Lesson 4 · Stage 1: The basics
Present simple
BeginnerForm & use
I work, she works, do you work?, he doesn't — habits, routines and things that are always true
1.Form
The present simple uses the base form of the verb; only with he / she / it (and singular nouns) do you add -s / -es. Questions and negatives need the helper verb do / does.
| I / you / we / they | he / she / it | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | I work. | She works. |
| Negative | I don't work. | She doesn't work. |
| Question | Do you work? | Does she work? |
| Short answer | Yes, I do. / No, I don't. | Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. |
Does / doesn't already carries the -s, so the verb after it goes back to the base form: She doesn't like (not likes), Does he play? (not plays).
2.Adding -s or -es
| Verb ends in | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | + s | work → works, play → plays, read → reads |
| -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o | + es | miss → misses, wash → washes, watch → watches, fix → fixes, go → goes, do → does |
| consonant + y | y → ies | study → studies, carry → carries, fly → flies |
| vowel + y | + s | stay → stays, enjoy → enjoys, buy → buys |
| have | irregular | have → has |
Saying the ending: /ɪz/ after hissing sounds (watches, washes, misses), /s/ after the voiceless sounds p, t, k, f (works, stops), /z/ after everything else (plays, reads, lives). Watch out: does is /dʌz/, says is /sez/.
3.When to use it
1. Habits and things that happen again and again
I get up at six every day.
My dad drinks green tea after dinner.
2. General facts — things that are always true
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Cats don't like water.
3. Long-term situations — where you live, your job, your tastes
She lives in Can Tho and works for a bank.
What do you do? — I'm a designer.
asking about someone's job
4. Timetables and fixed schedules (even for the future)
The last bus leaves at 10:30.
The shop opens at nine on Sundays.
5. Doing something just by saying it: I promise, I agree, I suggest, I apologise, I refuse…
I promise I'll call you tonight.
I agree with you.
4.Adverbs of frequency
The present simple often goes with words that say how often. From most to least: always → usually → often → sometimes → rarely / hardly ever → never.
- Before an ordinary verb: I often cook at home.
- After be: She is always late.
- In negatives, after don't/doesn't: I don't usually eat meat.
- Time phrases like every day, on Mondays, twice a week usually go at the end: We play football twice a week.
- To ask about frequency: How often do you go to the gym?
5.Common mistakes
He work in a hotel.He works in a hotel.
he/she/it → add -s.
She doesn't likes coffee.She doesn't like coffee.
Base form after doesn't.
Does he speaks English?Does he speak English?
Base form after does.
What means this word?What does this word mean?
The question needs does.
I always am tired.I am always tired.
Frequency adverbs go after be.
Examples
- My dad drinks coffee every morning.
- Does your sister work in a bank?
- Linh watches TV after dinner every day.
- Hung doesn't eat meat. He's a vegetarian.
