Lesson 1 of 6 · ~4 minutes
Lesson 1 · Present Simple
Forms
Form
The present simple is the simplest present tense. We use it for two things: something happens regularly, and something is true in general.
When we use it
I drink coffee every morning.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Forms
After I, you, we, they the verb stays in its base form. After he, she, it it takes the ending -s
I / you / we / they
- work
- live
- like
he / she / it
- works
- lives
- likes
I work here.
She works here.
We play football on Sundays.
Not only pronouns
A person's name and any singular noun work like he / she / it:
Anna works. My sister speaks English. The shop opens at nine.
Several things or people work like they, and the verb has no ending
My parents work. The shops open at nine.
How to add -s
- -susually just add it: work → works, live → lives
- -esafter -o, -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z: go → goes, watch → watches
- -iesconsonant + y: study → studies, try → tries
- -sbut vowel + y takes the normal ending: play → plays
In short
- I / you / we / theyverb in its base form
- he / she / itverb + -s