The Present Simple is used to talk about:
- something that happens regularly
- something that is always true
- (less common) something that is a future plan or timetable
Examples
Something that happens regularly:
- 🏋️♀️I go to the gym twice a week.
Something that is always true (a fact):
- 🧑🧒🧒 I have 2 sisters.
Something that is a FUTURE plan or timetable:
- 📆 My new job starts on Monday.
- ⏰ The train leaves at 10am tomorrow morning.
FORM
👍 I/you/we/they like coffee.
👎 I/you/we/they don’t like coffee.
❓Do you/they/we/I like coffee?
👍 He/she likes coffee.
👎 He/she doesn’t like coffee.
❓Does he/she like coffee?
SUMMARY
👍 Positive: Subject + verb (+ s/es for third person singular)
👎 Negative: Subject + don’t/doesn’t + verb
❓Question: Do/Does + subject + verb
Key points to remember
1. Subject-Verb Agreement:
Add -s or -es to the verb for 3rd person singular subjects (he, she, it).
- Example: He plays football every weekend.
2. Time expressions:
You often use the Present Simple with adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) or time phrases (every day, once a week, on Mondays).
- Examples: I often go to the gym. I go twice a week.
3. Spelling Rules:
For verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -z, add -es for third person singular (see Pronunciation Guide below)
- Examples: She watches TV in the evening. He goes swimming every day.
4. Have and has
- I, you, we, they have a dog.
- He, she, it has a dog.
Present Simple in IELTS
1. Speaking Part 1: Describing routines and habits.
- Question: “Do you live in a house or apartment?”
- Answer: “I live in a house.”
- Question: “What do you usually do on weekends?”
- Answer: “I usually spend time with my family and go for a walk in the park”
2. Speaking Part 3: generalising
- Question: “How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings?”
- Answer: “People want to protect their heritage but sadly very few people actively campaign to stop them from being demolished.”
3. General Training Letters: Asking direct questions.
- Do you need a lift to the airport? (Informal)
- Do you have the capacity to take on such a project? (Formal)
4. Academic Writing Task 1:
Describing graphs and charts with general trends.
- The graph shows that coffee consumption increases during winter months.
Describing processes and cycles.
- The liquid turns into syrup.
- The butterfly lays an egg on a leaf.
5. Writing Task 2: Expressing opinions and general truths.
- Many people believe that technology plays a crucial role in education.
'Wh' and 'How' questions
You often need to ask questions in General Training letters.
Use the ‘do/does‘ question structure and put the ‘wh’ and ‘how’ questions at the start.
- When do you usually go on holiday?
- Who do you work with?
- Why don’t you like your job?
- How often do they visit?
- Where does your friend live?
- What time does your train leave?
Present Simple after 'time' expressions
Use Present Simple after time expressions such as ‘as soon as’ ‘when’ and ‘before’ or ‘after’.
Examples:
- “I’ll call you as soon as I arrive“
- “He’ll call you when he arrives“
- “I’ll call you before/after I arrive“
Common Mistake:
“I’ll call you as soon as I will arrive”
Present Simple in First Conditional
- I’ll help you if I have time.
- She’ll help you if she has time.
Common Mistake:
I’ll help you if I will have time.
See my Complete Guide to Conditionals (Workbook).
Present Simple for timetabled events
Use the Present Simple to talk about events that are part of a future plan or timetable:
- What time does your train leave?
- It leaves at 9 am.
Present Simple for 'stative' verbs
Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action.
These verbs are usually about thoughts, emotions, senses and states of being.
Stative verbs are typically only used in the Present Simple form.
1. Emotions: love, hate, like, dislike, prefer, want, wish
- I love music.
2. Possession: have, own, belong, possess
- She has two brothers.
3. Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, appear
- The new shopping mall looks great.
4. Thoughts and opinions: know, believe, think, understand, mean, suppose, agree
- I know what you mean.
5. Measurements: weigh
- How much do you weigh?
Common mistakes
I am agree with you.- I agree with you.
I am loving this song.- I love this song.
[though this “I’m loving it” expression has become fashionable thanks to McDonalds!]
Present Simple for story plots
In the Speaking Test or General Training Letter, you may be asked to talk about your favourite film or book.
When people tell the plot of a film or book, they usually use the Present Simple.
For example:
- ‘The Titanic’ tells the story of a young woman called Rose, who falls in love with Jack, a poor artist, aboard the ship. Their romance unfolds as the Titanic hits an iceberg and sinks.
See the full lesson here.
Present simple with 'be'
The Present Simple rules are different for the verb ‘to be’.
Use ‘be’:
- with nouns: I’m a student.
- with adjectives: I’m tired.
- with age: I’m 35 (years old).
- with locations: I’m at home.
I
- am OK.
- am not OK.
Am I OK?
He/She
- is OK.
- is not OK.
Is he/she OK?
You/they/we
- are OK.
- are not OK.
Are you/we/they OK?
Remember to use contractions in Spoken and Informal written English.
Full version
I am a student.
He/She is a student.
You are a student.
We are students.
They are students.
Contracted version
I’m a student.
He’s/She’s a student.
You’re a student.
We’re students.
They’re students.
Common mistakes
1. Dropping the ‘s’
The diagram show…- The diagram shows …
2. Using the Present Continuous instead of the Present Simple
She’s having a new car.- She has a new car.
3. Using Present Simple instead of the Present Perfect Simple
I’m heresince 2023.- I’ve been here since 2023.
4. Spelling changes
- ending in ‘y‘: I cry – He cries.
- ending in ‘o‘: I go – He goes, I do – He does
- ending in ‘ch’ ‘ss’ ‘sh’ ‘x’ or ‘zz’: add an ‘e’: He watches, washes, misses, boxes, buzzes
5. Pronunciation
The final ‘s‘ on the Third Person is pronounced differently, depending on the sound that comes before it.
Present Simple Pronunciation: 's'
Practise pronouncing the ‘s’ in these different ways, especially when you add an extra vowel.
Practice
This is a quick practice to review spelling and to remind you to use the 3rd person ‘s’.
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