Simple Present Tense

English Grammar Rules

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.
We use the present tense:
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

I take the train to the office.

The train to Berlin leaves every hour.

John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

The President of The USA lives in The White House.

A dog has four legs.

We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

I get up early every day.

Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.

They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

It rains a lot in winter.

The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).
In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.
Subject
I / you / we / they
he / she / it

Verb
speak / learn
speaks / learns

The Rest of the sentence

English at home
English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:
1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

go goes

catch catches

wash washes

kiss kisses

fix fixes

buzz buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

marry marries

study studies

carry carries

worry worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

play plays

enjoy enjoys

say says

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs
EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the subject
is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a
negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence
(because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why
below.

Negative Contractions
Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not
I don't like meat = I do not like meat.
There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present
Tense using Don't or Doesn't.
Subject
I / you / we / they
he / she / it

don't/doesn't
don't
doesn't

Verb*
have / buy
eat / like etc.

The Rest of the sentence

cereal for breakfast

* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO
before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO.
For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

You don't speak Arabic.

John doesn't speak Italian.

We don't have time for a rest.

It doesn't move.

They don't want to go to the party.

She doesn't like fish.

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish
though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of the
question.

Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?

You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a question.
We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?

When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the affirmative
sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence
(because it is in third person) disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.
We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can, must,
might, should etc.)

Word Order of Questions with Do and Does

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does.
Do/Does
Do
Does

Subject
I / you / we / they
he / she / it

Verb*
have / need
want etc.

The Rest of the sentence

a new bike?

*Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO
before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO.
For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

Do you need a dictionary?

Does Mary need a dictionary?

Do we have a meeting now?

Does it rain a lot in winter?

Do they want to go to the party?

Does he like pizza?

Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct questions as follows:
Sample Questions
Do you like chocolate?
Do I need a pencil?
Do you both like chocolate?
Do they like chocolate?
Does he like chocolate?
Does she like chocolate?

Short Answer
(Affirmative)
Yes, I do.
Yes, you do.
Yes, we do.
Yes, they do.
Yes, he does.
Yes, she does.

Short Answer
(Negative)
No, I don't.
No, you don't.
No, we don't.
No, they don't.
No, he doesn't.
No, she doesn't.

Does it have four wheels?

Yes, it does.

No, it doesn't.

However, if a question word such as who, when, where, why, which or how is used in the
question, you can not

Simple Past Tense

English Grammar
The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in English.
If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will be easy.
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite
time in the past.

How to form the Past Tense in English

The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense.
(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)
This is totally different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you
change the verb ending for every subject.
For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.

I wanted

You wanted

He wanted

She wanted

It wanted

We wanted

They wanted

So you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just
needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all subjects (or people).

Past Tense Regular Verbs

To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add ED to the end of the verb.

play played

cook cooked

rain rained

wait waited

There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you can see here:
Spelling of words ending in ED.

Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past tense

Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.

She kissed me on the cheek.

It rained yesterday.

Angela watched TV all night.

John wanted to go to the museum.

Note: There are three different ways of pronouncing the ed at the end of a verb in the past tense.
We recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of ED at the end of words.

Negative sentences in the Past Tense

We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the following:

Present: They don't live in Canada.

Past: They didn't live in Canada.
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary
DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative
sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both don't and doesn't in the present tense become didn't in the past tense.
Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:
Present: You don't need a mechanic.
Past: You didn't need a mechanic.
Present: You don't walk to work.
Past: You didn't walk to work.
Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.
Past: He didn't speak Japanese.

Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

I didn't want to go to the dentist.

She didn't have time.

You didn't close the door.

He didn't come to my party.

They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.

We didn't sleep well last night.

Questions in the Past Tense

We use did to make a question in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

Present: Do they live in France?
Past: Did they live in France?
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary
DID shows that the question is in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense and a question in the past
tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both Do and Does in present tense questions become Didn't in past tense questions.
Compare the questions in the examples below:
Present: Do you need a doctor?
Past: Did you need a doctor?
Present: Do you ride your bike to work?
Past: Did you ride your bike to work?
Present: Does he live in Italy?
Past: Did he live in Italy?
We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more
information.

Did you study? Yes, I did.

When did you study? I studied last night.

Where did you study? I studied at the library.

Read more about short answers in the past tense.

Examples of Questions in the Past Tense

Did you go to work yesterday?

Did they arrive on time?

Did she like the surprise?

Where did she go?

What did you do yesterday?

What did you say? - I didn't say anything.

Why did we have to come?

Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.
(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).
For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.
It does not end in ED so it is considered irregular.
The word went is used for all subjects I, you, we, they, he, she, it.

I went to the beach

He went to the park.

She went to the zoo.

They went to the library.

BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in sentences that are
affirmative/positive.
Compare the following using GO in the past tense.

They went to the beach

They didn't go to the beach --- Didn't shows that we are talking in the past tense.

Did they go to the beach? --- Did shows that we are talking in the past tense.

Another example with an irregular verb.

The past of EAT is ATE.

You ate my cake.

You didn't eat my cake.

Did you eat my cake?

