office.
- 2 Add -s to the verb with he, she and it: She works. He goes. It flies.
- 3 Negatives: don't / doesn't + base verb: I don't eat meat. She doesn't work.
- 4 Questions: Do / Does + subject + base verb: Do you like tea? Does he play?
- 5 Short answers: Yes, I do. No, she doesn't.
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | I work | I don't work | Do you work? |
| he / she / it | she works | she doesn't work | Does she work? |
Test yourself
Knowledge check
24 questions on Present Simple
One question at a time, with an explanation after every answer. Score 20 or more (80%) and the chapter is marked complete.