SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The simple present is a verb tense with two main uses. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it’s sometimes called present indefinite). 

How do we form the Simple Present?

We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person singular (he, she, it - or a name) we put an -s to the end of the infinitive.

infinitive → 3rd person singular (he, she, it) infinitive + -s

Examples of the Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used:

(1) To describe facts and habits:

• I like chocolate. (Fact)
• Angela runs a youth club full of glue-sniffers. (Fact)
• I ride horses in the summer. (Fact and habit)
• It always snows here in January. (Fact and habit)
• Dawn plays chess in the evenings. (Fact and habit)

This type of sentence, especially if it's describing a habit, will usually include a time expression like always, every year, never, often, on Mondays, rarely, sometimes, or usually.

(2) To describe scheduled events in the future

• The train gets in at 5 o'clock.
• It is low tide at 0234.

(3) To tell stories (particularly jokes) to make your listener or reader feel more engaged with the story.

• A horse walks into a bar, and the barman says, "why the long face?"
(Compare to: A horse walked into a bar, and the barman said, "why the long face?")
• We heard the helicopter overhead. Suddenly, the radio bursts into life.

The Negative Version

To create a negative sentence, use "do not" + [base form of the verb]. (Use "does not" with third person singular (he / she / it).) For example:

• I do not like chocolate.
• Angela does not run a youth club full of glue-sniffers.
• I do not ride horses in the summer.
• It does not always snow here in January.
• Dawn does not play chess in the evenings.

Be careful! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now.

Present Simple Questions

That's the way how to form Questions. The question word (what, ...) always comes first!

Questions with am - is -are - can - must - have got

Are they happy?	Where are the children?
Is she a nice girl?	What is the time?
Can you swim?	What can you draw?
Have you got a dog?	How many stickers have you got?

Questions with verbs - do, does

Do the boys play football?	Where do the boys play?
Do you like ice cream?	What do you like?
Do they like coffee?	What do they like for breakfast?
With he, she, it - does
Does she like hamburgers?	What does she like?
Does Carol play the guitar?	Where does Carol live?
Does an elephant eat nuts?	What does an elephant eat?