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Ch 2

Present Simple

I work · She works · Do you work?

What is the Present Simple?

Use the Present Simple for habits, routines, facts, and permanent situations.

Habit
She drinks coffee every morning.
Routine
I go to work at 8am.
Fact
Water boils at 100°C.
Permanent
She lives in Barcelona.
Not for now: "I am eating" (right now) — use Present Continuous for this.

Positive form

Base verb · add -s for he / she / it

I / You / We / They
work · play · eat
He / She / It
works · plays · eats
-ch/-sh/-x/-o → +es
watch→watches · go→goes
consonant + y → ies
study→studies · carry→carries
She works in a hospital.
he/she/it → +s
He watches TV every night.
-ch → +es
She studies every day.
y → ies

Negative form

Add don't or doesn't before the base verb

I / You / We / They
don't + base verb
He / She / It
doesn't + base verb
✓ Correct
She doesn't eat meat.
They don't work on Sundays.
✗ Wrong
She doesn't eats meat.
→ base verb after doesn't
She not eat meat.
→ need doesn't

Questions

Invert with Do or Does

Statement: She works here.  →  Question: Does she work here? ✓
I / You / We / They
Do + subject + base verb?
He / She / It
Does + subject + base verb?
Do you like coffee?
Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Does she work here?
Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.

Common mistakes

Where learners go wrong most often

She don't like it.
→
She doesn't like it.
He/She/It → doesn't
Does she works here?
→
Does she work here?
Base verb after does
He studys every day.
→
He studies every day.
consonant + y → ies
I am go to school.
→
I go to school.
No "am" with present simple

Recap

Positive
work / works
I work · She works
Negative
don't / doesn't + base
I don't · She doesn't
Question
Do / Does + subject + base?
Do you? · Does she?
Short answer
Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't.
always use do/does
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