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Present simple tense
Form
Positive statement: I play, He plays
Negative statement: I do not play (I don't play), He does not play (He doesn't play)
Question form: Do you play? Does he play?
Negative question: Do you not play? (Don't you play?) Does he not play? (Doesn't he play?)
The passive voice: The game is played. The letters are written. (See more at Active and passive
voice.)
Spelling
We only use -s ending (plays) in the third person singular.
We add -es to the verbs that end in ss, sh, ch, x and o: misses, finishes, watches, mixes, goes.
If the verb ends in a consonant and -y, we change -y into -i and use the -es ending: carry - carries, try -
tries.
But: play - plays, because this verb ends with a vowel and -y.
The auxiliary verb do is not used to make questions and negative statements with modal verbs and the
verb to be.
Are you a student? Is he in London? I am not at home. He is not happy. Can you sing? Must I come? I
cannot swim. He mustn't stay.
If the wh- pronoun introducing the question (who, which) is the subject of the question, we do not use
the auxiliary verb do. Compare the following sentences.
Who knows you? (who is the subject)
Which cars belong to you? (which cars is the subject)
But: Who do you know? (who is the object)
The negative question normally expresses a surprise.
Doesn't he work?
Use
1. We use the present simple tense for activities that happen again and again (everyday, sometimes,
ever, never).
Examples: I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak Greek. Do they get up early?
He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?
2. We use it for facts that are always true.
Examples: Our planet moves round the sun. Lions eat meat.
3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) the present simple is used for planned future
actions (timetables).
Examples: The train leaves at 8.15. They return tonight.