present simple essay

Simple Present Tense

What is the simple present tense.

(1) Simple present tense to describe facts and habits.

• Alan walks the dog every morning.
• He plays chess.

(2) Simple present tense to describe scheduled events in the future.

• The train arrives at 5 o'clock.
• The plane lands in 5 minutes.

(3) Simple present tense to tell stories (particularly jokes).

• Sarah crosses the road and asks the policeman for directions.
• A horse walks into a bar, and the barman says , "why the long face?"

Table of Contents

More Examples of the Simple Present Tense

Video lesson, forming the simple present tense, the spelling rules, interactive verb conjugation tables, the other present tenses.

(1) To describe facts and habits:

• I like chocolate. (Fact)
• Angela runs a youth club full of glue-sniffers. (Fact)
• I ride horses in the summer. (Fact and habit)
• It always snows here in January. (Fact and habit)
• Dawn plays chess in the evenings. (Fact and habit)

(2) To describe scheduled events in the future

• It is low tide at 0234.

(3) To tell stories (particularly jokes) to make your listener or reader feel more engaged with the story.

• There are two parrots sitting on a perch. One turns to the other and asks , "Can you smell fish?"
• We heard the helicopter overhead. Suddenly, the radio bursts into life.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

The Negative Version

• I do not like chocolate.
• Angela does not run a youth club full of glue-sniffers.
• I do not ride horses in the summer.
• It does not always snow here in January.
• Dawn does not play chess in the evenings.

The Question Version

• Do you like chocolate?
• Does Angela run the youth club?
• Why does Tony talk so quickly?
• When do the farmers plant the corn?
• Does Mark sing or dance?
• Do they want hamburger or sausages?
• talk > talks
• improve > improves
• guess > guesses
• mash > mashes
• fix > fixes
• fly > flies
• study > studies

Infographic for the Simple Present Tense

Top 10 Regular Verbs

Top 10 Irregular Verbs

All 4 Past Tenses

All 4 Present Tenses

All 4 Future Tenses

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Verb Tenses

What this handout is about.

The present simple, past simple, and present perfect verb tenses account for approximately 80% of verb tense use in academic writing. This handout will help you understand how to use these three verb tenses in your own academic writing.

Click here for a color-coded illustration of changing verb tenses in academic writing.

Present simple tense

The present simple tense is used:

In your introduction, the present simple tense describes what we already know about the topic. In the conclusion, it says what we now know about the topic and what further research is still needed.

“The data suggest…” “The research shows…”

“The dinoflagellate’s TFVCs require an unidentified substance in fresh fish excreta” (Penrose and Katz, 330).

“There is evidence that…”

“So I’m walking through the park yesterday, and I hear all of this loud music and yelling. Turns out, there’s a free concert!” “Shakespeare captures human nature so accurately.”

Past simple tense

Past simple tense is used for two main functions in most academic fields.

“…customers obviously want to be treated at least as well on fishing vessels as they are by other recreation businesses. [General claim using simple present] De Young (1987) found the quality of service to be more important than catching fish in attracting repeat customers. [Specific claim from a previous study using simple past] (Marine Science)

We conducted a secondary data analysis… (Public Health) Descriptional statistical tests and t-student test were used for statistical analysis. (Medicine) The control group of students took the course previously… (Education)

Present perfect tense

The present perfect acts as a “bridge” tense by connecting some past event or state to the present moment. It implies that whatever is being referred to in the past is still true and relevant today.

“There have been several investigations into…” “Educators have always been interested in student learning.”

Some studies have shown that girls have significantly higher fears than boys after trauma (Pfefferbaum et al., 1999; Pine &; Cohen, 2002; Shaw, 2003). Other studies have found no gender differences (Rahav and Ronen, 1994). (Psychology)

Special notes

Can i change tenses.

Yes. English is a language that uses many verb tenses at the same time. The key is choosing the verb tense that is appropriate for what you’re trying to convey.

What’s the difference between present simple and past simple for reporting research results?

• Past simple limits your claims to the results of your own study. E.g., “Our study found that teenagers were moody.” (In this study, teenagers were moody.)
• Present simple elevates your claim to a generalization. E.g., “Our study found that teenagers are moody.” (Teenagers are always moody.)

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Biber, Douglas. 1999. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English . New York: Longman.

Hawes, Thomas, and Sarah Thomas. 1997. “Tense Choices in Citations.” Research into the Teaching of English 31 (3): 393-414.

Hinkel, Eli. 2004. Teaching Academic ESL Writing: Practical Techniques in Vocabulary and Grammar . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Penrose, Ann, and Steven Katz. 2004. Writing in the Sciences: Exploring the Conventions of Scientific Discourse , 2nd ed. New York: Longman.

