A1 Grammar: Simple Present Tense

A1 Grammar: Simple Present Tense
ESL Structure Curriculum

ESL Grammar Course

A1: Beginner

A symbolic image representing daily routines and facts

Simple Present Tense

The Simple Present is a fundamental tense used to talk about routines, habits, and facts. It describes actions that happen regularly or things that are always true.

Scope & Content:

  • Affirmative: `I work.`, `She works.`
  • Negative with `do/does`: `I do not work.`, `She does not work.`
  • Interrogative with `do/does`: `Do you work?`, `Does she work?`

⚠️ Attention: Common Challenges

1. The 3rd Person `-s`: For `he`, `she`, and `it`, you MUST add an `-s` to the end of the verb in positive sentences.

  • “I work.” BUT “She works.”
  • “They play.” BUT “He plays.”

2. The Auxiliary Verbs `DO` and `DOES`: For negative sentences and questions, you MUST use the helper verbs `do` or `does`. You cannot just add “not” or change the word order.

  • Correct: “Do you like coffee?” (Incorrect: Like you coffee?)
  • Correct: “He does not live here.” (Incorrect: He not live here.)
  • Important: After `do/does`, the main verb returns to its base form (no `-s`). “Does she works?” is INCORRECT. It is “Does she work?”

Simple Present Structures

Affirmative (+)

I / You / We / Theywork
He / She / Itworks

Negative (-)

I / You / We / Theydo not work
He / She / Itdoes not work

Interrogative (?)

Do I / you / we / theywork?
Does he / she / itwork?

Practice Quiz

1. My brother ____ in a big office.

2. ____ you like to watch movies?

3. She ____ speak Spanish, she speaks Italian.

4. We ____ to the gym every weekend.

5. What time ____ the bus usually arrive?

6. I ____ understand the question.

7. The sun ____ in the east.

8. ____ your parents live in this city?

9. He ____ coffee, he prefers tea.

10. They always ____ TV in the evening.