The Present Simple expresses facts, routines, and states that are generally true. Use it for repeated actions and habits, schedules and timetables, and permanent or long-term situations. It also describes opinions, preferences, and other stative meanings like possession or belief. In instructions, commentary, and headings, it can make actions feel immediate and clear.

Rule	Example
Use for habits and routines	I walk to work every day.
Use for general truths and facts	Water boils at 100°C.
Use for schedules and timetables	The train leaves at 6:10.
Use for states and opinions	I think this is a good idea.
Use for instructions and directions	First you open the file, then you click Save.

The basic form is the subject plus the base verb, but in the third person singular you add -s or -es. With the verb be, the Present Simple uses am, is, or are instead of the base verb. Word order is stable: Subject + verb + object or complement, and time expressions often go at the end.

With he, she, it, and singular names, most verbs add -s: work → works. Add -es after -s, -sh, -ch, -x, and -o: watch → watches, go → goes. If a verb ends in consonant + y, change y to i and add -es: study → studies; if it ends in vowel + y, just add -s: play → plays. These spelling rules apply only in affirmative Present Simple for third person singular.

Rule	Example
Add -s for most verbs	She works here.
Add -es after -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o	He watches TV.
Consonant + y → -ies	It studies every night.
Vowel + y → -s	He plays online.

To make negatives in the Present Simple, use do not or does not plus the base verb. Use does not only with third person singular, and the main verb stays in the base form: he doesn’t work, not he doesn’t works. With be, form negatives without do: am not, is not, are not. Contractions are common in neutral speech and writing.

Rule	Example
Use do not + base verb	I do not agree.
Use does not + base verb for he she it	She does not agree.
Do not add -s after does not	He doesn’t work on Fridays.
With be, use am not is not are not	They aren’t at home.

Most Present Simple questions use do or does before the subject, followed by the base verb. Yes-no questions start with Do or Does, while wh-questions place a question word before do or does. With be, invert be and the subject without do. Short answers repeat do, does, or be to match the question.

Rule	Example
Do + subject + base verb	Do you like coffee?
Does + he she it + base verb	Does she live nearby?
Wh-word + do or does	Where do they work?
With be, invert be and subject	Are you ready?
Short answers use do does or be	Yes, I do. No, she doesn’t.

The verb be is irregular in the Present Simple and uses three forms: am, is, and are. Use be to describe identity, roles, age, condition, and location. Questions and negatives with be do not use do or does. This makes be a key exception you should treat as its own pattern.

Subject	Form	Example
I	am	I am in London.
you	are	You are right.
he	is	He is a teacher.
she	is	She is creative.
it	is	It is cold today.
we	are	We are on time.
they	are	They are at home.

In the Present Simple, have becomes has in the third person singular. For questions and negatives, modern standard English typically uses do and does: Do you have, She doesn’t have. In some fixed expressions, have can keep older patterns like Have you got, but the core grammar is do and does with have.

Subject	Form	Example
I	have	I have a new phone.
you	have	You have time.
he	has	He has a car.
she	has	She has a ticket.
it	has	It has a full battery.
we	have	We have a meeting.
they	have	They have backpacks.

Many verbs describe states rather than actions, and the Present Simple is the default choice for them. Common stative meanings include thoughts, emotions, possession, senses, and relationships. These verbs often sound unnatural in continuous forms when the meaning is a stable state. Learning this helps you choose Present Simple naturally in real speech.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
think	opinion or belief	I think it’s fine.
love	strong liking	She loves jazz.
own	possess legally	They own this house.
seem	appear to be	It seems difficult.
belong to	be part of or owned by	This bag belongs to me.

Present Simple often appears with time expressions that show frequency or regularity. Some expressions usually go at the end, like every day and on Mondays. Adverbs of frequency like always and often typically go before the main verb, but after be. Correct placement makes your sentences sound natural and clear.

Rule	Example
Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb	I usually take the bus.
With be, put frequency after be	She is often busy.
Every day week year usually goes at the end	We study every evening.
On Mondays at 7 often goes at the end	He calls on Sundays.

The third person singular ending -s has three common pronunciations depending on the final sound of the verb. This affects clarity in speaking, especially in fast conversation. Learn the sound rule by the last sound, not the last letter. Practicing with a few verbs in each group helps you hear and produce the difference.

Rule	Description	Notation	Example
Voiceless final sound	After p t k f θ, -s sounds like s	/s/	works
Voiced final sound	After vowels and voiced consonants, -s sounds like z	/z/	plays
Sibilant final sound	After s z ʃ ʒ tʃ dʒ, -s adds an extra syllable	/ɪz/	watches