Present simple tense

Here’s a concise guide to the present simple tense (useful for exams). What it is - The present simple describes routines/habits, general truths, permanent states, and fixed timetables. Forms - Affirmative: subject + base verb (add -s/-es for third person singular) - I/you/we/they work. He/she/it works. - Negative: subject + do/does + not + base verb - I/you/we/they do not work. He/she/it does not work. - Contractions: don’t, doesn’t - Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb? - Do I work? Does she work? - Answer with yes/no: Yes, I do. No, he doesn’t. Be (the verb “to be”) as a special case - Affirmative: I am, you are, he/she/it is, we/they are - Negative: I am not (I’m not), you aren’t, he isn’t, we aren’t, they aren’t - Question: Am I? Are you? Is he? Are we? Are they? Key uses - Routines and habits: I wake up at 7 every day. - General truths: The Earth orbits the Sun. - Permanent situations: She lives in Madrid. - Schedules and timetables: The train leaves at 9 a.m. - Instructions and directions: First you boil the water. Time expressions commonly used - always, usually, often, sometimes, never - every day/week, on Mondays, in the mornings - once a week, twice a year Spelling/grammar tips for third person singular - Most verbs add -s: work → works, play → plays - If the verb ends in -o, -ch, -sh, -x, or -s, add -es: go → goes, wish → wishes, watch → watches - If the verb ends with a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es: study → studies - If the verb ends with a vowel + y, add -s: play → plays - Verbs ending in -e usually just add -s: love → loves - Some irregulars exist (have → has, do → does) Common pitfalls - Using present continuous for habits: wrong, e.g., I am going to the gym every day. (correct: I go to the gym every day.) - Forgetting the -s for he/she/it: She work -> She works. - Using do/does with the wrong subject in negatives/questions: He do not like → He does not like. Quick practice (answers included) 1) She __________ (work) at a bank. - works 2) They __________ (not / like) loud music. - do not like (don't like) 3) What time __________ (the train / leave) tonight? - does the train leave 4) I __________ (not / eat) meat. - do not eat (don't eat) 5) He __________ (go) to the gym every day. - goes Would you like a short set of more challenging practice questions, or a comparison with the present continuous to solidify the difference?