Use the present simple (I work, she works) for things that are true in general and things that happen regularly. After he, she and it the verb takes -s.
A The form
Two scenes:
- Two friends are at a table covered in newspapers. They read a lot. (They are reading now, and they do it all the time.)
- A man is eating a bowl of strawberries with a happy face. He likes strawberries.
They read, he likes, I work and so on are the present simple.
| I / we / you / they | read | like | work | live | watch | do | have |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| he / she / it | reads | likes | works | lives | watches | does | has |
After he, she, it the verb ends in -s. Forgetting it is the most common mistake in this unit, so it is worth remembering.
I have becomes he / she / it has.
Spelling:
| -es after -s, -sh, -ch | pass → passes, push → pushes, catch → catches |
| -y → -ies | study → studies, carry → carries |
| also | do → does, go → goes |
- I work in a café. My sister works in a hospital.
- Ravi lives in Bradford. His parents live in Leicester.
- It snows a lot here in January.
- Becky has a cup of tea every morning at seven.
B Things true in general, or that happen regularly
Use the present simple for things that are true in general, or for things that happen sometimes or all the time.
- I like small villages.
- The library opens at 10 o'clock and closes at 6.
- Martin works very long hours. He starts at 6 and finishes at 7 in the evening.
- The Moon goes round the Earth.
- We play a lot of board games at the weekend.
- It costs a fortune to park in the town centre.
C always, never, often, sometimes, usually
always / never / often / sometimes / usually + present simple
These words usually go before the main verb. We say Kate always walks to work (not Kate walks always to work).
- Kate always walks to work.
- I usually take the bus, but sometimes I get a taxi.
- My dad never drinks coffee.
- Josh lives round the corner. We often see him in the shop.
Exercises
5.1 Write these verbs with -s or -es.
(write) she writes
she writes
(want) he
he wants
(cry) she
she cries
(close) it
it closes
(have) he
he has
(catch) she
she catches
5.2 Complete the sentences about the people in the scenes. Use these verbs.
eatgoliveplayplaysleep
A man is standing next to a drum kit. He says: "My drums."
He plays the drums.
He plays the drums.
A couple are standing in front of a tiny cottage. They say: "Our house."
They in a very small house.
They live in a very small house.
A woman is holding a big bowl of vegetables.
She a lot of vegetables.
She eats a lot of vegetables.
Two men are on a golf course with their clubs.
They golf.
They play golf.
A couple are holding swimming bags. They say: "We love the pool."
They swimming a lot.
They go swimming a lot.
A man is in bed. A sign above him says: "NINE HOURS A NIGHT".
He nine hours a night.
He sleeps nine hours a night.
5.3 Complete the sentences. Use these verbs.
boilclosecostcostlikelikemeetopenspeakteachwash
Dariusz speaks three languages.
Dariusz speaks three languages.
In this town the shops usually at 9 o'clock in the morning.
In this town the shops usually open at 9 o'clock in the morning.
The swimming pool at 8 o'clock in the evening.
The swimming pool closes at 8 o'clock in the evening.
My aunt is a teacher. She English to adults.
My aunt is a teacher. She teaches English to adults.
I work in a hotel. I a lot of people from different countries.
I work in a hotel. I meet a lot of people from different countries.
Ruth her car every Sunday morning.
Ruth washes her car every Sunday morning.
Living in London is expensive. It a lot of money.
Living in London is expensive. It costs a lot of money.
Train tickets are expensive. They a lot of money.
Train tickets are expensive. They cost a lot of money.
Our new kettle is very fast. It in one minute.
Our new kettle is very fast. It boils in one minute.
Kirsty and I are best friends. I her and she me.
Kirsty and I are best friends. I like her and she likes me.
5.4 Write sentences from these words. Put the verb in the right form (arrive or arrives and so on).
(always / on time / Rob / arrive)
Rob always arrives on time.
Rob always arrives on time.
(football / I / watch / often)
I often watch football.
(cook / my dad / on Sundays / usually)
My dad usually cooks on Sundays.
(Sophie / always / a scarf / wear)
Sophie always wears a scarf.
(lunch / we / have / always / at 1 o'clock)
We always have lunch at 1 o'clock.
(coffee / Dan / drink / never)
Dan never drinks coffee.
(sweets / like / children / usually)
Children usually like sweets.
(Mo / weddings / enjoy / always)
Mo always enjoys weddings.
5.5 Write sentences about yourself. Use always, never, often, sometimes or usually.
(listen to the radio)
Example answer: I usually listen to the radio in the car.
(read the newspaper)
Example answer: I sometimes read the newspaper.
(go to bed after midnight)
Example answer: I never go to bed after midnight.
(walk to work or school)
Example answer: I often walk to work.
(drink tea)
Example answer: I always drink tea in the morning.