Swales, John, and Christine B. Feak. 2004. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills , 2nd ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Present Simple Tense (Simple Present): Definition, Rules and Useful Examples

The reference is about the Present Simple tense in English. It covers the structure, usage, and examples of the Simple Present Tense. You will learn how to form sentences correctly and understand the usage of time expressions in this tense. Furthermore, the reference includes a Present Simple Tense Chart and exercises to practice. You can also find rules for other verb tenses in English and useful resources on grammar here.

Understanding Present Simple

The simple present tense plays an important role in the English language. This reference covers key areas such as what the  Simple Present Tense  is, its structure, and examples. It also explains how to use the Simple Present Tense, including its usage, notes, and time expressions.

Find out more with a comprehensive present simple tense chart and practical exercises. Plus, explore the 12 verb tenses in English for a broader grammar understanding. Learn useful  grammar  rules to confidently use the Simple Present Tense with example sentences and ESL printable worksheets.

What is the Simple Present Tense?

If you want to talk about an action happening right now, you will use the  present simple tense . This tense is common in English and has its own grammar rules. Knowing these rules helps you speak clearly.

In English, the  simple present tense  belongs to the  verb forms  of the  present tense . You typically use the simple present tense for these cases:

• Expressing facts, general truths, and common-sense ideas.
• Stating habits, customs, and events that happen regularly.
• Describing future plans and events.
• Telling jokes, stories, and describing sporting events in real-time.

One thing the simple present tense does not do is describe  actions happening right now . That’s better for present participles.

Regular verbs  in the first, second, and third person plural are simple. They often look like the infinitive form of the verb.

The third person singular has specific rules:

• For most regular verbs, add an  s  at the end.
• For verbs ending in  s ,  ss ,  sh ,  ch ,  th ,  x ,  z , or  o , add  es .
• For verbs ending in  y , drop  y  and add  ies .
• First Person: I go/We go
• Second Person: You go
• Third Person: He goes/They go
• First Person: I study/We study
• Second Person: You study
• Third Person: She studies/They study
• First Person: I mix/We mix
• Second Person: You mix
• Third Person: He mixes/They mix

The simple present tense can combine with phrases like “every Tuesday,” “always,” “usually,” and “twice a month.” You can make this tense negative or use it in questions. This flexibility helps express complex ideas.

Simple Present Tense Structure

Present Simple Tense with “TO BE” (am/is/are)

Affirmative Sentence:

S + am/is/are + predicate

He is a doctor.

Negative Sentence:     S + am/is/are + not + predicate

He isn’t a doctor.

Interrogative Sentence:   Interrogative Sentence

Am/Is/Are + S + predicate?

Is he a doctor?

Simple Present Tense with Other Verbs

S + verb + object

We like tea.

Negative Sentence:

S + don’t/doesn’t + verb + object

We don’t like tea.

Interrogative Sentence:

Do/Does + S + verb + object?

Do you like tea?

Examples of the Simple Present Tense

• In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
• My wife and I drink a toast to the New Year every January 1st.
• So, a horse walks into a bar and the bartender says “Why the long face?”…
• My company issues promotions and raises next week.
• The human body maintains a temperature of 98.6 degrees.
• Do you like my cat?
• Does my dog wake you up when he barks at night?
• I always feed my kids before sending them off to school.
• The best student in the class studies twice as much as anyone.
• The chef mixes fish and shrimp with steak to make the best surf’ n turf’ in town.

How to Use the Simple Present

The present simple tense usage.

The Present Simple tense is used to express:

General Truths:   The sun rises in the east.

Habits:   I play  badminton  every Tuesday.

Future Timetables:   Our train leaves at 9 am.

Future after “When”, “Until”:   I won’t go out until it stops raining.

Permanent Situations:   He works in a bank.

Newspaper Headlines:   Man enters space.

With Non-progressive Verbs:   I believe that you are innocent.

Telling Stories:   Suddenly, the window opens and a masked man enters.

Directions and Instructions:   First of all, you break the eggs and whisk with sugar.

Notes for the Present Simple

The basic form of the simple present is the same as the base form of the verb unless the subject is third person singular, in which case a form with the addition of  -(e)s  is used.

Verb Modifications:

• I, you, we, they:  No change in verb.
• He, she, it:  A suffix is added.

Rules for adding  -es  suffix :

• Touch – Touch es
• Fix – Fix es

Rules for replacing  -y  with  -ies :

• Try – Tr ies
• Study – Stud ies
• Carry – Carr ies

For other cases:

• Cook – Cook s
• Say – Say s
• Laugh – Laugh s

Time Expressions in the Present Simple Tense

Common time expressions include:

• This evening
• Twice a month
• Every Tuesday

These expressions help provide context for action in the present simple.

