Present simple: explanation and exercises

Affirmative

I work. / You work. / We work. / They work.

He works. / She works. / It works.

Negative

I don’t work. / They don’t work.

He doesn’t work. / She doesn’t work.

Question

Do you work here?

Does she work here?

• Habits and routines: I get up at seven.
• Facts and general truths: Water boils at 100 degrees.
• Timetables: The train leaves at 9:15.
• Feelings and states: She likes tea.

• Not thisHe play football.

  Say thisHe plays football.

  Add -s (or -es) for he, she and it.

• Not thisShe doesn’t likes pizza.

  Say thisShe doesn’t like pizza.

  After does/doesn’t the verb goes back to its base form.

• Not thisDo he work here?

  Say thisDoes he work here?

  Use does with he, she and it.

• Drill the -s with a chain of true statements about classmates before any worksheet.
• Teach do/does as a pair: the auxiliary carries the -s, so the main verb never gets one.
• Use frequency adverbs (always, usually, never) to make routines personal and keep students speaking.

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