Simple Present (Present Simple) - Introduction
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/they You are. You are not. Are you?
Exercise on Form with 'be'
Write down the missing sentences.
affirmative negative question
I I am hungry. I am not hungry. Am I hungry?
you You are Sam. You are not Sam. Are you Sam?
he He is here. He is not here. Is he here?
she She is loud. She is not loud. Is she loud?
it It is okay. It is not okay. Is it okay?
we We are fine. We are not fine. Are we fine?
you You are friendly. You are not friendly. Are you friendly?
they They are happy. They are not happy. Are they happy?
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/they I have got. / I have. I have not got. / Have I got? / Do I have?
I do not have.
he/she/it He has got. / He has. He has not got. / Has he got? / Does he have?
He does not have.
Exercise on Form with 'have got'
Write down the missing sentences. Use 'have got'.
affirmative negative question
I I have got a dog. I have not got a dog. Have I got a dog?
you You have got a bike. You have not got a bike. Have you got a bike?
he He has got a beard. He has not got a beard. Has he got a beard?
she She has got a sister. She has not got a sister. Has she got a sister?
it It has got a window. It has not got a window. Has it got a window?
we We have got a car. We have not got a car. Have we got a car?
you You have got time. You have not got time. Have you got time?
They They have got They have not got money. Have they got money?
money.
Exercise on Form with 'have' + auxiliary 'do'
Write down the missing sentences. Use 'have' and the auxiliary 'do'.
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION
I I have a dog. I do not have a dog. Do I have a dog?
You You have a bike. You do not have a bike. Do you have a bike?
He He has a beard. He does not have a beard. Does he have a beard?
She She has a sister. She does not have a sister. Does she have a sister?
It It has a window. It does not have a window. Does it have a window?
We We have a car. We do not have a car. Do we have a car?
You You have time. You do not have time. Do you have time?
They They have money. They do not have money. Do they have money?
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/they I play. I do not play. Do I play?
he/she/it He plays. He does not play. Does he play?
Exercises on Form
Write down the missing sentences.
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
I I play. I do not play. Do I play?
you You help. You do not help. Do you help?
he He answers. He does not answer. Does he answer?
she She sings. She does not sing. Does she sing?
it It rains. It does not rain. Does it rain?
we We dream. We do not dream. Do we dream?
you You read. You do not read. Do you read?
they They work. They do not work. Do they work?
Exercise on Affirmative Sentences
Arrange the words to make sentences in simple present.
1. I / to collect stamps
I collect stamps.
2. we / to play card games
We play card games.
3. he / to read comics
He reads comics.
4. Chris / to sing in a band
Chris sings in a band.
5. we / to have a hamster
We have a hamster.
6. Andy and John / to like cola
Andy and John like cola.
7. she / to be nice
She is nice.
8. they / to help their parents
They help their parents.
9. the children / to speak English
The children speak English.
10. I / to buy a newspaper every Saturday
I buy a newspaper every Saturday.
Exercise on Negative Sentences
Make negative sentences.
1. I watch TV.
I do not watch TV.
2. We play football.
We do not play football.
3. It is boring.
It is not boring.
4. She cleans her room.
She does not clean her room.
5. You ride your bike every weekend.
You do not ride your bike every weekend.
6. Sandy takes nice photos.
Sandy does not take nice photos.
7. They open the windows.
They do not open the windows.
8. He buys a new CD.
He does not buy a new CD.
9. I am late.
I am not late.
10. She has a cat.
She does not have a cat.
Exercise on Questions I
Arrange the words below to make questions.
1. she / to collect / stickers
Does she collect stickers?
2. they / to play / a game
Do they play a game?
3. the cat / to sleep / in the cat's bed
Does the cat sleep in the cat's bed?
4. she / often / to dream
Does she often dream?
5. he / to play / streetball
Does he play streetball?
6. you / to be / from Paris
Are you from Paris?
