Form
Positive
| Subject | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | base form | I work every day. |
| He / She / It | base + -s / -es | She works every day. |
Negative
| Subject | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | subject + don't + base | I don't work on Sundays. |
| He / She / It | subject + doesn't + base | He doesn't work on Sundays. |
Questions
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | Do + I/you/we/they + base? | Do you work here? |
| Does + he/she/it + base? | Does she work here? | |
| Wh- | Wh- word + do/does + subject + base? | Where do you work? |
Remember:
With he, she, it — use does/doesn't in questions and negatives. The base verb has no -s: "Does she work?" (NOT "Does she works?")
Use
| Use | Examples |
|---|---|
| Habits and routines |
She drinks coffee every morning.
We go to the gym on Tuesdays.
|
| General facts and permanent truths |
Water boils at 100°C.
The sun rises in the east.
|
| Permanent states |
He lives in London.
I love pizza.
|
| Schedules and timetables |
The train leaves at 8:30.
The film starts at 9.
|
Spelling rules for he/she/it
| Rule | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Add -s | Most verbs | work → works, play → plays |
| Add -es | Ends in -ch, -sh, -x, -o, -ss, -z | watch → watches, go → goes |
| -y → -ies | Ends in consonant + y | study → studies, fly → flies |
| Irregular | have / be | have → has | be → is |
Signal words
These words often appear with the Present Simple:
always
usually
often
sometimes
rarely
never
every day / week / year
on Mondays
in the morning
once a week
She always has breakfast at 7 a.m.
He never drinks coffee.
We go to the cinema every Friday.
He never drinks coffee.
We go to the cinema every Friday.
Exercises
Practice what you've just learned:
Exercise 1 — Fill in the blank
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1.
She (work) in a hospital.
2.
I (not / understand) this question.
3.
(he / play?) football at the weekend?
4.
My brother (study) every night.
5.
He (not / like) spicy food.
Exercise 2 — Choose the correct option
Select the correct verb form.
1. The train _____ at 9:15.
2. They _____ English at school.
3. _____ your sister live in Madrid?
4. He _____ coffee.