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Elementary - Present Simple for main verbs

Monday, 08 June 2009
He works He works This image by rawpixel.com is licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license

English grammar lesson on-line for elementary level students - An explanation of the present simple for the main verbs.

Positive

I live/ work in Singapore.
He/ She/ It lives/ works

We/ You/ They

live/ work

Negative

I don't live/ work near Rome.
He/ She/ It doesn't live/ work

We/ You/ They

don't live/ work

Question

Do I live/ work far from Lisa?
Does He/ She/ It live/ work
Do We/ You/ They live/ work
The third person singular.


1) Most verbs add -s in the third person singular.

live

work

speak

like

lives

works

speaks

likes


2) The verbs 'go' and 'do' add -es.

go

do

goes

does


3) If the verb ends in -s, -sh, -ss, x or -ch, add -es.

finish

match

press

box

finishes

matches

presses

boxes


4) If the verb ends in a consonant + -y the y changes to -ies.

try

study

tries

studies

But if the verb ends in a vowel + -y the y does not change.

play

buy

plays

buys

The verb 'have' is irregular.

have has

 

Media

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published in Verbs