Present Simple tense with do and does
2,030 fill-in-the-gap exercises across 4 forms
For habits, routines and things that are generally true. The only form that changes is he, she and it, which adds -s.
Pick a form to practice
When you need it
The Present Simple is the tense for things that do not depend on this particular moment:
- Habits and routines. She catches the seven o’clock train.
- Facts that stay true. Water boils at 100 degrees.
- Timetables, even about the future. The museum opens at nine on Sundays.
- Opinions and states. I think you are right. He owns two bicycles.
If the action is happening right now, you need the Present Continuous instead: She is catching the train means she is doing it at this moment.
The -s that catches everyone out
Only one form changes: he, she, it, and any single person or thing.
- most verbs simply add -s: work → works, live → lives
- verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o add -es: watch → watches, go → goes, fix → fixes
- a consonant plus -y becomes -ies: study → studies, carry → carries
- a vowel plus -y just adds -s: play → plays, buy → buys
Two verbs are irregular: have → has and be → is.
do and does do the heavy lifting
To make a negative or a question, the Present Simple borrows an auxiliary: do for I, you, we, they and does for he, she, it.
The rule that trips people up: the auxiliary takes the -s, so the main verb loses it.
- She works late. → She doesn’t work late. → Does she work late?
Writing doesn’t works or Does she works is the single most common mistake in this tense, and it is worth checking every time.
How often
Adverbs of frequency sit before the main verb, but after the verb to be:
- He often forgets his keys.
- He is always late.
All forms
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, you, we, they | work | don't work | Do you work? |
| he, she, it | works | doesn't work | Does she work? |
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: She don't like coffee. correct: She doesn't like coffee.
He, she and it take does, so the negative is doesn't.
Wrong: Does he works here? correct: Does he work here?
Once does appears, the -s has already been used up. The main verb goes back to its plain form.
Wrong: He have two sisters. correct: He has two sisters.
Have is irregular in this tense: he, she and it take has.