PRESENT SIMPLE

Introduction

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The present simple in English is used to talk about:

Repeated actions or habits in the present;

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I go to school every day.
(Eu vou à escola todos os dias.)

Maria always goes to the cinema on Saturdays.

(Maria sempre vai ao cinema aos sábados.)
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Facts that are generally true;
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Elephants live in Africa and India.
(Elefantes vivem na África e na Índia.)

Vegetarians don't eat meat.

(Vegetarianos não comem carne.)
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Permanent situations.
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Maria lives in São Paulo.
(Maria mora em São Paulo.)

The children wear blue uniforms.

(As crianças usam uniformes azuis.)

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Affirmative Form
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To form the affirmative, after he, she and it, we usually add -s to the verb. Verbs that end in ch, sh, s, x
or z take -es. E.g. watches, washes, kisses, fixes, buzzes. For verbs that end in a consonant +y, the y
changes to i and -es is added. E.g. carry -> carries, fly ->flies.

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Negative Form
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To form the negative, we need the auxiliary verb do + not and the main verb in the infinitive without to.
We use does (do + -es) + not with he, she and it. E.g. I do not work; she does not work. It is more usual
to use the contracted forms.
Look at the examples below.
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I don't speak Italian.
He doesn't watch TV in the evenings.

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Questions
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To form questions we use do or does before the subject.

Look at the examples below
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Do you speak English?
Does he live in a big house?

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Short answers
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We use the auxiliary verb do or does in short answers

Yes, I/you/we/they do.
Yes, he/she/it does.

No, I/you/we/they don't.

No, he/she/it doesn't.
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'Do you speak Italian?' 'Yes, I do.' (Not: Yes, I speak. )
'Does he live in Rio de Janeiro?' 'Yes, he does.' (Not: Yes, he lives. )

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Watch Out!
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Don't forget to add the -s or -es to the verb after he, she and it in affirmative sentences:
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He go to church every Sunday.
He goes to church every Sunday.
She walk to school every day.
She walks to school every day.
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Remember that in negative sentences and questions we never add -s or -es to the main verb:
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She doesn't smokes.
She doesn't smoke.
Does it takes long?
Does it take long?

AFFIRMATIVE

I work I wash
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you work you wash
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he works he washes
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she works she washes
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it works It washes
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we work we wash
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you work you wash
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they work they wash
 NEGATIVE

FULL FORM

I do not work it does not work

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you do not work we do not work
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he does not work you do not work
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she does not work they do not work

CONTRACTED FORM

I don't work .................................

................................. You don't work
You don't work .................................
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He doesn't work
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She doesn't work

It doesn't work
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We don't work
They don't work

QUESTION FORM

AFFIRMATIVE QUESTION

I work Do I work...?
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you work Do you work...?
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he works Does he work...?
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she works Does she work...?
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it works Does it work...?
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we work Do we work...?
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you work Do you work...?
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they work Do they work...?