SIMPLE PRESENT STRUCTURE
Subject + Verb + Complement
Examples:
- I like pizza
- She lives in Toronto
- We have a dog
- They go to school
Here are all the pronouns with the verbs in simple present:
I like pizza.
You like pizza.
He likes pizza.
She likes pizza.
It likes pizza.
We like pizza.
They like pizza.
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:
- 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
- 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
This table shows the difference between the third person pronouns. Notice the “s” on the end of the Word.
| Verb | 3rd Person |
| I live in Vancouver. | He lives in Vancouver. |
| You play soccer. | She plays soccer. |
| Tom and Dan (they) like basketball. |
Tom (he) likes basketball. |
| The books (they) look old. | The book (it) looks old. |
NEGATIVES
Negatives in simple present use do not or does not. They also
use be + not.
Do Not/Does Not
Subject + Do/Does + not + verb +complement
Examples:
- I do not like pizza.
- She does not play baseball.
Be + Not
Negative sentences can also use the verb to be and not. They
look like these examples:
- I am not a doctor.
- She is not hungry.
- They are not from Africa.
QUIESTIONS
Questions with verbs in the simple present use the auxiliary
verb “DO”.
Structure
Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb
Examples:
- Do you like pizza?
- Does she play baseball?
ANSWERS
The answers to do/does questions are always “yes” or “no”.
This is why they are Yes/No Questions.
Question: Do you like chocolate?
Answer: Yes I do.
No I do not.
Question: Does she have a brother?
Answer: Yes she does.
No she does not.
NEGATIVES
Negative sentences in simple present use do or does.
Structure
Subject + Do/Does + Not + Verb + complement.
Examples:
- I do not like hockey
- She does not live in Brazil.
Contractions
- Do not = Don’t
- Does not = Doesn’t
Examples:
- They don’t have a dog.
- He doesn’t want a drink.
For a better understanding, this is a website to know how to apply these basic rules, and improve spelling and speech.
Santa Lucia Technical High School 