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The present simple

The present simple is used to make simple statements See also:
of fact, to talk about things that happen repeatedly, Present continuous 4 Present for future
events 19 Adverbs of frequency 102
and to describe things that are always true.

THE PRESENT SIMPLE

To make the present simple of most verbs,
use the base form (the infinitive without “to”).

The base form of Adverbs of frequency

the verb “to eat.” are often used with the
present simple.

With “he,” “she,” and “it,” add “-s” to the base form.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM The base form of the verb.

SUBJECT VERB REST OF SENTENCE

With “he,” “she,” and “it,” “-s” is added.

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“-S” AND “-ES” ENDINGS

With some verbs, “-es” is added for “he,” “she,” and “it.”
These include verbs ending with “-sh,” “-ch,” “-o,” “-ss,” “-x,” and “-z.”

“-es” is added to “-es” is added to “-es” is added to

verbs ending verbs ending verbs ending
with “-o.” with “-sh.” with “-ch.”

“-es” is added to “-es” is added “-es” is added to

verbs ending to verbs ending verbs ending
with “-ss.” with “-x.” with “-z.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING THE PRESENT SIMPLE

When the present simple is used with There is no need to add the auxiliary verb
“he,” “she,” “it,” or one person’s name, “do” when forming the present simple. It is
it always ends in “-s” or “-es.” only used to form questions and negatives.

An “s” is added to the

base form “start.”

“Start” without an “s” is only used “Do” is only used as an auxiliary verb when
for “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.” forming negatives or questions.

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“BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

“Be” is an important verb with an
irregular present simple form.

“Are” also follows “Is” also follows

“we” and “they.” “she” and “it.”

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “BE” REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Contractions can

also be used.

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“HAVE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE HOW TO FORM

“Have” is an irregular verb. The third person
singular form is “has” not “haves.”
SUBJECT “HAVE” OBJECT

“Has” is used for the third person

singular: “he,” “she,” and “it.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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The present simple negative

To make negative sentences using “be” in the present See also:
simple, “not” is added after the verb. For other verbs, Present simple 1 Present overview 5
Types of verbs 49
the auxiliary verb “do not” or “does not” is used.

NEGATIVES WITH THE VERB “BE”

The verb “be” takes the
same form in positive and
negative sentences. The only
difference is adding “not.”

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT + “BE” “NOT” REST OF SENTENCE

NEGATIVE CONTRACTIONS
“Is not” and “are not”
can be contracted in “You are”
two ways. The becomes “you’re.”
subject and verb can
be contracted, or the
verb and “not.” They
mean the same thing.
“Are not” becomes “aren’t.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

“I amn’t” is incorrect.

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NEGATIVES WITH OTHER VERBS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

For verbs other than
“be,” “do not” or
“does not” goes
before the verb to
make the negative.

Verb in
base form.

HOW TO FORM

SUBJECT “DO / DOES” + “NOT” BASE FORM REST OF SENTENCE

The base form is used no

matter what the subject is.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

This is the contracted

form of “does not.”

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING NEGATIVE SENTENCES

The main verb in a negative sentence

always stays in its base form, even if
the subject is “he,” she,” or “it.”

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Present simple questions

Questions in the present simple with “be” are formed by See also:
swapping the verb and subject. For other verbs, the auxiliary Present simple 1 Forming questions 34
Question words 35 Open questions 36
verb “do” or “does” must be added before the subject.

QUESTIONS WITH “BE” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

To form questions in the In a statement, the subject
comes before the verb.
present simple using “be,”
reverse the order of the
subject and the verb.

In a question, the verb moves The subject comes after the verb.
to the start of the sentence.

HOW TO FORM
“BE” SUBJECT REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Question words can be used before

the verb to form open questions.

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QUESTIONS WITH “DO” AND “DOES”

For questions with
verbs other than
“be,” start the
question with
“do” or “does.”
Don’t swap the
subject and the
main verb. Add “do” to questions Add “does” to The main verb goes
with “I,” “you,” “we,” questions with in its base form.
and “they.” “he,” “she,” and “it.”

HOW TO FORM
“DO / DOES” SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB REST OF SENTENCE

The verb never takes an “-s” or

“-es” when you ask a question.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Question words can be used before

“do” or “does” to form open questions.

COMMON MISTAKES FORMING PRESENT SIMPLE QUESTIONS

Never add “-s” or “-es” to the base form of the verb when asking
a question, even in the third person singular (“he,” “she,” or “it”).

The main verb always goes in Do not add “-s” or “-es” to the main
its base form in questions. verb when asking a question.

