Simple Present Tense (Present Simple)

Below brief guide about simple present tense for UPSR students.

We use the Simple Present:
1. To talk about things that happen regularly (habitual action)
David plays football on Saturdays.

2. To talk about facts (general truth)
Tesco Mall (Penang) opens at 8.00 a.m. and closes at 11.00 p.m.

3. Imperative
We use them (imperative) to tell people what to do, to give people advice, or to give people friendly invitation.
These are imperative: Go. Help. Come. Wait.
Park your car here.
Come and have lunch with us.
Try again.

We form Simple Present like this:
1. Positive or affirmative form of the simple present
Singular Pronouns
I work; you work; he/she/it works
Plural Pronouns
They work; we work; you work

Note: Common mistake
He drive to office every day. (X)
He drives to office every day. (√)

2. Negative form of the simple present
(do not/does not + infinitive [without to])
Singular Pronouns
I do not work; you do not work; he/she/it does not work
Plural Pronouns
They do not work; we do not work; you do not work

Note: Common mistake
He does not works. (X)
He does not work. (√)

3. Question form of the simple present
(do/does + subject + infinitive [without to])
Singular Pronouns
Do I work? Do you work? Does he/she/it work?
Plural Pronouns
Do they work? Do we work? Do you work?

Note: Common mistake
Does Ali walks to school? (X)
Does Ali walk to school? (√)

How to make he/she/it forms (simple present positive)
• Most verbs: add ‘-s’: work → works; write → writes
• Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x: add ‘-es’: miss → misses; push → pushes; catch → catches; fix → fixes
• Verbs ending in –y (vowel + y): add ‘-s’: buy → buys; say → says
• Verbs ending in –y (consonant + y): remove –y add ‘-ies’: study → studies; copy → copies

Good Luck!