Simple Present Tense Exercises

1. fill in the blanks.

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

• She _______ (go) to school every day.
• They _______ (play) soccer on weekends.
• The sun _______ (rise) in the east.
• He _______ (not like) spicy food.
• We _______ (study) English on Mondays.

2. Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the sentences in the negative form.

• I eat breakfast at 7 AM.
• She reads a book every evening.
• They travel to Spain every summer.
• He works at a hospital.
• We watch TV after dinner.

3. Question Formation

Form questions from the given statements.

• She plays the piano. (What)
• They visit their grandparents. (When)
• He drinks coffee. (Does)
• You like chocolate. (Do)
• The store opens at 9 AM. (What time)

12 Verb Tenses in English

Learn all (12) tenses in English with useful grammar rules, examples and ESL worksheets.

Verb Tenses Chart

• Present Simple Tense
• Present Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Past Simple Tense
• Past Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Perfect Continuous Tense
• Simple Future Tense
• Future Continuous Tense
• Future Perfect Tense
• Future Perfect Continuous

Present Simple Tense: Useful Rules & Examples

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Simple Present Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

The Simple Present Tense is a grammatical tense used to describe actions, events, or situations that are general, habitual, or regular, and occur in the present time. It is used to convey facts, universal truths, habits, routines, and scheduled events.

Table of Contents

Forming the Simple Present Tense

Affirmative sentences.

Affirmative sentences in the simple present tense express actions or states that occur regularly, habitually, or are generally true. The structure of affirmative sentences in the simple present tense often involves the base form of the verb (the verb without any additional endings or changes).

In other words, it only changes in the third person singular (he/she/it). It adds either s ,  es,  or  ies .

• I read in class 8.
• She goes to school in the morning.
• They play football on weekends.
• The sun rises in the east.
• It rains a lot in this region.
• The train departs at 7 AM.
• She speaks Spanish fluently.
• He always brushes his teeth before bed.
• The cat chases the mouse.
• The store opens at 9 AM.
• They go to school on foot.
• We take breakfast at 7 o’clock.
• I agree with you.
• You take a bath daily.
• She wears new clothes.
• He cleans his teeth.
• I hate smoking.
• The crow caws.
• I always speak the truth.
• She leads a simple life.
• He fixes the computer when it has issues.
• She washes her car every Saturday.

The sentences given above are broken down according to their grammatical structure.

Negative Sentences

Negative sentences in the simple present tense express actions or states that do not happen regularly, habitually, or are not generally true. In negative sentences, we typically use the auxiliary verb do (in its base form do or does) along with not, and the base form of the main verb. To create a negative sentence, use  do not + [base form of the verb] . (Use does not  with third person singular (he/she/it).

Subject + do not/ does not + verb(1st form) + object.

• I do not like coffee.
• You do not speak Spanish.
• We do not play tennis on Sundays.
• They do not eat meat.
• He does not watch TV in the morning.
• She does not drive a car.
• It does not rain much in this area.
• The cat does not like water.
• We do not visit our grandparents often.
• You do not understand French.
• He does not play the guitar.
• She does not cook dinner on Fridays.
• It does not snow in our city.
• They do not study on weekends.
• I do not go to the gym every day.
• You do not work on Saturdays.
• We do not travel abroad frequently.
• He does not take sugar in his tea.
• She does not read novels regularly.
• The bus does not arrive on time.

Using “do not” (don’t):

• I don’t like spicy food.
• She doesn’t play video games.
• They don’t go to the gym on Saturday.
• He doesn’t watch horror movies.
• We don’t eat fast food very often.

Using “does not” (doesn’t):

• She doesn’t like coffee.
• He doesn’t play video games.
• The car doesn’t start in the cold weather.
• Mary doesn’t work on Mondays.
• It doesn’t rain much in the desert.

Interrogative Sentences

If you need to ask a question, you can use the following word order for a yes/no question:

• Does she read books every day?
• Do they play football on weekends?
• Does he speak French fluently?
• Does the sun rise in the west?
• Do we visit our grandparents often?
• Do you go to the gym every day?
• Do cats chase dogs?
• Does he like vanilla ice cream?
• Does the store open at 9 AM?
• Does the train depart at 7 AM?
• Do we live near the park?
• Do they enjoy swimming?
• Does she take the bus to work?
• Does he work as a chef?
• Does the cat meow loudly?
• Do you play the violin in the evenings?
• Do birds sing at night?
• Does she dance gracefully?
• Do we eat lunch at 2 PM?
• Does it rain a lot in this city?