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The present continuous

The present continuous is used to talk about continued See also:
actions that are happening in the present moment. Present simple 1 Action and state verbs 50
Infinitives and participles 51
It is formed with “be” and a present participle.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present continuous is This is the present simple. It describes
used to describe a current, a repeated action or situation.
continued action.

The present continuous This is the present continuous. It describes

uses the verb “be.” what is happening right now.

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “AM / IS / ARE” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

Present participle

FURTHER EXAMPLES The subject and the verb

can be contracted.

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PRESENT PARTICIPLE SPELLING RULES

The present participle is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form
of the verb. Some participles have slightly different spelling rules.

Last letter Last letters Last letters are consonant–vowel–consonant

is an “-e.” are “-ie.” and the final syllable is stressed.

Add “-ing” to form Leave out “e.” Change Double the last
regular present participles. “-ie” to “y.” letter, unless it’s
“w,” “x,” or “y.”

TIP
Present participles
FURTHER EXAMPLES follow the same
spelling rules
as gerunds.
Don’t double the last letter because
the final syllable is not stressed.

COMMON MISTAKES STATE VERBS IN CONTINUOUS TENSES

Action verbs can be used in simple and continuous forms.

State verbs are not usually used in continuous forms.

ACTION STATE

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QUESTIONS IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

To ask questions in the present “He” is the subject.
continuous, swap the subject
and the form of “be.”

In a question, the verb moves This action is happening right now.

to the start of the sentence.

HOW TO FORM

“AM / IS / ARE” SUBJECT VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES Question words such as “what,” “where,” and “how”

can be used before the verb to form open questions.

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THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE

To make the negative of the present
continuous, add “not” after “be.”

The present participle

Add “not” after “be” to make the stays the same when
negative. Contractions are also possible. you make the negative.

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “AM / IS / ARE” + “NOT” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

The present participle

doesn’t change.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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Present tenses overview

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The present simple is used to talk about This is always true.
permanent situations, regular occurrences,
things that are always true, repeated actions,
and ongoing states.

This is a temporary situation.

The present continuous is used to refer
to temporary situations, repeated actions
around the present moment, and ongoing
actions in the present moment.

PRESENT TENSE QUESTIONS

Present simple
questions with “be”
are formed differently
from other verbs. The form of “be” comes “Do” or “does” is added
before the subject. before the subject.

Present continuous
questions are always
formed in the same way.
The form of “be” comes
before the subject.

COMMON MISTAKES USING “S” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

“-s” is never added to the base form of the AFFIRMATIVE

verb when asking a question or making a
negative sentence, even in the third person An “-s” is added to the base
form in affirmative sentences.
singular (“he,” “she,” or “it”).

The base form without an “-s” is only

used for “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.”

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The present simple and present continuous are used in See also:
different situations. There are different ways to form Present simple 1 Present continuous 4
Forming questions 34 Infinitives and participles 51
questions and negatives with these tenses.

This is a repeated action.

This is a continuing state.

This is a repeated action happening

around the present moment.

This is an ongoing action

in the present moment.

PRESENT TENSE NEGATIVES

Present simple
negatives with
“be” are formed
differently from “Not” is added after “Do not” or “does not” is added
the form of “be.” between the subject and main verb.
other verbs.

Present continuous
negatives are always
formed in the same way.
“Not” is added after
the form of “be.”

QUESTION NEGATIVE
The verb always goes in its The base form is used
base form in questions. in the negative.

“-s” or “-es” are not added to the “-s” or “-es” are not added to the
main verb when asking a question. main verb in negative sentences.

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Imperatives
Imperatives are used to give commands or to make See also:
requests. They can also be used to give warnings Types of verbs 49 Suggestions and advice 59
Indefinite pronouns 79
or directions.

IMPERATIVES An exclamation mark is used if the imperative is urgent.

Imperatives are formed using
the base form of the verb
(the infinitive without “to”).

The base form of the

verb “to stop.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

NEGATIVE IMPERATIVES
“Do not” or “don’t”
can be added before
the verb to make an
imperative negative.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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SUBJECTS WITH IMPERATIVES

An imperative sentence does not
usually have a subject, but sometimes
a noun or a pronoun is used to make
it clear who is being talked to.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

For emphasis “you” can be The subject can also

used in an imperative clause. be placed at the end.

POLITE REQUESTS
Imperatives in English
can be considered rude.
Words can be added to
make them more polite. “Please” can be placed before the imperative
verb to make a request more polite.

“Just” can go before “Please” can also be placed “Do” can go before the imperative
the imperative. at the end of the sentence. verb to make a request more formal.

MAKING SUGGESTIONS WITH “LET’S”

“Let’s” can be used to make Base form.
a suggestion for an activity
that includes the speaker.

