Present Simple

Unit 1: The Verb 'Be'

The verb 'be' (is, am , are) is a special verb used for facts, identity, location, and condition. It's unique because it doesn't use the auxiliary verbs do or does to form negatives and questions.

Step 1.1: Affirmative Statements (The Positive Form)

The positive form states facts, like who someone is or where something is. In conversation and informal writing, we almost always use contractions (shortened forms). Remember to always use a subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, etc) with the verb.

Step 1.2: Negative Statements (The Negative Form)

To make a statement negative, put not after the verb be (am, is, are). You can contract is not to isn't and are not to aren't.

Step 1.3: Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

To ask a question, we use inversion: put am, is, or are before the subject.

Positive Short Answers: We don't use contractions in positive short answers (e.g., Yes, I am).
Negative Short Answers: We typically use contractions (e.g., No, I'm not)

Step 1.4: W/H Questions with 'Be'

W/H questions ask for specific information (like location or identity). The word order is: Question Word/Phrase + Be + Subject.

Unit 2: Present Simple - Other Verbs (Affirmative & Negative)

When using most verbs in English (like work, live, play, study), we follow different rules than the verb 'be'. We use this tense to talk about things that are generally true or for habits and routines.

Step 2.1: Affirmative Statements and the 'S' Rule

The key rule is adding -s for the third-person singular (He, She, It).

For I, You, We, and They, use the base form of the verb e.g.I work.
For He, She, and It, add -s e.g.He works.

Step 2.2: Spelling Rules for He / She / It 📝

Some verbs have special spelling rules for the He / She / It form

Unit 3: Present Simple - Questions (Other Verbs)

To ask questions about habits or facts with any verb (except the verb 'be'), we must use the auxiliary verbs do and does.

Step 3.1: Yes/No Questions

To form a simple question that can be answered with Yes or No, we use the Auxiliary-Subject-Infinitive (ASI) word order.

Step 3.2: Short Answers

Short answers are the quickest way to answer a Do / Does question.

Positive Short Answers: We don't use contractions (e.g., Yes, I do).
Negative Short Answers: We usually use contractions: don't or doesn't (e.g., No, I don't).

Step 3.3: W/H Questions

For questions that ask for specific information (who, what, where, etc.), we use the QUASI word order: Question Word + Auxiliary + Subject + Infinitive.

Exception: Who / What as the Subject 🕵️ When Who or What acts as the subject of the sentence (the person or thing doing the action), you don't use do or does. The verb follows the rule for He / She / It (it gets the -s ending).

Correct: Who studies English?
Incorrect: X Who study English?

Unit 4: Review and Comprehensive Practice

This unit reviews all the forms of the Present Simple (be and other verbs) to ensure you can use them correctly.

Step 4.1: Mixing 'Be' and 'Do/Does'

The most important distinction in the Present Simple is deciding which verb form to use in questions and negatives:

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