Simple Present Tense Examples and Grammar (250+ Sample Sentences and Questions)

Simple Present Tense Examples and Grammar (250+ Sample Sentences and Questions)

Simple Present Tense Examples and Grammar (250+ Sample Sentences and Questions)

Simple Present Tense Examples and Grammar

The simple present (or present simple) is the first tense that you learn in English. Having a great understanding of how this tense works can help your child gain confidence in their English skills. 

We find that being able to see lots of examples of a verb tense can help people understand and teach that tense better. For this reason, we have compiled a list of over 250 simple present tense examples to help you. 

We have also compiled some useful grammar tips for how to use this verb tense. If you need more help, you can look at some other posts we have written about simple present including our post on Is, Am, and Are Verbs and How to Teach English Verbs for Beginners.

Want an easy-to-download PDF file of our sentences? Click the download button below to get your copy.

We know that however hard we try, we can’t answer all of your questions. If anything doesn’t make sense, feel free to send us a message, and we will do our best to help you out. To ask a question, just click on the link below or comment on this post. 

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Simple Present Uses

The simple present tense is primarily used to tell us about things that are true now. This can include habits that you have, facts, short actions that are happening right now, and long-term circumstances that are still true. 

We generally do not use the simple present tense for describing actions that are happening right now (though we do for short actions). If you want to learn more about these, you can look at our page on the present continuous tense and present continuous examples

As well, the simple present can be used to help talk about the future. If you are teaching a young child, we would recommend that you avoid teaching this part of the present simple. In the beginning, keep the present simple in the present, and use the simple future for the future. 

Present Uses

1. Habits

I run every day on the track.

2. Facts

Two plus two is four.

3. Short Actions Happening Now

The car drives away quickly.

4. Long-Term Circumstances

I work at Starbucks.

Future Uses

1. Fixed Arrangements

Sarah has a meeting tomorrow.

2. Future Clauses

They will go to the cabin when they have time.

Simple Present Tense Rules (Regular Verbs)

When learning how to use a verb tense, it is important that we understand the basic formula to use. Below we have listed the basic simple present tense formulas that you can use to make sentences and questions. 

Regular Verb Conjugation Formula

This formula can help you understand how we change verbs in the simple present tense. For regular verbs, when the subject is I, you, we, or they, we do not change the verb. When the subject is he, she, or it, we add an “s” to the end of the verb.

Remember that when you use proper nouns, the same rules apply. 

The city of New York is an “it” so, in the simple present tense, a sentence could look like this: New York looks beautiful. 

“Janet and I” are a “we” so a sentence could look like this: Janet and I need some water.

simple present tense formula regular verbs. I, you, we, and they: no change. He, she, and it: add an s

Simple Present Question Form

Questions in the simple present are similar. The main difference is that we are going to you do/does at the beginning of the sentence. “Do” will go with subjects I, you, we, and they, while “does” goes with he, she, and it. 

Basic

Do/Does + subject + verb + ?

Does he run?

Do you bake?

More Complex

Question Word + Do/Does + subject + verb + the remainder of the predicate + ?

When does Joe play soccer at the park?

Where do we learn to play the flute?

Simple Present Tense Examples (Regular Verbs)

We have compiled this list of simple present tense examples by looking at the most common verbs used in English. All of the verbs used below are regular verbs. This means that they follow the basic pattern outlined above.

Regular Pattern

Make

How do they make cookies?
They make cookies with eggs, flour, sugar, and chocolate.

Does Tami make eggs?
Yes, she makes eggs.

Know

Do you know how to swim?
No, I don’t know how to swim.

How do they know how to play?
It’s natural. They just know.

Think

Do you think before you make a choice?
Yes, I think before I make a choice.

When do you think about your family?
I think about my family when I miss them.

Take

How many pills a day does Sarah take?
Sarah takes three pills a day?

Do we take the money?
No, we don’t take the money.

See

Do you see mom and dad?
Yes, I see them.

Does she see the monkey?
No, she doesn’t see the monkey.

Come

Do you often come to my house at night?
No, I usually come to your house in the morning.

Do tourists often come to France?
Yes, they always come to France.

Want

Do Sally and you want some cake?
Yes, we want some cake, please.

Where do they want to play?
They want to play in the garden.

Look

Do you look for fruit in the trees?
No, I look for fruit in the fridge.

When do you look for Easter Eggs?
You look for Easter Eggs on Easter.

Use

Do you often use the microwave?
No, we rarely use the microwave.

