Structure of Simple Present Tense

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
This post includes detailed expressions about simple present tense and its structures in english. Please follow the list about Structure of Simple Present Tense;

The tenses simply show the time of an action.

Simple Present Tense indicates an action which happens in the present, but it isn’t necessary for actions to happen right now. Simple present tense indicates, unchanging situations, general truths, scientific facts, habits, fixed arrangements and frequently occuring events.

The Structures of Simple Present Tense

POSITIVE FORMS (+) :

  • Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + V1  ( First Form of Verb )
  • Subject ( He, She, It ) + VERB – S / ES / IES

NEGATIVE FORMS (-) :  

  • Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + do not / don’t + V1  ( First Form of Verb )
  • Subject ( He, She, It ) + does not / doesn’t + V1  ( First Form of Verb )

QUESTION FORMS (?) :

  • Do + Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + V1  ( First Form of Verb )
  • Does + Subject ( He, She, It ) + V1  ( First Form of Verb )

SHORT ANSWER FORMS ( + / – ) : 

  • YES / NO + Subject ( I, You, We, They )+ do / do not (don’t)
  • YES / NO + Subject  ( He, She, It ) + does / does not (doesn’t)




POSITIVE (+)NEGATIVE (-)QUESTION (?)
I startI do not (don’t) startDo I start
You startYou do not (don’t) startDo you start
He startsHe does not (doesn’t) startDoes he start
She startsShe does not (doesn’t) startDoes she start
It startsIt does not (doesn’t) startDoes it start
We startWe do not (don’t) startDo we start
You startYou do not (don’t) startDo you start
They startThey do not (don’t) startDo they start

ATTENTION:

1. In Simple Present Tense, we add the suffix -s at the end of the verbs for the third singular subjects ( He, She, It ) . On the other hand, we use first forms of the verbs for other subjects ( I, You, We, You, They).

2. Although we add the suffix -s at the end of the verb for the third singular subjects in possitive sentences, we remove the suffix -s at the end of the verb in questions and negative sentences  because of being used ‘does’ or  ‘doesn’t’ as an auxillary verb.





Positive Sentences ( Sbj + V1 /V(-s,-es,-ies) )

Examples:

  • My mother lets me go out with my friends.
  • prefer my coffee black.
  • She puts the keys on the table.
  • The teacher shouts at us all the time.
  • I have two brothers.
  • Coffee grows in Brazil.

Negative Sentences ( Sbj + do/does not + V1)

Examples:

  • My mother does not (doesn’t) let  me go out with my friends.
  • I do not (don’t) prefer my coffee black.
  • She does not (doesn’t) put the keys on the table.
  • The teacher does not (doesn’t) shout at us all the time.
  • do not (don’t) have two brothers.
  • Coffee does not (doesn’t) grow in Brazil.

Question Sentences ( Do/Does + Sbj + V1)

Examples:

  • Does your mother let you go out with your friends?
  • Do you prefer your coffee black?
  • Does she put the keys on the table?
  • Does the teacher shout at us all the time?
  • Do have two brothers?
  • Does coffee grow in Brazil?

NOTES:

We use other question words ( Like Who, What, Why , How much / many, How often etc.) in present tense.

1)

Question Words (who, what, why, how much / many, how often etc.) + do / does + subject pronoun ( he, she, it, I, you, we, they) + V ( First Form of Verb )

Examples:

  • How often does he call you?
  • Why do you always do this?
  • How much does it cost?

OR

2)

Question Words (who, what, why, etc.) + V1 / V (-s,-es,-ies) + object pronouns ( me, you, him, her,it, us, them)

Examples:

  • Who gives him a scholarship?
  • What makes you angry?