Simple Present (Present Simple)

Simple present is also called present simple.

The simple present expresses an action in the present taking place once, never or several times. It is
also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a timetable or
schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present.

Simple Present - Form

be

Use:

•

am with the personal pronoun II

•

is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or with the singular form of nouns)

•

are with the personal pronouns we, you or they (or with the plural form of nouns)

example: I am hungry.

affirmative negative question

I

I am.

I am not.

Am I?

he/she/it

He is.

He is not.

Is he?

you/we/the
y

You are.

You are not. Are you?

have

Use:

•

have with the personal pronouns I, you, we und they (or with the plural form of nouns)

•

has with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)

example: I have a dog. / I have got a dog.
'have got' is mainly used in British English. You can also use 'have' on its own (especially in
American English). In this case, however, you must form negative sentences and questions with the
auxiliary verb 'do' (see 'All other verbs').

positiv

negativ

question

I/you/we/the
y

I have got. / I have. I have not got. / I do not have.

Have I got? / Do I have?

he/she/it

He has got. / He
has.

He has not got. / He does not
have.

Has he got? / Does he
have?

All other verbs

Use:

•

the infinite verb (play) with the personal pronouns I, you, we and they (or with the plural
form of nouns)

•

the verb + s (plays) with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of
nouns)

affirmative

negative

question

I/you/we/the
y

I play.

I do not play.

Do I play?

he/she/it

He plays.

He does not
play.

Does he play?

EXCEPTIONS IN SPELLING:

The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.

example: he can, she may, it must

Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.

example: do - he does, wash - she washes

A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s.

example: worry - he worries
But: A final y after a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) is not modified.

example: play - he plays

Present Progressive (Continuous)

The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions
taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that
are arranged for the near future.

Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

Present Progressive - Form

Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.
Use:

•

am with the personal pronoun I

•

is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)

•

are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)

affirmative

negative

question

I

I am playing.

I am not playing.

Am I playing?

he, she, it

He is playing.

He is not playing.

Is he playing?

you, we, they

You are
playing.

You are not
playing.

Are you playing?

Tips on how to form negative sentences and questions
In negative sentences, we put not between the form of be and the verb.
In questions, we simply swop the places of subject and the form of be.

EXCEPTIONS IN SPELLING

A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.

example: come - coming
I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.
But: ee at the end of the word is not changed
example: agree - agreeing

The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.

example: sit - sitting
I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.

The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.

example: travel - travelling
I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.
Mind: This applies only for British English; in American English there is usually only one l.

An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.

example: lie - lying
I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.