The Spelling Rules

In simple present tense, we often add s or es to the verb when talking about he, she, or it (like a single person or thing). Here’s how it works:

• For most verbs, just add s : He walks, she runs, it rains.
• If a verb ends in ss , sh , ch , x , or o , add es : He passes, she washes, it matches, he fixes, it goes.
• If a verb ends in a consonant + y , change y to i and add es : He cries, she flies, it dries.

Formation of Verbs that end in sh, ch, s, ss,x /o + es:

 For verbs ending [consonant]-y , change the  y  to  i  and add  es :

Usage of Simple Present Tense

1. Habits and Routines

• It is used to describe actions that are habitual, repeated, or regular.
• She reads a book every night before bed. (Habit)
• She wakes up at 6 AM every morning. (Routine)
• They have breakfast together before work. (Routine)
• He takes a walk in the park every evening. (Habit)
• We watch our favorite TV show every Monday night. (Routine)
• The children play soccer after school. (Habit)

2. General Truths and Facts

• The Simple Present Tense is used to state facts that are generally true and do not change over time.
• The Earth revolves around the sun. ( General Truth)
• Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen. ( Facts)
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius ( General Truth) .
• Gravity pulls things towards the Earth. ( Facts)
• The sky appears blue on clear days ( General Truth) .
• Our body has many bones. ( Facts)
• The moon has gravitational effects on Earth’s tides. ( General Truth)
• The human body requires oxygen to survive. ( General Truth)
• Water’s chemical name is H2O. ( Facts)
• The Nile River is very long. ( General Truth)

3. Scheduled Events

• It can be used to express future events that are part of a schedule, especially in the context of timetables and plans.
• The train departs at 3 PM.
• The train departs at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
• The conference starts on Monday at 9:00 AM.
• Our flight lands at 3:30 PM next week.
• The school assembly takes place every Friday morning.
• The concert begins at 7:30 PM this Saturday.

4. Universal Truths

• It is used to convey principles, scientific facts, and truths that apply universally.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• The Earth rotates on its axis.
• Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
• Birds fly in the sky.
• Plants need sunlight to grow.
• Fish live in water.

5. Commentaries on Narratives

• When providing commentary on a book, movie, or story, the Simple Present Tense is often used to discuss events in the plot.
• In the story, the protagonist lives in a small town.
• The brave knight draws his sword to face the dragon.
• The curious kitten climbs up the tree to explore.
• The wise old owl watches silently from its perch.
• The mischievous elves giggle as they plan their pranks.
• The gentle breeze rustles the leaves in the forest.
• The colorful flowers bloom in the springtime.

6. Instructions and Directions

• The Simple Present Tense is used for giving directions or instructions, especially in recipes or manuals.
• First, you mix the ingredients together. ( Instruction)
• Open the book to page 10. ( Direction)
• Mix the ingredients in a bowl. ( Instruction)
• Turn left at the next intersection. ( Direction)
• Wait for the green light before crossing the street. ( Direction)
• Write your name at the top of the paper. ( Instruction)
• Read the instructions before assembling the toy. ( Instruction)

7. Sports Commentaries

• In sports commentary, the Simple Present Tense is often used to describe ongoing events in real time.
• The quarterback throws the ball to the wide receiver.
• The striker shoots and scores! What a fantastic goal!
• The pitcher throws a fastball, and it’s a strike!
• The sprinter runs down the track with incredible speed.
• The goalie blocks the shot, preventing a goal.
• The golfer tees off with precision and accuracy.
• The basketball player dribbles down the court, looking for an open teammate

Simple Present Tense Example Sentences

Positive Sentences

• She practices yoga every morning.
• They eat breakfast at 7 AM.
• The company produces high-quality goods.
• We take our dog for a walk in the evening.
• The bus arrives at the station on time.
• They eat lunch at 12:00.
• He works at a software company.
• The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
• Birds sing in the trees.
• He knows how to speak Spanish fluently.
• The bakery bakes fresh bread daily.
• We play tennis on weekends.
• She enjoys watching movies in her free time.
• The river flows gently through the valley.
• They visit their grandparents every summer.
• The sun sets in the west.
• We have a meeting on Mondays.
• He helps his neighbors with gardening.
• The cat chases after the mouse.
• I work from 9 AM to 5 PM.
• She does not read books every day.
• They do not play football on weekends.
• He does not speak Spanish fluently.
• The sun does not rise in the west.
• I do not go to the gym three times a week.
• Cats do not chase elephants.
• He does not hate chocolate ice cream.
• The store does not open at 10 AM.
• The train does not depart at 8 AM.
• We do not live in a small house.
• They do not enjoy watching horror movies.
• She does not take the train to work.
• He does not work on Sundays.
• The dog does not meow.
• I do not play the guitar in the evenings.
• Birds do not fly at night.
• She does not sing off-key.
• We do not have breakfast at 5 PM.
• It does not snow in this area.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs:

