Present simple

1. Simple present, form

Example: to think, present simple

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I think	Do I think ?	I do not think.
You think	Do you think?	You don't think.
he, she, it thinks	Does he, she, it think?	He, she, it doesn't think.
we think	Do we think?	We don't think.
you think	Do you think?	You don't think.

The simple present is used:

1. to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)

2. to give instructions or directions:
You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.

3. to express fixed arrangements, present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00

4. to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

BE CAREFUL! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now.

Examples:

1. For habits: They watch television regularly.
2. For repeated actions or events: They drive to Monaco every summer.
3. For general truths: Water freezes at zero degrees..
4. For instructions or directions: Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water..
5. For fixed arrangements.: Our holiday starts on the 23th June
6. With future constructions: We'll give it to her when she arrives.

2.Simple present, third person singular

Note:

1. he, she, it: in the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
   he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.
2. Negative and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the auxiliary'DO') + the infinitive of the verb.
   He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
3. Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:
   fly flies, cry cries
   Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
   play plays, pray prays
4. Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
   he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

See also Verbs -'Regular verbs in the simple present', and 'Be, do & have'

Examples:
3. Third person singular with s or –es

a. He goes to school every morning.
b. She understands English.
c. It mixes the sand and the water.
d. He tries very hard.
e. She enjoys playing the piano.

EXERCICES IN OTHER WEBS

PRESENT SIMPLE - Exercice

Positive statements in the Simple Present - Exercise 1

Positive statements in the Simple Present - Exercise 2

The Present Simple Exercise at Auto-English

PRESENT SIMPLE (AFFIRMATIVE)