Present Simple
When do we use the present simple?
We use the present simple to talk about habits, repeated actions/events, general truths and future timetables.
Habits
He eats oatmeal with fruit for breakfast.
She brushes her teeth in the morning.
Repeated actions or events
They go jogging twice a week.
She goes to Monaco every summer.
General truths
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Future timetables
The train leaves at 17:00.
What time does the film start?
How do we form the present simple?
‘TO HAVE’
3rd Person Singular
- In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s: he wants, she needs, he gives
- Negative and question forms use DOES: Does he want strawberries? No, he doesn’t.
- Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies: fly –> flies, cry –> cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the –y: play –> plays, pray –> prays - Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch: he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes