English Grammar Rules
The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is
regular, true or normal.
We use the present tense:
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
- I take the train to the office.
- The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
- John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
2. For facts.
- The President of The USA lives in The White House.
- A dog has four legs.
- We come from Switzerland.
3. For habits.
- I get up early every day.
- Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
- They travel to their country house every weekend.
4. For things that are always / generally true.
- It rains a lot in winter.
- The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
- They speak English at work.
Verb Conjugation & Spelling
We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.
Subject
|
Verb
|
The Rest of the sentence
|
I / you / we / they
|
speak / learn
|
English at home
|
he / she / it
|
speaks / learns
|
English at home
|
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on
the ending of that verb:
1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z
we add -ES in the third person.
- go – goes
- catch – catches
- wash – washes
- kiss – kisses
- fix – fixes
- buzz – buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y
and add -IES.
- marry – marries
- study – studies
- carry – carries
- worry – worries
NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
- play – plays
- enjoy – enjoys
- say – says
Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense
To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).- Affirmative: You speak French.
Negative: You don't speak French.
- Affirmative: He speaks German.
Negative: He doesn't speak German.
Negative Contractions
Don't = Do notDoesn't = Does not
I don't like meat = I do not like meat.
There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.
Word Order of Negative Sentences
The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.
Subject
|
don't / doesn't
|
Verb*
|
The Rest of the sentence
|
I / you / we / they
|
don't
|
have / buy / eat / like / take etc.
|
cereal for breakfast
|
he / she / it
|
doesn't
|
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:
- You don't speak Arabic.
- John doesn't speak Italian.
- We don't have time for a rest.
- It doesn't move.
- They don't want to go to the party.
- She doesn't like fish.
MAP OF SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Please see the video tutorial below: