Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense tells us about things that happen again and again, or things that are always true.

What You'll Learn

How to use verbs for things you do every day
How to add -s, -es or -ies to verbs when talking about one person or thing

Who is doing it?	What to do	Example
I / You / We / They	Use the verb as it is	I walk to school.
He / She / It	Add -s, -es or -ies	He walks to school.

Rule	When to use	Examples
Add -s	Most verbs	eat > eats, play > plays, read > reads
Add -es	Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o	wash > washes, catch > catches, go > goes
Change y to -ies	Verbs ending in consonant + y	cry > cries, fly > flies, carry > carries

Remember: If the verb ends in a vowel + y (like "play"), just add -s: play > plays.

Add -s for one person or thing: When you talk about he, she, or it, add -s to the verb. "The cat sleeps on the bed."
Add -es for some endings: If the verb ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o, add -es. "She brushes her teeth." "He goes to school."
Change y to -ies: If the verb ends in a consonant + y, drop the y and add -ies. "He carries his bag."

Wrong	Right	Why
She walk to school.	She walks to school.	"She" is one person -- add -s
He washs his hands.	He washes his hands.	"wash" ends in -sh -- add -es, not -s
The baby crys at night.	The baby cries at night.	"cry" ends in consonant + y -- change y to -ies

always, never, every day, every morning, every night, usually, often, sometimes

We also use the simple present tense for facts. For example: "The sun rises in the east." "Water boils at 100 degrees."

Tip: If you see "every day" or "always" in the sentence, use the simple present tense!

Think about your day: Say what you do every day. "I wake up at seven. I brush my teeth. I eat breakfast." Check -- are your verbs right?
One or many test: Look at who is doing it. If it is one person (he, she, it), add -s, -es or -ies. If it is I, you, we, or they, leave the verb as it is.