How to Use the Simple Present Tense in English
Simple Present Exercises
Improve your understanding of the simple present tense with these simple present exercises. By practising simple present tense exercises with answers, you can learn how to talk about routines, general facts, and habitual actions in English. This page provides clear explanations, varied examples, and practice worksheets specifically designed to help beginners master this essential tense.
What is the Simple Present Tense?
Simple Present Tense is a basic English tense used to describe regular activities, universal truths, or habitual actions. For example, “She walks to school” or “The sun rises in the east.” These simple present tense examples show how we use the tense for facts or routines. Regular practice with simple present exercises helps learners understand this tense more effectively.
Rules of the Simple Present Tense
| Form | Subject | Verb Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | I/You/We/They | play, write, read |
| Affirmative | He/She/It | plays, writes, reads (add -s/es) |
| Negative | I/You/We/They | do not (don’t) + verb |
| Negative | He/She/It | does not (doesn’t) + verb |
| Interrogative | I/You/We/They | Do + subject + verb? |
| Interrogative | He/She/It | Does + subject + verb? |
Remember, verbs in the simple present change for “he,” “she,” and “it.” Use “do” or “does” for negatives and questions. Understanding these rules will make simple present tense exercises with answers easier and more accurate.
Types of Simple Present Tense Sentences
Simple present sentences come in three main types: affirmative, negative, and interrogative. Practising all forms using simple present tense worksheet with answers will strengthen your grammatical skills for daily use. Worksheets often include fill-in-the-blanks and sentence transformation tasks.
Affirmative: I drink tea every morning.
Negative: She does not drive a car.
Interrogative: Do they like football?
Affirmative and Negative Sentence Practice
Simple Present Tense Exercises for Beginners
Simple present tense exercises for beginners are designed to build confidence. Start with easy fill-in-the-blank activities and move on to multiple choice simple present tense exercises. You’ll be able to answer simple present tense questions, correct errors, and transform sentences for practice.
John (read) a book every night. (reads)
They (play) football on Sundays. (play)
Sara (not like) spicy food. (does not like)
Do you (work) here?
My friend (visit) her grandmother every week. (visits)
Exercises for Beginners
Simple Present Tense Exercises with Answers
Solutions to simple present tense exercises with answers allow you to self-check your progress. Here are some quick examples that you can use right now for practice and instant review:
She (go) to the gym every morning. goes
We (not eat) meat. do not eat
Does he (know) the answer? know
The dog (bark) at strangers. barks
I (walk) to school. walk
More English Grammar Exercises
Simple Present Tense Exercises (Multiple Choice)
Practise simple present tense exercises multiple choice to test your understanding. Pick the correct answer for each sentence. This type of exercise is especially helpful for quick revision and interactive learning.
He ____ (drive/drives) to work every day. drives
We ____ (watches/watch) television in the evening. watch
She ____ (study/studies) very hard. studies
Do you ____ (like/likes) chocolate? like
They ____ (do/does) their homework before dinner. do
Clauses and Sentence Practice
Comparison with Present Continuous Tense
While simple present tense describes regular actions or routines, present continuous tense exercise covers actions happening right now. For example, “I eat breakfast every day” (simple present) vs. “I am eating breakfast now” (present continuous). Understanding both tenses helps you communicate about habits and current actions clearly.
Learn About Present Continuous Tense
Real-Life Applications & Practice Worksheets
Using simple present tense worksheet with answers helps reinforce your learning every day. Talk about your daily routine: “I brush my teeth. My father reads the newspaper.” Try describing a friend’s habits or your family’s activities. Refer to Vedantu’s worksheets for kids for more varied exercises and engaging activities.
More Tense Practice and Related Grammar Topics
After mastering simple present tense exercises, try exploring simple past tense and other present tense types. For advanced grammar, check verb questions or complete grammar resources from Vedantu. Continuous practice ensures you remember the rules and use correct forms confidently.
Simple present tense exercises teach you how to express everyday facts, routines, and truths in English. By practising various worksheet formats, filling blanks, and correcting sentences, you’ll improve accuracy and fluency. Regular use of Vedantu’s grammar resources and exercises will help you communicate confidently using the simple present and related tenses.
FAQs on Simple Present Tense Exercises with Answers
1. What is the simple present tense?
The simple present tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and facts. Key uses include:
- Expressing daily routines (I go to school every day).
- Stating universal truths (The sun rises in the east).
- Describing permanent situations and facts.
2. How do we form the simple present tense?
To form the simple present tense, use the base form of the verb for all subjects except third person singular (he, she, it), which adds -s or -es.
- I/You/We/They: eat, go, play
- He/She/It: eats, goes, plays
3. When do we use do/does with simple present tense?
We use do/does to form questions and negatives in the simple present tense.
- Do is used with I, you, we, they (e.g., Do they play cricket?).
- Does is used with he, she, it (e.g., Does she work here?).
- For negatives: I do not go. He does not play.
4. What are some examples of simple present tense sentences?
Simple present tense sentences show regular actions or facts. Examples include:
- She reads books.
- Water boils at 100°C.
- They play football on Sundays.
5. What keywords signal the use of simple present tense?
Keywords that often signal the simple present tense include:
- always
- usually
- sometimes
- never
- every day
- often
6. How do you make negative sentences in the simple present tense?
To make negatives in simple present tense, use do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) before the base verb.
- I do not (don't) like spinach.
- He does not (doesn't) play chess.
7. What are common mistakes to avoid in the simple present tense?
Common mistakes in the simple present tense include:
- Forgetting to add -s or -es with he, she, it
- Using do instead of does with third person singular
- Using the wrong base verb in negative sentences
8. What are the uses of simple present tense?
The simple present tense is mainly used for:
- Habitual actions (She drinks tea every morning).
- General truths and facts (The Earth revolves around the Sun).
- Instructions and directions (Open the window).
9. How do you ask questions in the simple present tense?
To ask questions in the simple present tense, put do/does before the subject, then add the base verb.
- Do you play football?
- Does she speak English?
10. What is the difference between the present continuous tense and the simple present tense?
The simple present tense shows habitual actions or facts, while the present continuous tense describes actions happening right now.
- Simple present: She writes every day.
- Present continuous: She is writing now.
11. What is the rule for adding -s or -es in simple present tense?
In simple present tense, add -s to most verbs for he, she, it. Add -es to verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o (e.g., watches, goes).
- He runs.
- She watches TV.
12. Why do we use the simple present tense in English?
We use the simple present tense to talk about facts, laws of nature, routines, instructions, and scheduled actions.
- Expresses daily routine: He goes to school at 8 am.
- States general truths: The sky is blue.
