Present simple — everyday habits · Present simple — hábitos cotidianos
The tense you will use most
- The present simple is for things you do every day and facts.
- I get up at seven. The sun rises in the east.
- It's the tense you'll use most often.
I drink tea every day. The tea does not get a day off.
El tiempo verbal que usarás más
- El presente simple se usa para cosas que haces todos los días y para hechos.
- I get up at seven. The sun rises in the east. (Me levanto a las siete. El sol sale por el este.)
- Es el tiempo verbal que usarás con mayor frecuencia.
I drink tea every day. The tea does not get a day off. (Bebo té todos los días. El té no se toma un día libre.)
Base form, and -s for he / she / it
- I / you / we / they → the base verb: I play, we work.
- he / she / it → add -s: He plays. She works.
- go → goes, watch → watches, study → studies.
Forma base y -s para he / she / it
- I / you / we / they → el verbo en forma base: I play, we work. (Juego, trabajamos.)
- he / she / it → añadir -s: He plays. She works. (Él juega. Ella trabaja.)
- go → goes, watch → watches, study → studies. (ir → va, mirar → mira, estudiar → estudia.)
Does the verb need -s? · ¿Necesita el verbo -s?
Only he / she / it adds -s to the verb in the present simple. · Solo he / she / it añade -s al verbo en el presente simple.
Choose: He ___ football every day. · Elige: He ___ football every day.
he / she / it → add -s: “He plays football.” · he / she / it → añadir -s: “He plays football.”
Complete: She ___ (go) to school by bus. · Completa: She ___ (go) to school by bus.
“go” ends in -o, so add -es: go → goes. · “go” termina en -o, así que añadir -es: go → goes.
Translate into English: 我喜欢茶。 · Traduce al inglés: 我喜欢茶。
I → base verb: “I like tea.” (not “I likes tea”) · I → verbo base: “I like tea.” (no “I likes tea”)
Negatives: don't / doesn't
- I / you / we / they → don't + base verb: I don't eat meat.
- he / she / it → doesn't + base verb: He doesn't like tea.
- After don't / doesn't, no -s.
Negaciones: don't / doesn't
- I / you / we / they → don't + verbo en forma base: I don't eat meat. (No como carne.)
- he / she / it → doesn't + verbo en forma base: He doesn't like tea. (A él no le gusta el té.)
- Después de don't / doesn't, no hay -s.
Is this correct? “He doesn't likes tea.” · ¿Es esto correcto? “He doesn't likes tea.”
After doesn't, use the base verb: “He doesn't like tea.” · Después de doesn't, usa el verbo base: “He doesn't like tea.”
Questions: Do / Does …?
- Do you …? · Does he …?
- Do you speak English? Does she live here?
- Short answers: Yes, I do. / No, he doesn't.
Preguntas: Do / Does …?
- Do you …? · Does he …? (¿...tú? · ¿...él?)
- Do you speak English? Does she live here? (¿Hablas inglés? ¿Ella vive aquí?)
- Respuestas cortas: Yes, I do. / No, he doesn't. (Sí, lo hago. / No, él no.)
Common mistakes
- ❌ I very like English. → ✓ I like English very much. — never very + verb.
- ❌ He go to school. → ✓ He goes to school. — remember the -s!
- ❌ You like tea? → ✓ Do you like tea? — questions need do / does.
Errores comunes
- ❌ I very like English. → ✓ I like English very much. — nunca uses very antes del verbo.
- ❌ He go to school. → ✓ He goes to school. — recuerda la -s.
- ❌ You like tea? → ✓ Do you like tea? — las preguntas necesitan do / does.
Match the verb to its he / she form. · Une el verbo con su forma he / she.
-ch / -o → -es (watches, goes); consonant + y → -ies (studies); most verbs just add -s. · -ch / -o → -es (watches, goes); consonante + y → -ies (studies); la mayoría de los verbos solo añaden -s.
Which sentence is correct? · ¿Cuál oración es correcta?
very never goes with a verb — say “like … very much”. · very nunca va junto a un verbo — di “like … very much”.
- Present simple = habits + facts.
- he / she / it → verb + -s.
- Negatives & questions use do / does + base verb.
- Present simple = hábitos + hechos.
- he / she / it → verbo + -s.
- Negaciones y preguntas usan do / does + verbo en forma base.
Write one sentence about something you do every day. Use the present simple. · Escribe una oración sobre algo que haces todos los días. Usa el presente simple.
Example: “I get up at seven every day.” · Ejemplo: “I get up at seven every day.”