We use the simple present tense for :
1) Routines, habits, things we do more or less frequently .
ex: I go to school every morning.
2) Personal information, permanent states( name, age, family, job, likes and dislikes...)
ex: we live in Agadir.
3) Scientific and general truths.
ex: the sun rises in the east.
The verb to be (auxiliary)
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I am (I'm) | I am not (I'm not) | Am I ? |
| You are (You're) | You are not (You aren't) | Are you ? |
| He is ( He 's) | He is not ( he isn't) | Is he ? |
| She is ( she 's) | She is not (she isn't) | Is she ? |
| It is (it's) | It is not ( It isn't) | Is it ? |
| We are ( we're) | we are not (we aren't) | are we ? |
| You are ( you're) | You are not (you aren't) | are you ? |
| They are (they're) | They are not ( they aren't) | Are they ? |
Ordinary verbs ( ex: to work)
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I work | I do not work (I don't work) | do I work ? |
| You work | You do not work (you don't work) | do you work? |
| He works | she does not work (she doesn't work) | Does she work? |
| She works | she does not work (she doesn't work) | Does she work? |
| It works | It does not work (It doesn't work) | Does it work? |
| We work | we do not work (we don't work) | Do we work? |
| You work | You do not work (you don't work) | Do you work? |
| They work | they do not work (you don't work ) |
Spelling rules for the third person singular:
Most verbs add -s
1st case add - es | 2nd case drop -y add -ies | 3rd case keep y add -s |
verbs ending in:-s -sh -ch -x -o | consonant + y | vowel +y |
| ex: to miss→he misses | ex : to study →he studies | ex: to buy →he buys |
Pronunciation of third person singular forms:
/z/ | /s/ | /?z/ |
| after vowels and most voiced sounds | after most voiceless sounds | after: /s/ , /z/ , /?/ ,/?/ ,/?/, /?/ |
| ex: goes /g ? ? z/ | ex: looks /l ? k s/ | ex: pushes /'p ? ? ? z/ |
Modal verbs (ex: can )
NB: 1- modals are the same in all persons singular and plural ( they do not take -s in the third person singular present.
2- they are followed by an infinitive without to .
3- they do not form the interrogative and negative with do.
Affirmative | Negative | Questions |
I / you / he / she / it / we / they can | I / you / he / /she / it / we / they can not (can't) | can I / you / he / she / it / we / they ? |
The simple present can be used with advebs of frequency to express how often things happen:
Adverbs of frequency and adverbial words:
Always - usually - normally - very often - often - quite often - sometimes - occasionally -rarely - hardly ever - never - once a week / day /year...etc -on Fridays.. - every day / week /year...etc
Adverbs of frequency are placed before the main verb:
ex : He always sends e-mails to his friends
But after auxiliaries and modals:
ex: I am never late.
They follow the same pattern in questions.
Never and hardly ever have negative meaning.They are used with affirmative verbs:
ex: It never snows in summer.