“Not” goes after “let’s” to form the negative.

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The past simple

The past simple is used to talk about completed actions See also:
that happened at a fixed time in the past. It is the most Past simple negative 8 Past simple questions 9
Present perfect simple 11
commonly used past tense in English.

REGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE

To form a regular verb in the past simple,
“-ed” is added to the base form.

TUESDAY TODAY

The verb ends in "-ed.” Fixed point in the past.

HOW TO FORM
Most verbs in the past SUBJECT PAST VERB REST OF SENTENCE
simple do not change
with the subject.

The same form is

used for all subjects.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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SPELLING RULES FOR THE PAST SIMPLE

The past simple of all regular verbs ends in “-ed,” but for
some verbs, there are some spelling changes, too.
Last letters are a A stressed final syllable ending
Last letter is “-e.” consonant and a “-y.” consonant-vowel-consonant.

For many regular Just a “-d” The “-y” is removed The last consonant
verbs, “-ed” is added. and “-ied” is is doubled and
is added. added instead. “-ed” is added.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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IRREGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE

Some verbs do not take “Went” is the past simple of “go.”
“-ed” to form the past
simple. There are no
specific rules about how
to form irregular verbs
in the past simple.

YESTERDAY TODAY

COMMON IRREGULAR VERBS IN THE PAST SIMPLE

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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“BE” IN THE PAST SIMPLE

The past simple of “be”
is completely irregular.
It is the only verb in
the past simple which
changes depending
on the subject.

PAST NOW

HOW TO FORM
The past simple
of “be” changes SUBJECT “BE” REST OF SENTENCE

with the subject.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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The past simple negative

The past simple negative is used to talk about things that See also:
did not happen in the past. It is always formed the same Past simple 7 Present simple negative 2
Types of verbs 49
way, unless the main verb is “be.”

THE PAST SIMPLE NEGATIVE

The past simple
negative uses “did
not” or “didn’t”
with the base form “played” is the To make the negative,
past simple. “didn’t” is used with
of the main verb. the base form.
The main verb is
not put into the
past simple.
LAST WEEK YESTERDAY TODAY

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “DID NOT / DIDN’T” BASE FORM OF VERB REST OF SENTENCE

“Didn’t” or “did not” are used The base form of the

to make the negative, no main verb is used in
matter what the subject is. the past simple negative.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

“Did not” is only used for

emphasis, or in formal situations.

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COMMON MISTAKES BASE FORMS IN THE PAST SIMPLE NEGATIVE

When using the negative form of the past simple, “didn’t” plus the main
verb in the base form is used. The main verb is never in the past simple.

“Play” should be in The main verb should only go into the

the base form. past simple if it’s a positive statement.

THE PAST SIMPLE NEGATIVE OF “BE”

To form the past simple negative of “be,”
“not” is added after “was” or “were.”

HOW TO FORM

SUBJECT “WAS / WERE” “NOT” REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES

“Was not” is often “Were not” is often

shortened to “wasn’t.” shortened to “weren’t.”

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Past simple questions

Questions in the past simple are formed using “did.” For See also:
past simple questions with “be,” the subject and the verb Past simple 7 Forming questions 34
Types of verbs 49
“was” or “were” are swapped around.

QUESTIONS IN THE PAST SIMPLE

Use “did” plus the base form of the verb
to ask a question in the past simple.

In the statement the main

verb is in the past simple.

“Did” goes before The main verb You can add question words
the subject. is in its base form. to ask open questions.

HOW TO FORM

“DID” SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Add question words

to make open questions.

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QUESTIONS IN THE PAST SIMPLE WITH “BE”

To make a question
using the verb “be” in In a statement, the subject
the past simple, swap comes before the verb.
the order of the subject
and “was” or “were.”

In a question, the verb and The subject comes after the verb.
the subject swap places.

HOW TO FORM

“WAS / WERE” SUBJECT REST OF SENTENCE

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Add question words

to make open questions.

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The past continuous

The past continuous is used in English to talk about actions See also:
or events that were in progress at some time in the past. It is Past simple 7
Infinitives and participles 51
formed with “was” or “were” and a present participle.

THE PAST CONTINUOUS

Past simple shows the action
English uses the past happened once and is now finished.
continuous to talk about
ongoing actions that were
in progress at a certain
time in the past.

11:30AM 12:00PM 12:30PM

The past continuous
shows the action went
on for some time, but
is now finished.

Past continuous describes

a continuing action.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM
“Was” or “were” followed by the present participle form the past continuous.

SUBJECT “WAS / WERE” VERB + “-ING” REST OF SENTENCE

“Was” or “were” is used “-ing” is added

depending on the subject. to the main verb.

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