Present Simple – Verb Forms

The Present Simple verb tense is very common in the English language, so it’s important to understand it well.  The form you see here applies to all verbs, except the irregular verb “to be”, which must be memorized.

This post will show you how to form the Present Simple. To see how to use the Present Simple, click here.

Don’t forget the “s” or “es” with he/she/it!!

Affirmative Statements

Subject	Base Verb or Base Verb + -s/-es
I	eat	vegetables.
You	eat	breakfast at 8:00.
He/she/it	eats	very slowly.
We	eat	what we like.
They/you (plural)	eat	healthy food.

.

Negative Statements

Subject	Do not or Does not	Base Verb
I	do not (don’t)	like	spiders.
You	do not (don’t)	cook	on the weekends.
He/she/it	does not (doesn’t)	live	in Tokyo.
We	do not (don’t)	travel	in the winter.
They/you (plural)	do not (don’t)	walk	to school.

.

Yes/No Questions

Do/Does	Subject	Base Verb
Do	you	play	baseball?
Does	he/she	play	the piano?
Do	they/you (plural)	play	well?

.

Information Questions

Wh- Word	Do/Does	Subject	Base Verb
Who	do	you	teach	on Mondays?
What	does	he	study	at university?
When	does	she	travel	to Europe?
Where	does	the bus (it)	go?
Why	do	they	yell	at their kids?
How	do	they	make	baby carrots?

.

Short Answers.

NO	Subject	Do not or Does not
No,	I	do not (don’t).
No	you	do not (don’t).
No	he/she/it	does not (doesn’t)
No	we	do not (don’t).
No	they/you (plural)	do not (don’t).