Simple Present Tense

The present simple tense is the "base" form or the "-s" form of verbs.

1. Present simple tense is the base form of verbs. 

  1. I love ice-cream.
  2. We love ice-cream.
  3. You love ice-cream.
  4. They love ice-cream.

2. If the subject is third person singular (he/she/it), we add "-s" or "-es" to the verb.

  1. He loves ice-cream.
  2. She loves ice-cream.
  3. It loves ice-cream.
  4. Andy loves ice-cream. 

Use of Present Simple

The present simple is used to describe:

1. Facts & Truths

We use the present simple tense to talk about things that are always true, facts, or universal statements.

Example: 

  1. The sun rises in the east.
  2. Ice floats on water.
  3. Man is mortal.
  4. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  5. Cats are known for their agility.

2. Habits & Routines

We use the present simple tense to talk about actions that are repeated regularly, habits, or routines.

Example:

  1. I go for a walk every morning. 
  2. I wake up at 7 AM every day.
  3. She brushes her teeth before going to bed.
  4. They usually go for a walk in the evening.

3. Permanent Actions

We use the present simple tense to talk about situations that are considered permanent or long-lasting.

Example:

  1. She lives in New York City.
  2. She works as a doctor.
  3. Cats like milk.

4. Scheduled Events

We can use the present simple tense to indicate scheduled events in near future.

Example:

  1. The train leaves at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
  2. The conference starts on Monday.

Negative

To make a negative sentence in the present simple tense, the auxiliary verb "do/ does" is used with "not" (don't/doesn't).

Example:

Affirmative: They like coffee.
Negative: They do not like coffee.
Negative: They don't like coffee.

Questions

To form questions in the present simple tense, the auxiliary verb "do/ does" is used before the subject.

Example:

Assertive: You like ice-cream.
Question: Do you like ice-cream?

Assertive: She likes ice-cream.
Question: Does she like ice-cream?

"-S" or "-ES" ?

(i) If a verb ends with "s", "sh", "ch", "z", we add "-es" to the verb.

S, SH, Ch, Z
add -ES
I watch.
He watches.
They catch fish.
She catches fish.
You wish.
It wishes.

(ii) If a verb ends with "consonant + y", we change "y" to "i", then add "-es" to the verb.

Consonant + Y
Change "Y" to "I", then add "-ES"
Birds fly.
A bird flies.
We try.
He tries.
They cry. She cries. 

(iii) If a verb ends with "consonant + o", we add "-es" to the verb.

Consonant + O
Add "-ES"
I go.
He goes.
We do.
She does.

(iv) For other verbs, we simply add "-S".

Other verbs
Add "-S"
I eat.
He eats.
We sleep.
She sleeps.

Be & Have

Remember: HAVE & BE verbs have different forms for different persons. That means that you'll just have to commit them to memory!:

BE 

  1. I am a student. 
  2. He is perfect.
  3. She is perfect.
  4. It is perfect.
  5. They are perfect. 

HAVE 

  1. I have a toy. 
  2. He has a toy.
  3. She has a toy.
  4. It has a toy.

Verb Tense Worksheet 1

Use the right form of verbs in the brackets:

  1. I ---------- (go) to school daily. 
  2. She ---------- (like) green fruits. 
  3. The man never ---------- (tell) a lie. 
  4. The Meghna ---------- (flow) into the Bay of Bengal. 
  5. This shopkeeper ---------- (sell) pure honey. 
  6. The boy ---------- (learn) his lessons regularly. 
  7. My grandfather ---------- (go) to the mosque every day. 
  8. He never ---------- (eat) meat. 
  9. The man seldom ---------- (smoke). 
  10. My father ---------- (not eat) mutton.
  11. The moon ---------- (shine) at night. 
  12. Flowers ---------- (be) gift of nature. 
  13. It ---------- (dew) in winter. 
  14. The rich ---------- (be) not always happy. 
  15. The virtuous ---------- (be) blessed. 
  16. The pious ---------- (be) happy. 
  17. Ice ---------- (float) on water.
  18. Cats ---------- (like) milk.
  19. Birds ---------- (not like) milk.
  20. The train ---------- (leave) tonight at 6 PM.
  21. The bus ---------- (not arrive) at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
  22. The party ---------- (start) at 8 o'clock.
  23. She hardly ---------- (phone) me.
  24. I ---------- (go) home at weekends.
  25. She rarely ---------- (come) here.
  26. A barking dog seldom ---------- (bite).
  27. She never ---------- (tell) a lie. 
  28. What you ---------- (do) on Fridays. 
  29. I ---------- (brush) my teeth twice a day. 
  30. I ---------- (go ) to school every day.

Verb Tense Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb in simple present tense.

  1. My family __________ (live) in a small house near the park.
  2. Every morning, I __________ (wake) up at 6 AM.
  3. She __________ (read) books every evening before bed.
  4. They __________ (play) soccer on weekends.
  5. The sun __________ (rise) in the east.
  6. He usually __________ (take) the bus to work.
  7. Cats __________ (purr) when they are content.
  8. The Earth __________ (revolve) around the sun.
  9. We __________ (have) dinner at 7 PM.
  10. The company cafeteria __________ (serve) lunch from 12 PM to 1:30 PM.
  11. She rarely __________ (watch) television.
  12. My brother __________ (study) French on Mondays and Wednesdays.
  13. Water __________ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
  14. The train __________ (arrive) at the station at 9:15 AM.
  15. Jane always __________ (brush) her teeth before going to bed. 