• She __________ (read) a book every night.
• They __________ (play) football on weekends.
• He __________ (speak) English fluently.
• The sun __________ (rise) in the east.
• We __________ (visit) our grandparents often.
• You __________ (go) to school every day.
• Cats __________ (chase) mice.
• He __________ (like) chocolate ice cream.
• The store __________ (open) at 9 AM.
• The train __________ (depart) at 7 AM.
• We __________ (live) near the beach.
• They __________ (enjoy) swimming.
• She __________ (take) the bus to work.
• He __________ (work) as a teacher.
• The cat __________ (meow) loudly.
• The Simple Present Tense, also known as the simple present tense, is a verb form that describes actions or events that are regular, habitual, or factual in the present time. It is used to express general truths, routines, and facts.
• For singular subjects (he, she, it, a singular noun or pronoun), we add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of the verb.
• For plural subjects (I, you, we, they, plural nouns or pronouns), the verb remains in its base form.
• Stating general facts or truths.
• Describing regular actions or routines.
• Expressing habits or customs.
• Making statements that are generally true.
• Narrating events in a book or story.
• Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
• Every day, every week, every month, etc.
• On Mondays, on weekends, in the mornings, etc.
• Facts, general truths, laws of nature, etc.
• Negative: I do not (don’t) like coffee. / She does not (doesn’t) play basketball.
• Interrogative: Do you like pizza? / Does he speak Spanish?

Download a High-Quality Printable Worksheet on Simple Present Tense

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Also called the simple present tense

Download this explanation in PDF here. We need to use the Present Simple a lot in English, so it's really important to understand it well. Many students have problems with the form (or how to make it).

• If you'd prefer to learn about how to USE the Present Simple jump to this page.
• Or, click here for all the practice exercises about this tense.

Simple present tense with 'be'

Here's the positive form (positive means a normal sentence, not a negative or a question. This is sometimes called 'affirmative')

Click here to practise making the positive with 'be' . Next, here's the negative . It's very easy. You only add 'not' .

Click here to practise making the negative with 'be' . And finally let's talk about the question form of the present simple with 'be' .

Firstly, here's the 'yes / no' question form:

Click here to practise making yes / no questions with 'be' .

If you'd like to make a 'wh' question , you just put the question word at the front:

Click here to practise making 'wh' questions with 'be' .

Click here to practise making positive, negative and question forms with 'be' (exercise 1) Click here to practise making positive, negative and question forms with 'be' (exercise 2)

Present simple tense with other verbs

The positive is really easy. It's just the verb with an extra 's' if the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it'. Let's take the verb 'play' as an example:

• Don't forget the 's' ! Even really advanced students do this!
• For a few verbs, there is a spelling change before the 's' . For example, 'study' becomes 'studies' . Click here for a list of these verbs
• 'have' becomes 'has'
• 'do' becomes 'does'
• 'go' becomes 'goes'

Click here to practise making the positive form for other verbs (exercise 1) Click here to practise making the positive form for other verbs (exercise 2)

To make the negative form, you need to use 'do not' (don't) or ' does not' (doesn't).

Click here to practise making the negative (exercise 1) Click here to practise making the negative (exercise 2)

How about the question form of the present simple tense?

We use 'do' or 'does' before the subject to make the 'yes / no' question :

Click here to practise making yes / no questions .

Just like with 'be', if you'd like to make a 'wh' question , you just put the question word at the front:

Click here to practise making 'wh' questions

Mixed exercise 1 Mixed exercise 2 Mixed exercise 3 Mixed exercise 4 using both 'be' and other verbs Click here for all the exercises about this tense

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Present Simple Sentences With Examples

Published by

Olivia Drake

The Present Simple tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. It is formed using the base form of the verb, with an added “s” or “es” for the third person singular. Unlike the Present Continuous tense, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action, the Present Simple tense focuses on regular, repeated actions or facts.

The Present Simple tense in English is used to describe routines, facts, general truths, and timetabled events. The structure of a Present Simple sentence is:

Subject + Base Form of the Verb (add -s or -es for third person singular)

Let’s explore some examples to understand this better:

I walk to work every day. This sentence indicates that the speaker regularly walks to work. The action is a habitual routine.

She watches television in the evening. This example shows a regular action that occurs in the evenings. The action of watching television is a habit.

They play soccer every Saturday. This sentence describes an action that happens regularly on Saturdays. Playing soccer is a scheduled activity.

We do not go to the gym on Sundays. This sentence expresses a negative habitual action. The speaker and their companions do not go to the gym regularly on Sundays.

If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils. This is an example of the Present Simple used to state a general truth. Heating water to 100 degrees Celsius always causes it to boil.

