We use the Simple Present to talk about routines and habits.
For example:
I watch TV every afternoon. BUT Andrea watches TV on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Affirmative
I
You
We
They
+ verb simple form
I watch TV in the evening.
He
She
It
+ verb + s
Daniel watches TV every day.
When we use the third person (he, she ,it) we need to add -s, -es or -ies to the verb according to the next rules:
- If the verb ends in -ss, -ch, -sh, -o, -x add -es at the end. For example:
I miss He misses / I wash He washes / I fix He fixes / I do he does / I watch he watches - If the verb ends in a consonant + -y, drop the -y and add -ies. For example:
I study He studies BUT I play He plays - The rest only take -s. For example:
I get She gets / I take She takes - Have changes to has. For example:
I have She has You have Daniel has
In negative sentences, questions and short answers we need to use auxiliary verbs:
Negative sentences
I
You
We
They
+ do not/ don’t + Verb simple form
I don’t get up early on weekdays.
He
She
It
+ does not/ doesn’t + verb simple form
Daniel doesn’t have breakfast.
Questions
Do +
I
You
We
They
+ verb simple form + ?
Do Angie and Gris have lunch together?
Does +
He
She
It
+ verb simple form + ?
Daniel doesn’t have breakfast.
As you can see, in negative sentences and questions we use the verb in simple form, even with the third person (he, she, it). This is because we use the auxiliary verb.
To form the short answers we use:
AFFIRMATIVE
Yes, + pronoun + auxiliary verb
Yes, he does.
Yes, I do.
NEGATIVE
No, + pronoun + auxiliary verb in negative
No, he doesn’t.
No, I don’t.
Now… Let’s practice!
Write the third person form of the verbs.
Follow the example:
Complete the conversations with the verbs in brackets. Use the correct form of the Simple Present.
You will be given a series of images. Write down a sentence based on them. Use capital letters, punctuation and linking words.
Example: