Present Simple · ProfeNórdico

The problem

English has two present tenses: one for routines and what is true in general, one for what is happening right now. Every time you talk about the present, you have to choose.

in general — it's my routine

I work.

right now

I am working.

The main idea

The present simple isn’t about this moment. It is about what is true in general: routines, permanent facts, how the world works — your whole life, not this second.

habit

I drink coffee every morning.

permanent fact

She lives in Sydney.

universal truth

Water boils at 100°C.

None of the three has to be happening right now. All three are still true.

Try it — simple or continuous?

He ___ at a bank. (it's his job)Right now, my sister ___ TV.Water ___ at 100°C.I ___ a coffee right now.The baby ___ at the moment.She ___ three languages.

Compare the two

Same person, same verb, same day — two different meanings:

present simple — in general

He works at a bank.

present continuous — now

He is working right now.

The classic mistake

I am working here every day.

I work here every day.

“Every day” points to a routine, not to this moment. Something repeated or permanent doesn’t take the continuous.

How it's built

Subjectbase form of the verb

I work · you work · we work · they work

Four persons, one single form.

The one exception: the third person singular takes -s. It is a fossil — all that is left of the verb endings English lost centuries ago. It adds no meaning, which is why people forget it so often.

He / She / Itverbs

How to spell that -s:

Case	Rule	Example
Most verbs	Add -s	work → works
Ends in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o	Add -es	watch → watches
Consonant + y	Change y → ies	study → studies
Vowel + y	Just add -s	play → plays

Decide two things at once: whether the subject takes -s, and how to spell it.

I ___ in Medellín.We ___ English every day.They ___ TV every night.She ___ TV every night.My brother ___ football on Sundays.My sister ___ English.The computer ___ slowly.It ___ a lot in London.My parents ___ in Rome.

The auxiliary and the negative

The main verb can’t make a negative or move on its own: it needs do / does, which carries the tense and the person, leaving the main verb in its base form.

He workSHe doeS not work

Subjectdon't / doesn'tbase verb

Subject	Auxiliary	Example
I / You / We / They	don’t	I don’t work here.
He / She / It	doesn’t	He doesn’t work here.

They ___ here.She ___ here.He ___ coffee.I ___ French.It ___ in Lisbon.We ___ on Sundays.

Questions

English doesn’t make a question with intonation alone: it moves the auxiliary to the front, and only the auxiliary can move.

Do / Doessubjectbase verb?

1statement

You work here.

2the auxiliary moves to the front

Do you work here?

So the question isn’t “You work here?” said with a rising voice: with no auxiliary, there is nothing to move to the front.

Common mistake

He don't works here.

He doesn't work here.

Two mistakes in four words, both the same: the person is marked only once. If does has it, the verb is in its base form.

___ you speak French?___ your sister live here?___ it rain a lot here?___ your parents live in Tokyo?___ he work on Saturdays?Which one is correct?

Questions with where, what, when and how

To ask where, what, when or how, the question word goes first — and the auxiliary is still there, right after it:

Wh-do / doessubjectbase verb?

where

Where do you live?

Wheredo

what

What does she study?

Whatdoes

when

When do you travel?

Whendo

how

How does he cook his food?

Howdoes

The typical mistake is to leave the auxiliary out:

Common mistake

Where you live?

Where do you live?

Where is not an auxiliary: it can’t do the auxiliary’s job. The question still needs do.

The exception: who

Who does live here?

Who lives here?

When who asks about the subject, the auxiliary disappears — the only case where it does. who takes the subject’s place, so the verb takes the -s itself — Who lives here?, Who works on Saturdays?

___ you work? (which place)What ___ she study?When ___ they start?Which one is correct?___ we get to the park?Which one is correct?___ here? (which person)

Practice

My grandparents ___ in the country.The bus ___ at 7:15.She ___ chocolate.___ it often rain here?He ___ his homework after dinner.We ___ meat.What ___ your sister do?My boss ___ a lot.I ___ you're right.

Out loud

Turn each note into a full sentence. Watch out for he / she / it.

Ilivein London
shelivein London
hewatch TVevery night
westudyEnglish
theynotworkhere
shenotworkhere
?youspeak French
?heplay the guitar
Ialwayshave breakfastat seven
sheneverarrivelate
where?youlive
what?shestudy
what time?theystart
?your brotherwork here
hewashthe caron Sundays
how?yougetto work

Show answers

I live in London.
She lives in London.
He watches TV every night.
We study English.
They don't work here.
She doesn't work here.
Do you speak French?
Does he play the guitar?
I always have breakfast at seven.
She never arrives late.
Where do you live?
What does she study?
What time do they start?
Does your brother work here?
He washes the car on Sundays.
How do you get to work?

Fill the gap

Write the verb in the present simple. Check whether the subject is he / she / it.

Answer first, then tap "Show answer".

I in London.(live)
Show answer
I live in London.
She in London.(live)
Show answer
She lives in London.
They TV every night.(watch)
Show answer
They watch TV every night.
He TV every night.(watch)
Show answer
He watches TV every night.
We English.(study)
Show answer
We study English.
My sister English.(study)
Show answer
My sister studies English.
The shop on Sundays.(not open)
Show answer
The shop doesn't open on Sundays.
your parents English?(speak)
Show answer
Do your parents speak English?
Where he ?(work)
Show answer
Where does he work?

Correct the mistake

There is one mistake in each sentence.

Answer first, then tap "Show answer".

She work in a bank. →
Show answer
She works in a bank.
I am drinking coffee every morning. →
Show answer
I drink coffee every morning.
He don't like tea. →
Show answer
He doesn't like tea.
Does she speaks Italian? →
Show answer
Does she speak Italian?
Where you live? →
Show answer
Where do you live?
My brother watchs TV a lot. →
Show answer
My brother watches TV a lot.
I always am tired on Mondays. →
Show answer
I am always tired on Mondays.
Who does want a coffee? →
Show answer
Who wants a coffee?

And now with no help — write the whole sentence:

Write it

A full sentence for each one, with no hints. Think first: does the subject take -s, and do you need do or does?

Answer first, then tap "Show answer".

Say where your friend Sara lives: Dublin. →
Show answer
She lives in Dublin.
Your neighbours have Sundays off. →
Show answer
They don't work on Sundays.
Ask someone if French is one of their languages. →
Show answer
Do you speak French?
Ask about your friend's sister's workplace. →
Show answer
Where does your sister work?
Your brother never has coffee. →
Show answer
My brother doesn't drink coffee.
Your breakfast is at seven, every day without fail. →
Show answer
I always have breakfast at seven.

The final check:

“I am working here every day” — what's wrong?Where is the -s in “She doesn't speak French”?“Where you live?” — what's wrong?“I am wanting a coffee” — what's wrong?