The present simple tense is a fundamental aspect of English grammar used to describe regular habits, general truths, and permanent situations. It employs the base form of the verb and helps convey actions that occur repeatedly or facts that remain unchanged.
Forming the present simple:
(1) For most verbs, add “s” or “es” to the base form of the verb when the subject is a singular third-person pronoun (he, she, it) or a singular noun.
Example:
- She goes to the gym every morning.
- He eats dinner at 7 p.m. every day.
- It rains a lot in that region.
- She enjoys reading books in her free time.
- He plays the piano beautifully.
- It always gets cold in winter.
- She speaks fluent French.
- He takes the bus to work.
- It barks loudly whenever someone approaches the house.
- She brushes her teeth twice a day.
For all other subjects (I, you, we, they, plural nouns), use the base form of the verb without adding any endings.
Example:
- We go to the gym every morning.
- You eat dinner at 7 p.m. every day.
- They enjoy reading books in their free time.
- We play soccer every weekend.
- You speak fluent Spanish.
- They take the bus to school.
- I always brush my teeth before bed.
- We love watching movies.
- You and your friends visit the park often.
- They cook delicious meals for their family.
(2) When a verb ends with the letters “ch,” “sh,” “s,” “x,” or “z,” we add “es” to the verb to form the third-person singular in the present simple tense. This rule applies when referring to he, she, it, or singular nouns.
- watch + es = watches
- brush + es =brushes
- splash + es = splashes
- catch + es = catches
- buzz + es +buzzes
For example:
- She watches television every evening.
- He brushes his teeth twice a day.
- It splashes water when it swims.
- The fox catches its prey swiftly.
- The buzzes of the bees can be heard in the garden.
By adding “es,” we ensure grammatical accuracy and maintain consistency in verb conjugation for these specific endings.
(3) When a verb ends with a consonant followed by “y,” we remove the “y” and add “ies” to form the third-person singular in the present simple tense. This rule applies when referring to he, she, it, or singular nouns.
- try – y + ies = tries
- study – y + ies = studies
- carry – y + ies = carries
- clarify – y + ies = clarifies
- cry – y + ies + cries
For example:
- She tries different recipes for dinner.
- He studies hard for his exams.
- It carries the groceries in a sturdy bag.
- She clarifies any doubts during the presentation.
- The baby cries when it’s hungry.
By replacing the “y” with “ies,” we maintain grammatical consistency and ensure proper verb conjugation for these specific endings.
(4) When a verb ends with a vowel followed by “y,” we simply add “s” to form the third-person singular in the present simple tense. This rule applies when referring to he, she, it, or singular nouns.
- play + s = plays
- enjoy + s = enjoys
- stay + s = stays
- say + s = says
- enjoy + s = enjoys
For example:
- She plays the piano beautifully.
- He enjoys swimming in the ocean.
- It stays quiet during the night.
- The boy says hello to everyone.
- The monkey enjoys eating bananas.
By adding “s” to the verb, we ensure correct verb conjugation and maintain grammatical consistency for these specific endings.