slug: present-simple title: Present Simple group: tenses order: 1 summary: Habits, facts, and routines that are generally true. formula: S + V(bare) · S(he/she/it) + V-s/es

When to use it

Present simple describes habits, routines, and facts that are generally or always true. It is not about an action happening right now — it covers repeated or permanent situations.

She drinks coffee every morning.

Use it with frequency adverbs like always, usually, often, sometimes, never.

Form

Add -s (or -es for words ending in -sh, -ch, -x, -o, -ss) to the base verb for he, she, and it. The auxiliary do/does is used in negatives and questions.

Examples

• I walk to school every day.
• The sun rises in the east. (permanent fact)
• Do you speak Vietnamese?

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the -s for third-person singular: "She work here" should be "She works here".
• Using present simple for an action in progress right now: "I eat lunch now" should be "I am eating lunch now" (present continuous).