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CourseGrammarWords
  1. Home
  2. ›Grammar
  3. ›A1
  4. ›Present simple
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Present simple

Habits and facts with the present simple; the third-person -s and do/does negatives and questions

Learning Goal

I can talk about routines and facts and ask about them with do/does.

Exam Skills:Key A2 · ListeningKey A2 · Reading

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

My train leaves at seven, so I get up at five thirty.

My train leaves at seven, so I get up at five thirty.

Does your brother play hockey? — No, he doesn't. He plays chess.

Does your brother play hockey? — No, he doesn't. He plays chess.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

The present simple describes habits, routines and facts:

TypePatternExample
+I/you/we/they work; he/she/it worksShe works in Brno.
−don't / doesn't + verbHe doesn't smoke.
?Do/Does + subject + verbDoes she work here?

Signal words: every day, usually, often, never, on Mondays. In questions and negatives the main verb loses its -s: Does she work? (not *works).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises
  • Third person -s dropped: *She work → She works
  • Double marking: *Does she works? → Does she work?
  • Question without do: *Work you here? → Do you work here?

Common Error Patterns

Missing -s in 3rd person singular

he/she/it + verb-s: she works

-s kept after does

does already carries the -s: Does she work?

My train leaves at seven, so I get up at five thirty.

My train leaves at seven, so I get up at five thirty.

Routines and timetables in the present simple.

Does your brother play hockey? — No, he doesn't. He plays chess.

Does your brother play hockey? — No, he doesn't. He plays chess.

does question, short answer, -s in the statement.

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Related grammar topics

Previous topic: The verb be (am/is/are)Next topic: Present continuous

Also in Verbs

  • The verb be (am/is/are)
  • Present continuous
  • Can: ability and requests
  • Past simple: regular verbs
  • Past simple: irregular verbs
  • Have got
  • Like, love, hate + -ing
  • Present perfect: have doneA2
  • Future: will vs going toA2
  • Past continuousA2
  • The imperativeA2
  • Obligation: must, have to, mustn't, don't have toA2
  • Should and shouldn't: adviceA2
  • Could: past ability and polite requestsA2
  • State verbs: know, want, believeA2
  • Present perfect vs past simpleB1
  • The passive voiceB1
  • Present tenses for the futureB1
  • Past perfect: had doneB1
  • Present perfect continuous: have been doingB1
  • May, might, could: possibilityB1
  • Ought to, had better, be supposed toB1
  • Phrasal verbs: an introductionB1
  • Verb + object + infinitive: want her to comeB1
  • wish and if onlyB2
  • Advanced passive: get-passive and have something doneB2
  • Modals of deduction: must have, can't have, might haveB2
  • Gerund vs infinitiveB2
  • used to and would for past habitsB2
  • Future perfect and future continuousB2
  • Narrative tenses: the storytelling kitB2
  • The subjunctive: I suggest he beC1
  • Phrasal verb grammar: separability and particlesC1
  • Advanced conditionals: but for, should you, were toC1
  • Passive reporting: he is said to...C1

Grammar A1·Grammar Reference