The Present Simple tense helps you talk about things that happen regularly, are always true, or are facts. It’s essential for describing your daily life, habits, and general truths in English. For most subjects (I, you, we, they), you use the base form of the verb, like I eat. However, for he, she, et it, you must add an -s to the verb, for example, He eats. To make questions or negative sentences, you will use the auxiliary verbs do ou does. Mastering this tense is a key step in your A1 English journey.
What is the Present Simple Tense?
The Present Simple is one of the first and most important tenses you learn in English. It helps you describe basic information about your life and the world around you.
- We use it for things you do every day, like I drink coffee in the morning.
- We also use it for facts that are always true, such as The sun rises in the east.
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When Do We Use the Present Simple?
The Present Simple has a few main uses. It helps us communicate clearly about different types of actions and situations.
- For Habits and Routines: These are actions you do regularly.
- I wake up at 7 AM every day.
- She goes to school by bus.
- For Facts and General Truths: These are things that are always true.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- Birds fly.
- For Permanent Situations: These are things that are true for a long time.
- He lives in London.
- They work in an office.
- For Schedules and Timetables: This includes fixed events like train times or class schedules.
- The train leaves at 8 PM.
- The lesson starts at 9 AM.
How Do We Form the Present Simple?
The form of the Present Simple changes slightly depending on the subject of the sentence. Pay close attention to the -s ending!
Affirmative Sentences
For I, you, we, they, we use the base form of the verb.
- I like pizza.
- You play football.
For he, she, it, we add -s ou -es to the verb.
- He works in a bank.
- She studies English. (verb ending in -y after a consonant changes to -ies)
- It rains a lot here.
Negative Sentences
Nous utilisons do not (ou don’t) and does not (ou doesn’t) before the base form of the verb.
- For I, you, we, they: do not / don’t + base verb.
- I don’t like fish.
- They don’t live here.
- For he, she, it: does not / doesn’t + base verb (no -s on the main verb).
- He doesn’t speak French.
- She doesn’t eat meat.
Questions
Nous utilisons Do ou Does at the beginning of the question, before the subject, and then the base form of the verb.
- For I, you, we, they: Do + subject + base verb?
- Do you like coffee?
- Do they work here?
- For he, she, it: Does + subject + base verb? (no -s on the main verb).
- Does he live in Madrid?
- Does it rain often?
Common Time Expressions for the Present Simple
These words and phrases often go with the Present Simple to show how often something happens:
- Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
- I always drink water.
- She never eats breakfast.
- Time phrases: every day, every week, every month, once a week, twice a year, on Mondays, in the morning.
- We go to the gym every Tuesday.
- He visits his family once a month.
| Objet | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | I work. | I don’t work. | Do I work? |
| He / She / It | He works. | He doesn’t work. | Does he work? |
Exemples
- I study English at Langcom.
- She watches TV in the evening.
- They don’t like cold weather.
- Does he play tennis?
- The shop opens at 9 AM.
- We usually have dinner at 7 PM.
- My cat sleeps a lot.
- Do you live near here?
Entraînement
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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones
Many Spanish speakers make a few common mistakes with the Present Simple:
- Forgetting the -s for he/she/it:
Incorrect : He work in an office.
Correct : He works in an office. - Forgetting do/does in questions and negatives:
Incorrect : You like coffee?
Correct : Do you like coffee?
Incorrect : She not speak Spanish.
Correct : She doesn’t speak Spanish. - Adding -s to the main verb in negative sentences or questions with does:
Incorrect : Does she likes pizza?
Correct : Does she like pizza?
Incorrect : He doesn’t works here.
Correct : He doesn’t work here.
Questions fréquemment posées
What is the main use of the Present Simple?
The main use of the Present Simple is to talk about habits, daily routines, and general facts or truths, like I drink water every day ou The Earth is round.
When do I add an ‘-s’ to the verb?
You add an -s to the verb only when the subject is he, she, ou it (third person singular), for example, He walks, She eats, It rains.
How do I make a negative sentence in the Present Simple?
To make a negative sentence, use do not (ou don’t) for I, you, we, they, et does not (ou doesn’t) for he, she, it, followed by the base form of the verb. For example, I don’t like coffee ou She doesn’t work here.
How do I form questions in the Present Simple?
Start your question with Do for I, you, we, they, ou Does for he, she, it. Then add the subject and the base form of the verb. For example, Do you live here? ou Does he speak English?
Is the Present Simple important for the A2 Key (KET) exam?
Yes, the Present Simple is very important for the A2 Key (KET) exam. You will need to use it correctly in all parts of the exam, especially when talking about your daily life or describing pictures.
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