The Present Simple
We use the Present Simple tense to talk about:
Examples:
She usually wakes up at 7 o'clock in the morning.
I go to the gym three times a week.
Examples:
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Earth moves around the Sun.
Examples:
We come from Iran.
He has two sisters.
Let's take a look at the different forms of the Present Simple tense for the verb "work".
Positive
I work ... .
You work ... .
He works ... .
She works ... .
It works ... .
We work ... .
You work ... .
They work ... .
Negative
I do not work ... . / I don't work ... .
You do not work ... . / You don't work ... .
He does not work ... . / He doesn't work ... .
She does not work ... . / She doesn't work ... .
It does not work ... . / It doesn't work ... .
We do not work ... . / We don't work ... .
You do not work ... . / You don't work ... .
They do not work ... . / They don't work ... .
Positive Questions
Do I work ... ?
Do you work ... ?
Does he work ... ?
Does she work ... ?
Does it work ... ?
Do we work ... ?
Do you work... ?
Do they work ... ?
Negative Questions
Do I not work ...? / Don't I work ... ?
Do you not work ... ? / Don't you work ... ?
Does he not work ... ? / Doesn't he work ... ?
Does she not work ... ? / Doesn't she work ... ?
Does it not work ... ? / Doesn't it work ... ?
Do we not work ... ? / Don't we work ... ?
Do you not work ... ? / Don't you work ... ?
Do they not work ... ? / Don't they work ... ?
Short Answers
Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Yes, you do. / No, you don't.
Yes, he does. / No, he doesn't.
Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
Yes, it does. / No, it doesn't.
Yes, we do. / No, we don't.
Yes, you do. / No, you don't.
Yes, they do. / No, they don't.
As you can see, we use the auxiliary verbs "do" or "does" to make negative sentences and questions in the Present Simple tense.
Examples:
+She works for a big company.
-She doesn't work for a big company.
+?Does she work for a big company?
-?Doesn't she work for a big company? / Does she not work for a big company?
Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
+They live in a modern apartment.
-They don't live in a modern apartment.
+?Do they live in a modern apartment?
-?Don't they live in a modern apartment? / Do they not live in a modern apartment?
Yes, they do. / No, they don't.
As you can see, when making the Simple Present tense with a third person singular subject (he / she / it), the general rule is to add an "s" to the base form of the verb. However, if the verb ends in "s", "x", "z", "sh", or "ch", we add "es" instead.
Examples:
She teaches physics.
He usually washes the dishes in the evening.
My mechanic always fixes my car very well.
Their doorbell buzzes loudly.
He kisses his children when he comes back home.
Also, when the verb in a sentence ends in a "y" which is preceded by a consonant, with a third person singular subject (he / she / it), we change the final "y" to "i" and add "es" to the end of the verb.
Examples:
study
studies
trytries
Exercises
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1"What ____ your husband ____?" (do)"He's an engineer. He ____ for a big mulitnational company." (work)
"What does your husband do?""He's an engineer. He works for a big multinational company."
2"Do you ____ your job?" (like)"Yes, I ____. I ____ my job." (love)
"Do you like your job?"Yes, I do. I love my job."
3"When ____ your children ____ to bed?" (go)"My daughter ____ to bed very late, but my son ____. He usually ____ at about 10 p.m." (go / sleep)
"When do your children go to bed?""My daughter goes to bed very late, but my son doesn't. He usually sleeps at 10 p.m."
4My neighbor has a dog. It ____ a lot, but it's very friendly. We ____ a dog ourselves, so my children usually ____ with it. (bark / have / play)
My neighbor has a dog. It barks a lot, but it's very friendly. We don't have a dog ourselves, so my children usually play with it.