The Present Simple is formed by using the base form of the verb. It’s crucial to use the correct form of the verb, especially for the third person singular, to maintain the tense.

Incorrect: She walk to school every day.

We can see that the Present Simple is often used to talk about actions that happen regularly, general truths, and fixed schedules.

The words “ always ,” “ usually ,” “ often ,” “ sometimes ,” “ never ,” “ every day, ” and “ on Mondays ” are commonly used with the Present Simple to add context about the frequency of the action.

Present Simple Sentence Examples

• I read books every evening. (The action of reading is a daily habit.)
• She enjoys playing the piano. (She regularly finds pleasure in playing the piano.)
• They visit their grandparents every weekend. (Visiting grandparents is a regular activity.)
• We take the bus to school. (Taking the bus is a routine action.)
• He does not eat meat. (He regularly avoids eating meat.)
• The sun rises in the east. (This is a general truth about the sun.)
• Birds fly south for the winter. (This describes a regular migratory pattern of birds.)
• Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. (A scientific fact about water.)
• The train leaves at 9 AM every day. (A fixed schedule for the train.)
• She works at a bank. (Her regular job is at a bank.)
• He speaks four languages. (A general fact about his abilities.)
• The Earth orbits the Sun. (A scientific fact about the Earth’s movement.)
• Cats like to chase mice. (A general truth about cat behavior.)
• We celebrate Christmas on December 25th. (A fixed annual event.)
• She always forgets her keys. (A habitual action expressed with a hint of annoyance.)
• They play chess every Sunday. (A regular activity on Sundays.)
• He does not drink coffee. (A regular action of not drinking coffee.)
• The store opens at 8 AM. (A fixed schedule for the store’s opening.)
• I love to travel. (A general truth about my preferences.)
• She teaches English. (Her regular job is teaching English.)

The Present Simple tense is essential for describing routines, habits, general truths, and timetabled events. Using this tense allows for clear communication about regular activities and established facts. Mastering the Present Simple helps in expressing consistent actions and universal truths effectively.

Feel free to leave comments or ask questions if you need further clarification on any of the points discussed. Happy learning!

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Simple Present Tense (Formula, Examples & Exercises)

Simple Present Tense is one of the forms of verb tenses that refers to the present time. We will see its formula and usage with examples. Let’s start with the definition!

Its formula is very simple as only base form of verb is used.

Affirmative Sentences

Negative Sentences

Interrogative Sentences

Do/does + subject + base form(V1) + object + ?

Rules / Usage

Read also: 50 Sentences of Simple Present Tense

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Present Simple tense

The Present Simple tense is the most basic tense in English and uses the base form of the verb (except for the verb be ). The only change from the base is the addition of s for third person singular.

How do we make the Present Simple tense?

There are two basic structures for the Present Simple:

1. Positive sentences

2. Negative and question sentences

Look at these examples with the main verb like :

From the above table, notice the following points...

For positive sentences:

• There is no auxiliary verb .
• We conjugate the main verb by adding s to the third person singular.

For negative and question sentences:

• The auxiliary verb (do) is conjugated in the Present Simple: do, does
• The main verb is invariable in base form: base
• For negative sentences, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
• For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.
• I do wish you'd stop.
• I do apologize.
• You do look smart today.

Present Simple with main verb be

The structure of the Present Simple with the main verb be is:

Look at these examples with the main verb be :

• There is no auxiliary verb , even for questions and negatives.
• The main verb (be) is conjugated in the Present Simple: am, are, is
• For negative sentences, we insert not after the main verb.
• For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the main verb.

How do we use the Present Simple tense?

We use the Present Simple to talk about:

• general time (action verbs)
• situations now (stative verbs)
• general time and situations now (verb be )

Present Simple for general time

We use the Present Simple tense when:

• the action is general
• the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
• the action is not only happening now
• the statement is always true

Look at these examples:

• I live in New York.
• The Moon goes round the Earth.
• John drives a taxi.
• He does not drive a bus.
• We meet every Thursday.
• We do not work at night.
• Do you play football?

Present Simple for now

For stative verbs, we can use the Present Simple to talk about now . Stative verbs do not describe action. They describe state, and are verbs such as: like, sound, belong to, need, seem . We can use these verbs with the Present Simple tense to talk about a situation at the present time, not general.

