A1Tenses — Present

Present Simple Spelling

What is it?

When we use the present simple with he, she, or it, we add -s or -es to the base form of the verb. Most of the time this is simple — just add -s. But there are important spelling rules to follow with verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z, and -o, as well as verbs ending in a consonant + y. Getting these right is one of the first things to master at A1 level.

How to form it

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
I / You / We / They	I work	I don't work	Do I work?
He / She / It	He works	He doesn't work	Does he work?
He/She/It + -ch/-sh/-s/-x/-z	She watches	She doesn't watch	Does she watch?
He/She/It + consonant + y	He studies	He doesn't study	Does he study?
He/She/It + vowel + y	She plays	She doesn't play	Does she play?
He/She/It + -o	It goes	It doesn't go	Does it go?

• Most verbs: add -s → work → works, run → runs, eat → eats.
• Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z: add -es → watch → watches, wash → washes, miss → misses, fix → fixes, buzz → buzzes.
• Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y → i, add -es → study → studies, carry → carries, try → tries.
• Verbs ending in vowel + y: just add -s → play → plays, enjoy → enjoys, say → says.
• Verbs ending in -o: add -es → go → goes, do → does. Exception: radio → radios.
• Irregular: have → has (not haves). Be → is.

When to use it

1
Add -s for most verbs.
"She reads the news every morning." / "The sun rises at 6am."
2
Add -es after -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z.
"He teaches maths at a school in the city." / "She rushes to work every day."
3
Consonant + y → change y to i and add -es.
"She studies three languages." / "He carries his laptop everywhere."
4
Vowel + y → add -s only.
"She enjoys cooking." / "He plays football on Sundays."
5
Verbs ending in -o → add -es.
"She goes to the gym at 7am." / "He does the dishes every evening."

Common mistakes

She watchs the news every night.

She watches the news every night.

Verbs ending in -ch need -es, not just -s. Watch → watches. Other examples: catch → catches, teach → teaches.

He studys hard for his exams.

He studies hard for his exams.

'Study' ends in consonant + y. Change the y to i and add -es: studies. Never just add -s.

She plaies tennis on weekends.

She plays tennis on weekends.

'Play' ends in vowel + y (a + y). In this case just add -s: plays. Only consonant + y changes to -ies.

Quick reference

Most verbs: add -s (work → works, eat → eats, run → runs).
After -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -z: add -es (watch → watches, miss → misses).
Consonant + y: y → i + es (study → studies, try → tries).
Vowel + y: just add -s (play → plays, enjoy → enjoys).
Verbs ending in -o: add -es (go → goes, do → does).
Irregular: have → has. Be → is.

Natural conversation example

Two students talking about their study routines.

Leila

Does your brother go to the same university as you?

Tom

No, he studies medicine in Edinburgh. He's very busy.

Leila

I can imagine. Does he ever get time to relax?

Tom

Sometimes. He plays tennis on Sunday mornings and watches films at the weekend.

Leila

That sounds nice. My sister teaches English in a school nearby.

Tom

Oh really? Does she enjoy it?

Leila

She does. She says it flies by because she has great students.

Tom

That helps! My brother often says the same — when you enjoy what you do, it carries you through.

Practice Exercises

Write the correct third-person singular form of the verb in brackets.

1.
She (teach) English at a secondary school.
2.
He (go) to the gym every morning before work.
3.
My sister (study) architecture at university.
4.
The cat (watch) the birds in the garden for hours.
5.
She (play) the piano really well.
6.
He (fix) computers — it's his job.
7.
She (try) a new recipe every Sunday.
8.
The water (rush) through the pipes when you open the tap.
9.
He (do) the shopping on Saturday mornings.
10.
She (carry) everything in one big bag.

Present Simple All Topics Present Continuous

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