Why do you use gloves when you are gardening?
I use gloves when I am gardening because it keeps my hands clean.

Find

Do you often find frogs in the pond?
No, I rarely find frogs in the pond.

How do you find a job?
You find a job by handing out resumes.

Give

Does Jake give a gift to Tom?
Yes, he gives a gift to Tom.

When do you give presents?
You give presents on Christmas.

Tell

Do John and Dan often tell lies?
No, they never tell lies.

How do you tell someone that you love them?
You just tell them how you feel.

Work

Where does Joe work?
Joe works in New York.

Does Terry work every night?
No, he only works on Friday nights.

Call

How do you call the police?
You call the police by dialing 9-1-1.

Does he call you JJ?
Yes, he calls me JJ.

Ask

Do you ask for directions when you are lost?
No, I don’t ask for directions when I’m lost.

Where do you ask for help?
You ask for help at the front desk.

Need

Do Francine and you need more friends?
Yes, we need more friends.

Does a computer need electricity?
Yes, a computer needs electricity.

Feel

Do they feel old?
Yes, they feel old.

How do you feel?
I feel sad.

Leave

Where do they leave the letters?
They leave the letters on the door.

Do you often leave town in the winter?
Yes, we often leave town in the winter.

Put

Where do you put the cup?
You put the cup in the cupboard.

Does she often put her clothes out the night before?
Yes, she usually puts her clothes out the night before.

Keep

Do you keep the pickles in the cupboard or the fridge?
I keep the pickles in the fridge.

Where do birds keep their eggs?
They keep their eggs in their nests.

Let

Does your school let you wear your own clothes?
No, my school only lets us wear a uniform.

Do we let the dog out at night?
No, we let the dog out during the day.

Seem

Does she seem scared?
Yes, she seems scared.

How do you seem so calm?
I seem calm because I am calm.

Help

Do dogs help cats?
No, dogs don’t help cats.

Where do they help animals?
They help animals in animal shelters.

Turn

Does your alarm turn off?
Yes, it turns off.

How do you turn off the TV?
You turn the TV off by pressing the button.

Start

Do they start the games at 4?
Yes, they start the games at 4.

Where does the race start?
The race starts in front of the school.

Hear

Do you hear her?
Yes, I hear her.

Where does he hear the sound?
He hears the sound beside the oven.

Run

Do they run every morning?
Yes, they run every morning.

Where do they run in the mornings?
They run in the park in the mornings.

Like

Do you like coffee?
Yes, I like coffee.

How many people like cake in your class?
Twelve people like cake in my class.

Live

Where do you live?
I live in Hong Kong.

Does he live on his own?
No, he lives with his friends.

Believe

Do they believe in ghosts?
No, they don’t believe in ghosts.

Who believes you?
Adam and Marie believe me.

Lose

Does your team often lose?
No, we never lose.

Where do people usually lose their coats?
They usually lose their coats in the restaurant.

Learn

Where does your son learn French?
He learns French at school.

How do you learn more quickly?
You learn quickly by practicing more.

Change

Where do you change trains?
I change trains at the next station.

Do your friends change their phones often?
They change their phones all the time.

Understand

Do you understand me?
Yes, I understand you.

Do they understand algebra?
No, they don’t understand that.

Follow

Do you follow this road to get home?
Yes, you follow this road to get home.

How many people follow you on Instagram?
1000 people follow me on Instagram.

Stop

Do you usually stop at the bank before you go home?
Yes, I usually stop at the bank before I go home.

When does the machine stop?
It stops every five minutes.

Speak

Do you speak English?
No, I don’t speak English.

Do you speak in church?
No, you don’t speak in church.

Read

Do you read while you are on the bus?
No, I don’t read while I’m on the bus.

Where do you usually read?
I usually read in my backyard.

Allow

Do your parents allow you to eat dessert every day?
No, they only allow me to eat dessert once a week.

Does your school allow you to leave whenever you like?
No, my school doesn’t allow me to leave whenever I like.

Open

Does the door open in or out?
The door opens in.

Do you open accounts here?
No, you open accounts over there.

Win

Who wins the lottery?
Lucky people win the lottery.

How do you win this game?
You win this game by getting ten points.

Remember

Do they remember John?
No, they don’t remember John anymore.

How do you remember so much?
I remember so much because I practice often.

Love

Does your family love steak?
No, they don’t love steak.

Why do you love Paul?
I love Paul because he is funny.

Send

How do you send mail?
You send mail by putting it in the mailbox.

