The Simple Present Tense: Useful Usage and Example Sentences

Spelling Rules for Verbs

When we use verbs in the simple present tense, there are some important spelling rules we need to follow, especially for the third person singular forms.

Adding -S or -ES

Most verbs in the third person singular form (he, she, it) simply have an -s added to the base form:

• work → works
• call → calls
• love → loves

However, some verbs require you to add -es instead:

• If the verb ends in –ss, –sh, –ch, –x, or –o, add -es:
  

  Base Form	Third Person Singular
  kiss	kisses
  wash	washes
  watch	watches
  fix	fixes
  go	goes

• Verbs ending in –z and –s have the final consonant doubled before the -es:
  

  Base Form	Third Person Singular
  buzz	buzzes
  fizz	fizzes

Verb Ending in -Y

For verbs that end in –y, the spelling rules vary based on the preceding letter:

• If there’s a consonant before -y, change the –y to -ies:
  

  Base Form	Third Person Singular
  study	studies
  try	tries

• If there’s a vowel before -y, just add -s:
  

  Base Form	Third Person Singular
  play	plays
  say	says

Remembering these rules helps us write correct sentences in simple present tense.

Special Cases

In exploring the simple present tense, we encounter unique instances where the standard rules adapt to context. These special cases often enhance our understanding of how versatile this tense can be.

Non-Action Verbs

In English, certain verbs that express states of being, emotions, possession, senses, and mental processes are typically not used in progressive forms and are thus found in the simple present tense. These non-action verbs include:

• States of being: be, seem, exist
• Emotions: love, hate, prefer
• Possession: own, belong, have
• Senses: hear, see, smell
• Mental processes: think, believe, remember

For example:

• We have two dogs. (possession)
• I believe you are correct. (mental process)
• They prefer tea over coffee. (emotion)

Zero Conditional

The zero conditional, indicating general truths or law of nature, also employs the simple present tense in both clauses. It structures a condition and its result and is used when the outcome is always true if the condition is met.

Structure: If/When + simple present, simple present.

Examples:

• If you heat ice, it melts.
• When the sun sets, it gets dark.

Interactive Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form of the Verb

For each sentence, choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.

1. She (walks/walk) to school every day.
2. My brother (knows/know) how to play the piano.
3. The Earth (revolves/revolve) around the Sun.
4. Cats (likes/like) to sleep during the day.
5. He (does/do) his homework in the evening.
6. The store (opens/open) at 8 o’clock in the morning.
7. Birds (flies/fly) south for the winter.
8. Water (boils/boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
9. The teacher (gives/give) us a lot of homework.
10. They (watches/watch) a movie once a week.

Answers:

1. walks
2. knows
3. revolves
4. like
5. does
6. opens
7. fly
8. boils
9. gives
10. watch

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Simple Present Tense Form

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses in simple present tense.

1. My parents __________ (to go) to church every Sunday.
2. The bus __________ (to arrive) at 3 PM sharp.
3. Our teacher always __________ (to encourage) us to ask questions.
4. The museum __________ (to close) at 5 o’clock in the evening.
5. She __________ (to speak) three languages fluently.
6. It __________ (to rain) a lot in the tropics.
7. My cat __________ (to love) to chase after its tail.
8. The sun __________ (to set) in the west.
9. We __________ (to eat) dinner together as a family.
10. The flowers __________ (to bloom) in the spring.

Answers:

1. go
2. arrives
3. encourages
4. closes
5. speaks
6. rains
7. loves
8. sets
9. eat
10. bloom

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I form sentences in the simple present tense?

To form sentences in the simple present tense, we use the base form of the verb for the subject pronouns I, you, we, they, and the infinitive form without ‘to’. For the third person singular (he, she, it), we add an ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb.

Can you show me examples of the simple present tense in daily use?

Certainly! We often say “I drink coffee every morning.” or “She goes to the gym after work.” These sentences describe regular habits and routines.

What are the main uses of the simple present tense in English?

We use the simple present tense to express habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. For instance, “The Sun rises in the East” is a general truth, and “Our train leaves at 9 PM” reflects a fixed schedule.

How does the simple present tense differ from the present continuous tense?

The simple present tense expresses general, habitual actions while the present continuous tense is for actions that are currently ongoing. We might say “We read books” (simple present) versus “We are reading a book right now” (present continuous).

In what ways is the simple present tense taught to children?

We often teach the simple present tense to children through repetition and practice with daily activities. For example, asking “What do you do every morning?” gets children to respond using the simple present.

Why is the simple present tense important to learn?

Understanding the simple present tense is crucial for basic communication in English. It allows us to talk about daily routines, general facts, and share information about habitual actions.