Present Simple for general time and now

The verb be is always special. It is a stative verb, and we use it in the Present Simple tense to talk about now situations and about general situations. Look at these examples of the verb be in the Present Simple tense - some are general and some are now :

Back to 12 English Tenses

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Present Simple – Forms, Examples & Practice

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To master any language, one if not the most important rule is learning how to form tenses . They form the backbone of how we express time in communication. A basic, yet fundamental tense in the English language is the Present Simple, an essential component of our language rules that is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. In this article, we will dive into the rules and usage of this tense, shedding light on how to apply it correctly in numerous contexts.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Present simple in a nutshell
• 2 Definition: Present simple
• 3 Formula of present simple active voice
• 4 Active question form of present simple
• 5 Negative question form of present simple
• 6 Formula of present simple passive voice
• 7 Indicators for present simple
• 8 Short answers in present simple
• 9 Practice exercise

Present simple in a nutshell

This tense defines actions or events that express habits, general truths, and fixed arrangements. It is the most basic tense, which makes it essential for effective communication about regular activities, timeless facts, and scheduled events.

Definition: Present simple

The present simple (also: simple present) tense is a verb tense used to describe habits, facts, fixed arrangements, and unchanging situations, such as jokes and stories. As the name already tells, it is a quite simple tense as it is formed by using the base form or infinitive of the verb . However, when using he, she, or it, a special verb conjugation is needed.

• So, I go to Eric and say “Leave me alone.”
• They always walk to the park.
• He often plays games after he finishes dinner.

Formula of present simple active voice

The present simple tense is one of the three simple tenses – which include past simple and future simple – and plays a fundamental part in the English language. This tense is characterized by its clear-cut structure that relies simply on the base form (infinitive) of verbs.

Even though it is an easily memorizable tense, pronouns or subject-verb-agreement need to be taken into account to use it correctly. The only mistake one can make when forming the present simple in active voice is to forget the additional suffix “-s,” “-es,” or “ies,” which is added to the verb when the named or unnamed subject is in third-person singular . In this section, we will explore the rules and patterns involved in creating the present simple tense for both regular and irregular verbs by providing clear examples and explanations.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs of the present simple tense in third-person singular adhere to a predictable conjugation pattern. This means that you simply add an “-s” at the end of the root form of the verb.

• She writes her a letter from jail.
• The kid plays soccer every week.
• He eats a full English breakfast.

In the table below, you can find more examples of regular verbs in third-person singular.

Irregular verbs

Most English verbs follow regular conjugation patterns, but there are a few irregular verbs that do not adhere to the standard rules. The concept of irregular verbs is more prominent in the past simple and past participle forms. However, in the present tense, the irregularities are seen in verbs that follow the following patterns:

• If the verb ends in – o , – ch , – sh , – ss , – x , or you add “-es.”
• If the verb ends in a consonant and – y , you drop the -y and add “-ies.”
• He goes to school at 8 o’clock.
• He washes his hands with soap.
• She tries very hard in school.

An example for each irregular verb pattern can be seen in the table below.

Auxiliary verbs

Primary auxiliary verbs are essential in forming various tenses and questions. They consist of “to be,” ”to have,” and “to do.” As expected, their conjugations are very different from other verbs, which also applies to the present simple tense.

Note : To emphasize something, we may use the auxiliary verb “do.” For example, instead of saying “I want to go out,” one could say “I do want to go out.” The same emphasis can also be achieved by using “really.”

We have combined all regular and irregular verbs in a PDF document that you can obtain by clicking on the download box below.

Practice worksheet

Now that you know how to form the affirmative present simple tense, it is time for your first exercise. Below, you can find ten example sentences that include regular, irregular, and auxiliary verbs in numerous contexts. Let’s test if you can get them all correct.

Practice sentences

• They ____ soccer every Thursday and then ____ a movie. (To play, to watch)
• My name ____ Hanna, and I ____  25 years old. (To be, to be)
• His dad ____ the car once a month. (To wash)
• He occasionally ____ a foam bath. (To take)
• She ____ in Munich, Germany. (To study)
• You ____ to the Bahamas every year. (To travel)
• The company ____  many birthday gifts. (To produce)
• I ____ on the roof and ____ the sunset disappear. (To go, to watch)
• I ____ we can ____ in a better world. (To believe, to live)
• This ____  my new dog. You can ____ him if you ____ . (To be, to pet, to want)
• They play soccer every Thursday and then watch a movie. (To play, to watch)
• My name is Hanna, and I am 25 years old. (To be, to be)
• His dad washes the car once a month. (To wash)
• He occasionally takes a foam bath. (To take)
• She studies in Munich, Germany. (To study)
• You travel to the Bahamas every year. (To travel)
• The company produces many birthday gifts. (To produce)
• I go on the roof and watch the sunset disappear. (To go, to watch)
• I believe we can live in a better world. (To believe, to live)
• This is my new dog. You can pet him if you like . (To be, to pet, to want)

Active question form of present simple

To form yes or no questions in the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does,” with the latter being used with the third-person singular. It is then followed by the subject, the base form of the main verb, and a question mark .

