Present Simple Tense

My morning routine
I wake up and chug a protein shake.
I look at myself in the mirror and say “You rule.”
My mom asks, “Another run today?” to which I respond, “You know it.”
I run three miles.
On my run, the ladies I pass look at me longingly.
When I get home, I crush a 45-minute Olympic lifting routine.

Does my morning routine actually look like that? Not at all. But the present simple tense does look like that. This guide will focus on the present simple tense, but for more information about all the verb tenses, check out the twelve verb tenses guide.

The present simple tense, one of four variations of present tense, describes actions that occur on an ongoing basis. Also known as the present indefinite tense, the simple present describes current habits, constant situations, planned arrangements, and general truths.

How to Form the Present Simple Tense

[root verb] (+s for third person singular)

In most cases, you form the simple present just by using the root verb. Only in the third person singular (he/she/they singular) do you add an -s after.

Common regular verb present simple conjugations

Sample verb:	to run	to work	to ask	to want
First-person singular:	I run.	I work.	I ask.	I want.
First-person plural:	We run.	We work.	We ask.	We want.
Second-person singular:	You run.	You work.	You ask.	You want.
Second-person plural:	You run.	You work.	You ask.	You want.
Third-person singular:	She runs.	She works.	He asks.	He wants.
Third-person plural:	They run.	They work.	They ask.	They want.

Common irregular verb present simple conjugations

Sample verb:	to be (regular)	to have	to do	to say
First-person singular:	I am.	I have.	I do.	I say.
First-person plural:	We are.	We have.	We do.	We say.
Second-person singular:	You are.	You have.	You do.	You say.
Second-person plural:	You are.	You have.	You do.	You say.
Third-person singular:	She is.	She has.	She does.	She says.
Third-person plural:	They are.	They have.	They do.	They say.

Important note: The simple present tense does not refer to actions that are happening right now (~~is running~~).

For some verbs, the third-person singular ends with -es instead of -s. Generally, these verbs end with o, ch, gh, gh, zh, th, ss, and z.

Third-person singular (go, touch): She goes. She touches.

Negative variations: Subject +do not/does not + [root form of verb]

To make a present simple verb negative, add the appropriate form of do not before it.

My car does not go.
You do not dance.

Interrogative (question) version of present simple: Do/Does + [subject] + [root form of verb]?

If you want to include an interrogative adverb (how, why, when, who, where), include it before the do/does.

Do you dance?
Does she want to dance?
Why do birds fly?
Where does Steph Curry play?

The Extensive Uses of Simple Present Tense

1. Commands, instructions or directions

Use a screwdriver to unscrew the bolt, then replace it with a new bolt.
You need to work on your putting to get better at golf.

2. Habits

My grandpa watches the news every morning.
The baby sleeps through the night.

3. Recurring actions or events

Randall hosts a poker night every Friday.
The Kings play several times a week.

4. General truths, sayings, or cliches

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
A good man is hard to find.
When one door closes, another door opens.

5. Planned future arrangements

My sister flies home that day.
My dog is scheduled to go to the vet that day.

With all the things that happen in a single moment, verb tenses can feel overwhelming. With verb tenses like the present perfect, you develop the ability to slow down or freeze a moment for your reader, helping them more clearly understand your communicated message. Writing is always a work in progress, so don’t stress if you feel stuck. Instead, consult guides like this one as much as you need, and realize that you have plenty of present simple tenses in your future.

Ready To Start Writing? | Use our tool to identify improvements for grammar, spelling and plagiarism.

LET’S DO THIS!

The present simple tense describes actions that occur on an ongoing basis.