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French
Coming Soon
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Science and Technology
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Physics
Geography
English Language Arts
Indigenous content
Coming Soon
Financial Education
Contemporary World
Grade 1
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English Language Arts
Simple Present

Simple Present

Concept sheet | English Language Arts
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Astronaut driving around on the Moon.
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Space guy holding a coffee mug.
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Astronaut checking if earth is still round.
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Astronauts driving rovers carefully.
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Astronaut observing the night sky.

With the verb to be  

With other verbs

am

I

do

I
you
we
they

+

verb base form

are

you
we
they

is

he/she/it

does

he/she/it
Grade
1-4
Table of contents

Simple Present Uses

Rules

The simple present is used for

Repeated actions, such as:

  • habits

  • routines

Facts & generalizations, such as:

  • truths

  • facts

  • generalizations

Planned events, such as:

  • schedules

  • timetables

  • fixed events

Examples

Routines

Astronaut driving around on the Moon.
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Astronaut Bob drives the moon rover every day.

Habits

Space guy holding a coffee mug.
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Astronaut Bob drinks coffee before work.

Facts

Astronaut checking if earth is still round.
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The Earth is round.

Generalizations

Astronauts driving rovers carefully.
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Astronauts drive carefully — except for Bob.

Fixed event

Astronaut observing the night sky.
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The eclipse begins in 10 minutes.

Simple Present Keywords

Tips

A word

A word combination

on:

every:

after:

once/twice/3 times/…:

  • always

  • never

  • usually

  • sometimes

  • often

  • rarely

  • weekly

  • on weekdays

  • on weekends

  • on Mondays

  • on occasions

  • on school nights

  • every day

  • every week

  • every year

  • every month

  • every weekend

  • every night

  • after school

  • after work

  • once in a while

  • twice a week

  • 3 times a day

  • 10 times a year
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For Advanced Users: Additional Simple Present Uses

For Advanced Users: More Simple Present Uses

Simple Present Forms Reminder

Affirmative Forms

 

to be

other verbs

to have

to take

to go

I

am

'm

have

take

go

we
you
they

are

're

he/she/it

is

's

has

takes

goes*
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*Some verbs take -es in the 3rd person singular.

Negative Forms

 

to be

other verbs

I

am not

'm not

do not

don't

+

verb base form

we
you
they

are not

're not

aren't

he/she/it

is not

's not

isn't

does not

doesn't
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Question Form

With the verb to be  

With other verbs

am

I

do

I
you
we
they

+

verb base form

are

you
we
they

is

he/she/it

does

he/she/it
avatar

3rd Person Singular

Be careful!

When using the simple present in the 3rd person singular:

verb + s in most cases:

sounds
listens
hears
understands

verb + es after:

s

passes

sh

pushes

ch

watches

x

fixes

z

buzzes
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Verbs ending in o:

when consonant + o  ➞ add es

does

when vowel + o (rare) ➞add s 

woos

Verbs ending in y:

when consonant + y ➞ change y to ies

tries

when vowel + y ➞add s

says
avatar
'

See Also