Present Simple
8 lessons about present simple in English, explained in Spanish. Practice with exercises and download worksheets.
- A1Grammar 12 min
Have or has
Have or has: have with I, you, we, they, and has with he, she, it. After does and doesn't, use have. Examples, common mistakes, and exercises.
View lesson - A1Grammar 12 min
Present simple affirmative
With I, you, we, and they the present simple uses the base verb: I work, they live. What it is for, how to build it, and exercises.
View lesson - A1Grammar 12 min
Do, does, don't, or doesn't
Do and does for questions, don't and doesn't for negatives; with he, she, and it, the form with -s. How to choose, do as a main verb, and exercises.
View lesson - A1Grammar 13 min
Third person: the -s
With he, she, and it the verb takes -s: works, watches, studies, has. How to spell it, how it sounds, and exercises to practice.
View lesson - A1Grammar 12 min
Present simple negatives
Present simple negatives use do not or does not + verb: I do not smoke, she does not cook. When to use each one, with exercises.
View lesson - A1Grammar 12 min
Don't and doesn't contractions
Don't and doesn't are short for do not and does not. Where the apostrophe goes, how they sound, short answers, and when to use the long form.
View lesson - A1Grammar 12 min
Questions with do and does
Present simple questions start with do or does: Do you swim? Does she drive? With where and what, short answers, and exercises.
View lesson - A1Grammar 15 min
Present simple or continuous
Present simple for habits and facts, present continuous for now and these days. The words that go with each one, verbs with no -ing, and exercises.
View lesson
What is Present Simple?
The Present Simple is used to talk about habits, routines, facts and general truths. It is formed with the base verb (I work, you work, they work) and adds -s or -es with he, she and it (she works, he watches). It is usually the first tense learners study because most basic conversations rely on it.
When to use it
Use it for routines ("I get up at six"), likes ("She likes tea"), facts ("Water boils at 100 degrees") and schedules ("The train leaves at nine"). It often appears with frequency adverbs such as always, usually, often, sometimes and never, and with time phrases like every day or on Mondays.
Common mistakes and tips for Spanish speakers
- Questions and negatives need do or does, and the main verb goes back to its base form: "Does she work?", not "Does she works?".
- With he, she and it the verb takes -s. This is the most common mistake for Spanish speakers, since every person changes its ending in Spanish.
- Never drop the subject: English always says "It rains a lot" or "He works here", never "Rains a lot".
Examples
I usually drink coffee in the morning.
Normalmente tomo café por la mañana.
She works at a hospital.
Ella trabaja en un hospital.
Does he live near here?
¿Él vive cerca de aquí?
We don't eat meat.
No comemos carne.