Simple Present Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate like the verb “run” below. Notice how you add an “s” to third-person forms. Third-person negative forms and third-person questions are made using “does.”

Positive	Negative	Question
I run. You run. We run. They run. He runs. She runs. It runs.	I do not run. You do not run. We do not run. They do not run. He does not run. She does not run. It does not run.	Do I run? Do you run? Do we run? Do they run? Does he run? Does she run? Does it run?

Instead of “s,” “es” is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z, sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special “es”-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive	Negative	Question
I rush. You rush. We rush. They rush. He rushes. * She rushes. * It rushes. *	I do not rush. You do not rush. We do not rush. They do not rush. He does not rush. She does not rush. It does not rush.	Do I rush? Do you rush? Do we rush? Do they rush? Does he rush? Does she rush? Does it rush?

To Have

The verb “have” is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive	Negative	Question
I have. You have. We have. They have. He has. * She has. * It has. *	I do not have. You do not have. We do not have. They do not have. He does not have. She does not have. It does not have.	Do I have? Do you have? Do we have? Do they have? Does he have? Does she have? Does it have?

To Be

The verb “be” is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms.

Positive	Negative	Question
I am. You are. We are. They are. He is. She is. It is.	I am not. You are not. We are not. They are not. He is not. She is not. It is not.	Am I? Are you? Are we? Are they? Is he? Is she? Is it?

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take “s” in the third person – there is no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb “be” described above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in Simple Present.

Positive	Negative	Question
I should go. You should go. We should go. They should go. He should go. She should go. It should go.	I should not go. You should not go. We should not go. They should not go. He should not go. She should not go. It should not go.	Should I go? Should you go? Should we go? Should they go? Should he go? Should she go? Should it go?

2 thoughts on “Simple Present Forms”

If you’re reading this, you’re all set, pradenr!

What a neat article. I had no iklning.

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