Present simple

• 8 Present simple

  8.1

  Habits and Third Person -s

  

  

  Present simple (present simple) describes habits and facts. The base form is the infinitive (base verb).

  我I 喜欢like 茶tea.

  I like tea.

  When the subject is he / she / it, add -s to the verb:

  他He 踢plays 足球football.

  He plays football.

  Spelling rules:

  • Generally add -s: like → likes.
  • Words ending in -s / -sh / -ch / -x / -o add -es: go → goes, watch → watches.
  • Consonant + y ending: change y to i and add -es: study → studies.

  Note: Only he / she / it take -s; I / you / we / they use the base form: They like tea.

  8.2

  Negation and Interrogative

  

  

  For negatives and questions, use auxiliary verbs do / does (does for he / she / it).

  Negative: Subject + don't / doesn't + base verb.

  我I 不don't 喜欢like 咖啡coffee.

  I don't like coffee.

  Question: Do / Does + Subject + base verb ?

  （助动词）Does 她she 住live 这里here?

  Does she live here?

  Note: When using do / does, the verb returns to its base form (no -s): ~~Does she lives~~ ✗ → Does she live ✓.

  Common Errors

  • ❌ ~~He go to school by bus.~~ → ✓ He goes to school by bus. — Forgetting to add -s in third person singular is the most frequent error; check your work afterwards.
  • ❌ ~~She doesn't likes coffee.~~ → ✓ She doesn't like coffee. — When using does / doesn't, the verb returns to its base form.
  • ❌ ~~I very like English.~~ → ✓ I like English very much. — "Very much" in Chinese cannot be translated literally; very cannot directly modify a verb.
  • ❌ ~~You like tea?~~ → ✓ Do you like tea? — Questions must start with do / does; rising intonation alone is insufficient.

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