Verb Tense Worksheet 3

Write the correct forms of verbs in brackets. Use present simple tense.

In a quiet village, a young girl named Lily lives with her family. She (1) ---------- (wake) up every morning to the sound of birds singing outside her window. After breakfast, she (2) ---------- (head) to school with her friends, Sarah and Mark. They (3) ---------- (walk) through the colorful streets, passing by houses with blooming gardens.

Lily (4) ---------- (love) her school, where they (5) ---------- (have) interesting lessons and friendly teachers. During lunchtime, she (6) ---------- (share) stories and laughter with her classmates. In the afternoon, they have outdoor activities, playing games and running around in the schoolyard.

When Lily returns home, she (7) ---------- (help) her mother set the table for dinner. After the meal, her family (8) ---------- (gather) in the living room to watch their favorite TV show together. Before bedtime, Lily (9) ---------- (read) a chapter from her book and then (10) ---------- (drift) off to sleep, dreaming of adventures and new discoveries.

Verb Tense Worksheet 4

Here is a story with verbs in brackets. Write the verbs in present simple tense.

A Day at the Park

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, and the sun (1) ---------- (shine) brightly in the clear blue sky. Emma (2) ---------- (pack) a picnic basket with sandwiches, fruits, and a thermos of lemonade. She (3) ---------- (call) her friends, Mark and Sarah, and they (4) ---------- (agree) to meet at the park for a day of fun.

As they (5) ---------- (arrive) at the park, children (6) ---------- (play) on the swings, and families (7) ---------- (have) picnics under the shade of trees. Emma, Mark, and Sarah (8) ---------- (spread) out a colorful blanket and (9) ---------- (enjoy) their delicious picnic. Birds (10) ---------- (chirp) in the background, adding to the serene atmosphere.

After eating, they (11) ---------- (walk) over to the lake. People (12) ---------- (feed) the ducks, and the water (13) ---------- (glisten) in the sunlight. Mark and Sarah (14) ---------- (rent) a paddleboat, and they all (15) ---------- (take) turns paddling around the peaceful lake. Laughter (16) ---------- (fill) the air as they navigate the water.

Later, they (17) ---------- (sit) under a big oak tree and (18) ---------- (watch) a group of musicians who (19) ---------- (play) lively tunes. Some people (20) ---------- (dance) to the music, and others (21) ---------- (clap) along. Emma (22) ---------- (feel) a sense of happiness, being surrounded by such joy.

As the sun (23) ---------- (set) in the west, the sky (24) ---------- (turn) shades of orange and pink. They (25) ---------- (light) a small campfire and (26) ---------- (roast) marshmallows for s'mores. The crackling of the fire (27) ---------- (create) a cozy ambiance. They (28) ---------- (share) stories and (29) ---------- (enjoy) the warmth of the fire.

When it gets dark, they (30) ---------- (pack) up their things and (31) ---------- (head) back home, tired but content. As they (32) ---------- (say) their goodbyes, they (22) ---------- (promise) to do this again soon. Emma (34) ---------- (look) up at the stars and (35) ---------- (realize) how fortunate she is to have such wonderful friends and moments like this.

And so, a simple day at the park (36) ---------- (turn) into a memorable adventure, filled with laughter, good food, and the beauty of nature.

Verb Tense Worksheet 5

Instructions: Rewrite the following story, changing the verbs in brackets to the present tense. Use the present tense to describe the ongoing events and actions in the story.

Original Story:

In a distant kingdom, there (1. ---------- live) a brave knight named Sir Benjamin. He (2. ---------- serve) his king with unwavering loyalty and (3. ---------- protect) the kingdom from any threat. Every day, Sir Benjamin (4. ---------- ride) his majestic horse, Thunder, through the lush fields and (5. ---------- patrol) the borders of the realm.

One sunny morning, as Sir Benjamin (6. ---------- ride) through the village, he (7. ---------- notice) a commotion near the town square. A group of villagers (8. ---------- gather) around a frightened kitten stuck in a tree. Sir Benjamin (9. ---------- dismount) from his horse and (10. ---------- approach) the villagers. With his steady hands, he (11. ---------- rescue) the kitten and (12. ---------- return) it safely to the ground.

As a token of gratitude, the villagers (13. ---------- offer) Sir Benjamin a beautifully crafted sword. He (14. ---------- thank) them and (15. ---------- continue) on his way. Currently, he (16. ---------- train) with his fellow knights, honing his combat skills and (17. ---------- prepare) for any challenges that (18. ---------- come) their way.

5. Answer the following questions.

  1. What does your mother do every evening?
  2. When do you eat lunch?
  3. What do you usually do after school?
  4. Why do cats purr?
  5. Where does the sun rise?
  6. What do you do every night before bed?
  7. Do you go to the park?
  8. What time does the train arrive?
  9. Why do dogs bark?
  10. What does the Earth do around the Sun?