Does Noel send mail often?
No, Noel only sends mail during Christmas.

Common Simple Present Tense Irregular Verbs Patterns

Irregular verbs do not follow the general pattern of conjugation set out above. However, many of these verbs do follow a pattern, so we will go over these exceptions in this section. 

Verbs that End in -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o

simple present tense formula irregular verbs. Verbs ending in -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o. I, you, we, and they: no change. He, she, and it: add es

Verbs that End in -y (after a consonant)

simple present tense formula irregular verbs. Verbs ending in y (after a consonant). I, you, we, and they: no change. He, she, and it: "y" becomes ies

Verbs that End in -y (after a vowel)

simple present tense formula irregular verbs. Verbs ending in y (after a vowel). I, you, we, and they: no change. He, she, and it: add an "s"

Be

We actually have a whole post on the be verbs: is, am, and are. This is one of the most important verbs, so check it out here.

Note that “I” does not share the same conjugation as you, we, and they, like in most other verbs. 

simple present tense formula irregular verbs. To Be. I am, you are, he is, she is, it is, we are, they are.

Have

simple present tense formula irregular verbs. To Have. I ahve, you ahve, he has, she has, it has, we have, they have.

Simple Present Tense Examples (Irregular Verbs)

This is a list of sample sentences that use irregular verbs in the simple present tense. They are organized by their pattern group.

Ends in -y (after a vowel)

Say

Do you often say that she needs to work harder?
Yes, I often say that she needs to work harder.

Does she say that she works hard?
Yes, she says that she works hard.

Play

Do I play soccer well?
Yes, you play soccer well.

Does he often play video games at night?
Yes, he often plays video games at night.

Stay

Does the dog stay inside at night?
No, the dog does not stay inside at night.

Do we stay here or go there?
We should stay here.

Pay

Do they pay at the counter?
No, they pay at the table.

Does mom usually pay with cash?
Yes, mom usually pays with cash.

Buy

Does he buy candy often?
No, he rarely buys candy.

Do you buy shoes new or used?
I buy new shows.

Ends in -y (after a consonant)

Fly

What does a bird do?
A bird flies in the sky.

Do you fly often?
Yes, I often fly.

Cry

Does Tom cry?
Yes, Tom cries.

Do John and Sarah often cry?
No, they don’t often cry.

Dry

Does he dry his sheets outside?
Yes, he does dry his sheets outside.

When do you dry your clothes?
I dry my clothes in the morning. 

Try

Do they try new things often?
No, they don’t try new things often. 

Does Jane try to fish?
Yes, Jane tries to fish.

Ends in -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, -o

Pass

Does Joey pass the ball?
Yes, Joey passes the ball.

Does the family often pass the salt?
Yes, the family often passes the salt.

Miss

Do you often miss the bus?
No, I don’t often miss the bus.

How many shots do you miss?
I miss 25% of my shots.

Watch

Do most people watch TV?
Yes, most people watch TV.

What do you usually watch?
I usually watch comedies and dramas. 

Catch

How do you catch a ball?
You catch a ball with your hand.

Do you and Bill catch fish often?
Yes, we catch fish often.

Reach

What does Tim do?
Tim reaches for the cookie.

Where do the sunrays reach?
The sunrays reach my neighbor’s yard.

Fish

Do you fish often?
No, I rarely fish.

When do you usually fish?
I usually fish in the Fall.

Fix

How do you fix the TV?
I don’t know how to fix the TV.

Do Joe and Jack often fix the refrigerator?
Yes, they often fix the refrigerator. 

Go

Where do you go on Fridays?
I go to the mall on Fridays.

Does he go to the park often?
Yes, he goes to the park often.

Do

Does she do aerobics every day?
No, she only does aerobics on the weekends.

Where do you do your nails?
I do my nails on my bed.

Irregular Verb Examples

Be

Are you happy?
Yes, I am.

Where are your pants?
My pants are in the laundry.

Have

Do you have any cookies?
No, I don’t have any cookies.

Does she have a pen?
Yes, she has a pen.

Learn Verbs with The Learner’s Nook

If you are interested in learning more about verbs in English, we have plenty of verb resources at our Verbs in English page.

Explore more verb resources

Final Thoughts

A strong foundation in the simple present tense is one of the most important things for early learners of English. As your child moves on to more complicated verb tenses, their basis here will give them the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

We hope that this list of simple present example sentences has helped you better understand how you can use this most basic verb tense in English. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out by commenting or clicking on the help button below. 

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Josh Chapman