The present simple (Part III)
The present simple: negative and questions forms
- To form the negative we use don’t (do not) for all persons except the 3rd person singular.
Examples:
We don’t see each other for a long time.
They don’t spend much time together.
I don’t have enough time on weekends.
- In the 3rd person singular we use doesn’t (does not). We don’t add (s) to the verb that follows doesn’t.
Examples:
He doesn’t want to go to the beach.
She doesn’t find it easy.
- To form questions we use do for all persons except the 3rd person singular.
Do + subject + infinitive without to
Do you like ice cream? Yes, I do.
Do they live together? No they, don’t.
When do they see each other? They see each other every Saturday.
- In the 3rd person singular we form the question with does.
Does he work on Friday? Yes, he does.
Where does she work? He works at the university.
Does she work nights? No, she doesn’t.
The present simple (Part II)
The present simple: affirmative and positive forms
In the affirmative, the present simple has the same form as the infinitive in all persons except the 3rd person singular (he, it, Catherine, the flat, etc.). We add (s) in the 3rd
person singular. For example we can say:
Catherine gets up at 6:30 a.m.
She likes nursing.
- With verbs that end in o, ch, sh, ss (go, watch, wash, catch, kiss, etc.) we add es and not just (s) in the the 3rd person singular.
For example:
He goes to work at 9.
Maria usually catches the bus.
- With some verbs that end in y (cry, study, fly, try, etc.) the (y) changes to ies in the 3rd person singular.
Maria always tries to wake up at 5 a.m.
- But with verbs with a vowel before y (buy, play, say, etc) we simply add (s).
But Maria says she likes nursing.
The present simple (Part I)
Uses of the present simple
We use the present simple to talk about:
- Habits or regular activities and situations
Example: Peter gets up at 6:30 a.m. They work together. I study classic music.
- Facts and attitudes that are generally or always true.
Karen likes nursing. Nurses don’t have an easy life.
We don’t use the present simple to talk about things that are in progress now, that are temporary. We don’t say: hey look! It rains. We have to use the present continuous, so we can say: Look! It’s raining.
Welcome to learning all about english.
