Simple explanation
When do we use the Present Simple? We use the Present Simple to talk about routines, repeated actions, regular activities, and general facts. It is very common with time expressions such as every day, every morning, on Mondays, usually, and often. At A1 level, it is especially useful for talking about daily life. Affirmative sentences with I, you, we, and they With I, you, we, and they, use the base form of the verb. The verb does not need an extra ending. For example: I work, you study, we live, they play. Affirmative sentences with he, she, and it With he, she, and it, the verb usually changes. In most cases, add -s to the base verb: work becomes works, read becomes reads, and like becomes likes. What is the third-person singular? He, she, and it are third-person singular subjects. A singular name or singular noun follows the same rule. For example, Anna works, my brother drives, and the dog sleeps all use the third-person singular verb form. When do we add -es or -ies? Some verbs need a different spelling change. Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, and often -o usually take -es. Verbs ending in consonant + y usually change y to -ies. If there is a vowel before y, simply add -s. The special form of have The verb have is important because its third-person singular form is has. We say I have, you have, we have, and they have, but he has, she has, and it has.
Grammar formula
I / You / We / They
Subject + base verb + ...They work in a restaurant.
He / She / It
Subject + verb-s/es/ies + ...She works in a restaurant.
Singular name or noun
Singular subject + verb-s/es/ies + ...Tom studies English.
Have
I/You/We/They + have | He/She/It + hasHe has a new phone.
Core rules
- 1
Use the base verb with I, you, we, and they
After I, you, we, and they, use the base form of the verb: I work, you study, we live, they play.
- 2
Add -s with he, she, and it
Most verbs take -s with he, she, and it: work → works, read → reads, like → likes.
- 3
Add -es after some endings
Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, and often -o usually take -es: wash → washes, watch → watches, fix → fixes, go → goes.
- 4
Change consonant + y to -ies
If a verb ends in a consonant + y, change y to -ies: study → studies, try → tries.
- 5
Keep y after a vowel
If there is a vowel before y, keep y and add only -s: play → plays, enjoy → enjoys.
- 6
Use has, not haves
The third-person singular form of have is has: He has a car. She has two sisters.
- 7
Singular names follow the same rule
A singular name or noun works like he, she, or it: Emma works, my father drives, the cat sleeps.
Useful examples
I drink coffee every morning.
I have coffee every morning.
Use the base form drink after I.
You speak English at work.
You use English when you are at work.
The verb speak stays in the base form after you.
We live near the city center.
Our home is close to the city center.
Use the base form live after we.
They play football on Saturdays.
They usually play football every Saturday.
This is a repeated activity, so the Present Simple is natural.
He works in a bank.
His job is in a bank.
He is third-person singular, so work becomes works.
She reads before bed.
Reading is part of her bedtime routine.
Add -s to read after she.
My father drives to work every day.
My father goes to work by car every day.
My father is singular, so drive becomes drives.
Emma watches TV after dinner.
Emma usually watches television after she eats dinner.
Watch ends in -ch, so it takes -es.
He goes to the gym three times a week.
He visits the gym three times each week.
Go becomes goes in the third-person singular.
My sister studies German in the evening.
My sister learns German in the evening.
Study changes to studies because it ends in consonant + y.
Tom plays video games at night.
Tom often plays video games during the evening or night.
Play keeps y because there is a vowel before it.
She has a small apartment.
She owns or lives in a small apartment.
Have changes to has with she.
The shop closes at nine.
The shop stops serving customers at nine.
The shop is singular, so close becomes closes.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Water reaches boiling point at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Present Simple is also used for general facts.
Common mistakes
- ❌ He work in a bank. ✅ He works in a bank. With he, most verbs need -s in an affirmative Present Simple sentence.
- ❌ They works every day. ✅ They work every day. After they, use the base form of the verb without -s.
- ❌ She study English every evening. ✅ She studies English every evening. Study ends in consonant + y, so it changes to studies.
- ❌ My brother watch TV at night. ✅ My brother watches TV at night. My brother is singular, and watch ends in -ch, so add -es.
- ❌ He haves a new phone. ✅ He has a new phone. The correct third-person singular form of have is has.
- ❌ Anna plaies tennis on Fridays. ✅ Anna plays tennis on Fridays. Play has a vowel before y, so keep y and add only -s.
- ❌ My parents lives in London. ✅ My parents live in London. My parents is plural, so use the base form live.
Learning tips
- Find the subject first. Then decide which verb form you need.
- Use the base verb after I, you, we, and they.
- Check for -s, -es, or -ies after he, she, it, and singular names.
- Do not confuse the -s on a verb with the plural -s on a noun.
- Learn new verbs in pairs: I work — she works; I study — he studies.
- Pay special attention to common forms such as goes, does, and has.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
Why do we say he works but they work?
He is third-person singular, so the verb usually takes -s. They is plural, so the verb stays in the base form.
When do I use -es instead of -s?
Use -es with many verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, and -o, such as watches, washes, fixes, and goes.
Why does study become studies?
Study ends in consonant + y. In the third-person singular, y changes to -ies.
Why is it plays and not plaies?
In play, there is a vowel before y. The y stays, and you only add -s.
Do names like Anna and Tom also need -s on the verb?
Yes. A singular name follows the same rule as he or she: Anna works and Tom plays.
Is has the third-person singular form of have?
Yes. Use has with he, she, and it. Use have with I, you, we, and they.
Can I use the Present Simple for facts?
Yes. The Present Simple is commonly used for general facts, such as Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.