Simple Present

1. Forming the simple present tense

There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":

Subject	Verb Form	Example
I	simple form	I sing
You	simple form	You sing
He	simple form + S	He sings
She	simple form + S	She sings
It	simple form + S	It sings
We	simple form	We sing
They	simple form	They sing

In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S.

2. -s or -es ?

With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:

Verb ending in...	How to make the 3rd person singular	Example
s	Add -ES	He passes
z	Add -ES	She waltzes
sh	Add -ES	She wishes
ch	Add -ES	He watches
x	Add -ES	She mixes
o	Add -ES	He goes
consonant + y	Change Y to I, then add -ES	It flies
[anything else]	Add -S	He sings

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

 

Simple Present

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1. We ________ to Spain every summer.
   1.   fly
   2.   flys
   3.   flies
2. Jo is so smart that she ________ every exam without even trying.
   1.   pass
   2.   passies
   3.   passes
3. My mother ________ eggs for breakfast every morning.
   1.   fry
   2.   frys
   3.   fries
4. John ________ very hard in class, but I don't think he'll pass the course.
   1.   try
   2.   trys
   3.   tries
5. She ________ in Florida.
   1.   live
   2.   lives
   3.   livees
6. My life is so boring -- I just ________ TV every night.
   1.   watch
   2.   watchies
   3.   watches
7. The bank ________ at four o'clock.
   1.   close
   2.   closies
   3.   closes
8. My best friend ________ to me every week.
   1.   write
   2.   writies
   3.   writes
9. I ________ in a bank.
   1.   work
   2.   works
   3.   workes
10. It ________ almost every day in Manchester.
    1.   rain
    2.   rains
    3.   raines