Present Simple Verbs
Learn how to use the present simple in English.
Can you answer these grammar questions correctly?
Verbs in Simple Present Tense (First Person)
We use the simple present to talk about actions we do again and again.
Point 1: We use "do" in WH- questions to ask about regular actions.
- What do you do?
- Where do you live?
- How do you get to school?
- When do you exercise?
- Why do you want a pet?
Point 2: Affirmative statements tell what you regularly do.
- I work for a tech company.
- I live near the station.
- I take the bus.
- I play soccer every Monday night.
Point 3: Negative statements use "do not" or "don't" to show what you usually do not do.
- I do not work from home.
- I do not live near my work.
- I don't drive to work.
- I don't exercise that much.
In spoken English we often say don't instead of do not.
Point 4: Yes/No questions ask about regular actions. Start the question with "Do."
- Do you like tennis?
- Do you have a car?
- Do you cook a lot?
- Do you want a pet?
Point 5: When answering Yes/No questions, you can just say "Yes, I do" or "No, I don't." You don’t need to repeat the whole sentence.
- Do you like tennis?
- Yes, I do. (Yes, I like tennis.)
- No, I don't. (No, I don't like tennis.)
- It depends. (Sometimes yes and sometimes no.)
About the Teacher
My name is Todd Beuckens and I am an ESL teacher in Japan.
I created this site to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.