7. the pupils / to wear / school uniforms
Do the pupils wear school uniforms?
8. you / to go / to the cinema
Do you go to the cinema?
9. she / to have / friends
Does she have friends?
10. he / to read / books
Does he read books?
Exercise on Questions with Interrogatives
Ask for the bold part of the sentence.
1. Julia likes pop-music.
What does Julia like?
2. Maria comes from Spain.
Where does Maria come from?
3. They play in the garden.
Where do they play?
4. Rick rides his bike.
Who rides his bike?
5. I go to the cinema on Saturdays.
When do you go to the cinema?
6. We go to Mallorca because it is warm there.
Why do you go to Mallorca?
7. Joe repairs his bike.
What does Joe repair?
8. Robin drives his car carefully.
How does Robin drive his car?
9. Peter runs with his dog every day.
When does Peter run?
10. Eric goes to Italy for a holiday.
What does Eric do?
Present Progressive - Introduction
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.
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?
Exercise on Form
Complete the table with the correct forms.
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION
I I am working. I am not working. Am I working?
you You are jumping. You are not jumping. Are you jumping?
he He is dreaming. He is not dreaming. Is he dreaming?
she She is sleeping. She is not sleeping. Is she sleeping?
it It is snowing. It is not snowing. Is it snowing?
we We are singing. We are not singing. Are we singing?
You You are fighting. You are not fighting. Are you fighting?
They They are reading. They are not reading. Are they reading?
Exercise on affirmative sentences
Use the words below to make sentences in present progressive.
1. I / to read a book
I am reading a book.
2. it / to rain
It is raining.
3. he / to repair his bike
He is repairing his bike.
4. they / to watch a film
They are watching a film.
5. the cat /to sleep on the chair
The cat is sleeping on the chair.
6. Jane and Emily / to do their homework
Jane and Emily are doing their homework.
7. Bill / to wait at the bus stop
Bill is waiting at the bus stop.
8. we / to listen to the radio
We are listening to the radio.
9. the children / to play a game
The children are playing a game.
10. Laura / to walk the dog
Laura is walking the dog.
Exercise on negative sentences
Transform the sentences below into negative sentences.
1. I am watching TV.
I am not watching TV.
2. I am talking.
I am not talking.
3. They are drawing.
They are not drawing.
4. He is opening the window.
He is not opening the window.
5. Angela is cleaning the bathroom.
Angela is not cleaning the bathroom.
6. We are helping in the garden.
We are not helping in the garden.
7. You are singing.
You are not singing.
8. It is raining.
It is not raining.
9. She is joking.
She is not joking.
10. I am tidying up my room.
I am not tidying up my room.
Exercise on questions I
Write questions with the words below.
1. Peter / to go / to the cinema
Is Peter going to the cinema?
2. they / to play / a game
Are they playing a game?
3. she / to listen /to the radio
Is she listening to the radio?
4. I / to dream
Am I dreaming?
5. they / to pack / their bags
Are they packing their bags?
6. you / to do / the washing-up
Are you doing the washing-up?
7. we / to talk / too fast
Are we talking too fast?
8. they / to clean / the windows
Are they cleaning the windows?
9. she / to watch / the news
Is she watching the news?
10. you / to pull / my leg
Are you pulling my leg?
Exercise on questions with interrogative particles
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.
1. Ashley is going to a restaurant.
Where is Ashley going?
2. Gareth is reading the paper.
Who is reading the paper?
3. Stacey is playing in the garden.
Where is Stacey playing?
4. She is wearing a red dress.
Who is wearing a red dress?
5. Britney is doing her homework.
What is Britney doing?
6. Mandy is leaving at nine.
When is Mandy leaving?
7. Joe is repairing his bike.
What is Joe repairing?
8. Amanda is going out with Dan.
Who is going out with Dan?
9. They are meeting at two o'clock.
When are they meeting?
10. Sandy is looking for Phil.
What is Sandy doing?