Present vs Past Tense Summary Chart

Past Tense Irregular Verbs List

English Grammar Rules
Part One
The following is a list of Irregular Verbs in English:
Verb
arise
babysit
be
beat
become
bend
begin
bet

Past Simple
arose
babysat
was / were
beat
became
bent
began
bet

Past Participle
arisen
babysat
been
beaten
become
bent
begun
bet

bind
bite
bleed
blow
break
breed
bring
broadcast
build
buy
catch
choose
come
cost
cut
deal
dig
do
draw
drink
drive
eat
fall
feed
feel
fight
find
fly
forbid
forget
forgive
freeze
get
give
go
grow
hang*
have
hear
hide
hit
hold

bound
bit
bled
blew
broke
bred
brought
broadcast
built
bought
caught
chose
came
cost
cut
dealt
dug
did
drew
drank
drove
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
flew
forbade
forgot
forgave
froze
got
gave
went
grew
hung
had
heard
hid
hit
held

bound
bitten
bled
blown
broken
bred
brought
broadcast
built
bought
caught
chosen
come
cost
cut
dealt
dug
done
drawn
drunk
driven
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
flown
forbidden
forgotten
forgiven
frozen
gotten
given
gone
grown
hung
had
heard
hidden
hit
held

hurt
keep
know
lay
lead
leave
lend
let
lie **
light
lose
make
mean
meet
pay
put
quit
read ***
ride
ring
rise
run
say
see
sell
send
set
shake
shine
shoot
show
shut
sing
sink
sit
sleep
slide
speak
spend
spin
spread
stand

hurt
kept
knew
laid
led
left
lent
let
lay
lit
lost
made
meant
met
paid
put
quit
read
rode
rang
rose
ran
said
saw
sold
sent
set
shook
shone
shot
showed
shut
sang
sank
sat
slept
slid
spoke
spent
spun
spread
stood

hurt
kept
known
laid
led
left
lent
let
lain
lit
lost
made
meant
met
paid
put
quit
read
ridden
rung
risen
run
said
seen
sold
sent
set
shaken
shone
shot
shown
shut
sung
sunk
sat
slept
slid
spoken
spent
spun
spread
stood

steal
stick
sting
strike
swear
sweep
swim
swing
take
teach
tear
tell
think
throw
understand
wake
wear
win
withdraw
write

stole
stuck
stung
struck
swore
swept
swam
swung
took
taught
tore
told
thought
threw
understood
woke
wore
won
withdrew
wrote

stolen
stuck
stung
struck
sworn
swept
swum
swung
taken
taught
torn
told
thought
thrown
understood
woken
worn
won
withdrawn
written

* HANG - Hang has two different meanings. The first is "to attach (or hang) something in a high
position" (e.g. on the wall or on a hook). In this case we use the above verbs Hang-Hung-Hung.
BUT when Hang means "to kill someone by putting a rope around someone's neck and leaving
them in a high position without any support", we use different verbs: Hang-Hanged-hanged. This
verb is typical of public executions in the past. (e.g. They hanged him in the main square.)
** LIE - Lie has two meanings. When it means "to put your body in a horizontal position"
(normally on a bed) it uses the Lie-Lay-Lain verbs.
BUT it is regular Lie-Lied-Lied when it has the other meaning of "not to say the truth".
*** READ - Even though they are written the same, the pronunciation is different in the Past
Tense and Past Participle form.

Part Two
The following verbs can be regular or irregular:
Verb
burn

Past Simple
burned OR burnt

Past Participle
burned OR burnt

dream
learn
smell

dreamed OR dreamt
learned OR learnt
smelled OR smelt

dreamed OR dreamt
learned OR learnt
smelled OR smelt

The second form (burnt, dreamt etc.) is more common in British English.

Part Three
Verbs that have the same form in Present, Past and Past Participle form:
Verb
bet
broadcast
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
quit
read
set
shut
spread

Past Simple
bet
broadcast
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
quit
read
set
shut
spread

Past Participle
bet
broadcast
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
quit
read
set
shut
spread

All of the verbs above are written and pronounced the same in the three forms EXCEPT for
Read which is written the same but pronounced differently.

Simple Past
f t g+ p
FORM

[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

You called Debbie.

Did you call Debbie?

You did not call Debbie.

Complete List of Simple Past Forms

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the
past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one
specific time in mind.
Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.

I didn't see a play yesterday.

Last year, I traveled to Japan.

Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.

Did you have dinner last night?

She washed her car.

He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st,
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.
Examples:

I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met
the others at 10:00.

Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a
longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all
year, etc.
Examples:

I lived in Brazil for two years.

Shauna studied Japanese for five years.

They sat at the beach all day.

They did not stay at the party the entire time.

We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.

A: How long did you wait for them?

B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the
same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add
expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.
Examples:

I studied French when I was a child.

He played the violin.

He didn't play the piano.

Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?

She worked at the movie theater after school.

They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer
true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."
Examples:

She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

He didn't like tomatoes before.

Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?

People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

IMPORTANT When-Clauses Happen First

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some
clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class began..."
These clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important. The examples below contain
when-clauses.
Examples:

When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.

She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the
Simple Past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and
then, she answered my question. It is not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the
beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence. However, the example below has a
different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.
Example:

I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever,
still, just, etc.
Examples:

You just called Debbie.

Did you just call Debbie?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Tom repaired the car. Active

The car was repaired by Tom. Passive

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

You speak English.

Do you speak English?

You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a
habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be
something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples:

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

The train does not leave at 9 AM.

When does the train usually leave?

She always forgets her purse.

He never forgets his wallet.

Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.

Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now,
and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also
used to make generalizations about people or things.
Examples:

Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

California is in America.

California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass.

Windows are not made of wood.

New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This
is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other
scheduled events as well.
Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

When do we board the plane?

The party starts at 8 o'clock.

When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is
not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
Examples:

I am here now.

She is not here now.

He needs help right now.

He does not need help now.

He has his passport in his hand.

Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever,
still, just, etc.
Examples:

You only speak English.

Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active

Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive