Tenses · Beginner (A1)
Present simple
Habits, routines, facts and timetables: I work, she works, do you work?, he doesn’t work.
The rules
Form: I/you/we/they + base verb (I work); he/she/it + verb -s (she works). Negative: don’t / doesn’t + base verb. Questions: Do / Does + subject + base verb?
Use: habits and routines (I get up at 7), facts and general truths (Water boils at 100 °C), permanent situations (She lives in Oslo), timetables (The train leaves at 6:10), and with state verbs (I know, I like, it belongs).
Spelling of -s: watch → watches, go → goes, study → studies, have → has. Common time words: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays.
| I / you / we / they | he / she / it | |
|---|---|---|
| + | I work. | She works. |
| − | I don’t work. | She doesn’t work. |
| ? | Do you work? | Does she work? |
Examples
- My brother lives in Dubai.
- We don’t eat meat.
- Does the museum open on Mondays?
- The sun rises in the east.
Common mistakes
✗ She work in a bank.
✓ She works in a bank.
he/she/it needs -s.
✗ He doesn’t likes coffee.
✓ He doesn’t like coffee.
After doesn’t, use the base verb.
✗ Where you live?
✓ Where do you live?
Questions need do/does.
Practice
My dad ___ to work by bike.
Quiz
1.Water ___ at 0 °C.
2.I ___ understand this word.
3.Put the words in the right order.
4.We use the present simple for timetables.