Do/Does + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Note : One-word time expressions, such as “always,” “often,” and “usually” may be added between the subject and the verb.

Questions with question words

When a simple yes or no is not enough, we use question words that require more elaboration in their answers. Those question words are: what, where, when, why, who, how, how many, and how much. They are then followed by “do” or “does,” the subject, and the base form of the main verb.

Question word + do/does + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

• What do you need ?
• How much does the printed and bound thesis cost ?
• Why does he hate you?
• When do we want to go?

Negative question form of present simple

Negative questions in the present simple tense can be formed in two ways:

• Using “do not/does not” or its contraction “don’t/doesn’t.”
• Inverting the subject and auxiliary verb “do/does.”

Don’t/Doesn’t + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Do/Does + subject + not + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

The first question structure of present simple with the apostrophe is regularly used in spoken English and informal writing. It can convey slight surprise or a need for confirmation of something the speaker believes to be true or is uncertain about.

The second question structure of present simple tends to be a bit more formal and is often found in written English. It emphasizes the negative aspect more clearly, which is often used to indicate disbelief or surprise.

Note : The time expression “ever” may be added directly after the subject.

Negative questions with question words

When forming negative questions with question words in the present simple tense, the structure is the same, as you use “don’t/doesn’t” and the root form of the main verb.

Below, we have provided an image that contains the structures of the present simple active voice.

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Formula of present simple passive voice

Now that we have explained the structure of present simple’s active voice in the previous paragraphs , it is time to talk about the formula of its passive voice. Passive is used when the focus is on the action rather than on the doer of the action. It is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb “to be” in its present simple form and the past participle (3 rd past form) of the main verb. When people are involved in a passive sentence, we use the agent “by” to show the subject of the action. Unlike with active voice, the object in a sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Interrogative

Negative interrogative.

Subject + am/is/are + past participle + (by agent) + object.

• The book is read by many people.
• The cake is eaten by me.
• Emails are sent every day.

Subject + isn’t/aren’t + past participle + (by agent) + object.

Subject + am/is/are + not + past participle + (by agent) + object.

• The book is not read by many people.
• The cake isn’t eaten by me.
• Emails are not sent every day.

Am/Is/Are + subject + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

• Is the book read by many people?
• Is the cake eaten by me?
• Are the emails sent every day?

Isn’t/Aren’t + subject + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

Am/Is/Are + subject + not + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

• Is the book not read by many people?
• Is the cake not eaten by me?
• Aren’t the emails sent every day?

Note : There is no contraction for the first-person pronoun “I.” Therefore, English speakers use “aren’t” in informal contexts, e.g., “Aren’t I funny?”. However, for academic writing and other formal contexts, this is not acceptable, thus using “am not” is the preferred choice.

Below, you can find an image that summarizes the formula of the present simple passive voice.

Indicators for present simple

The English language has many tenses and for each one there are time expressions that simplify figuring out which tense to use. Here are common indicators for the present simple tense, along with numerous examples.

Adverbs of frequency

They provide information about the regularity or repetition of actions and are commonly used with the present simple tense to indicate habitual or regular actions. They include words like always, usually, frequently, rarely, never, etc.

• She always drinks tea in the morning.
• They often visit their grandparents.
• He never eats fast food.

Daily/Weekly/Monthly activities

Refers to regular activities that are daily/weekly/monthly.

• I go jogging every two days .
• They meet every week .
• She cleans her room every month .

Specific days

Refers to specific days when habitual actions take place.

• We go to the market on Saturdays .
• He attends yoga classes on Thursdays .
• They have a picnic on Sundays .

Short answers in present simple

Short answers in the present simple tense are concise responses that either confirm or deny the occurrence of an action or state, typically using auxiliary verbs. Here is how to form short answers in present simple, along with examples.

Active voice

A: Are you okay?

• Yes, I am .
• No, I am not .

A: Does she play the piano?

• Yes, she does .
• No, she doesn’t .

A: Do you have a car?

• Yes, I have .
• No, I have not .

Passive voice

A: Is the room cleaned by the staff?

• Yes, it is .
• No, it is not .

A: Are the reports written by Gina?

• Yes, they are .
• No, they aren’t .

A: Is the cat fed by you?

Practice exercise

To wrap up this article, you can fill in the gaps for this last practice exercise. The correct answers for present simple conjugations are provided in the second tab. Mastering English tenses can be challenging, so have fun and don’t worry if you don’t get every correct the first time.

• The cake _____ my mom every Sunday. (To bake, passive)
• _____ she _____ the meeting regularly? (To attend, interrogative)
• The house _____  the maid every Monday. (To clean, passive)
• They _____ English every evening. (To study, active)
• The car _____  the mechanic twice a year. (To Service, passive)
• _____ you _____ your grandparents often? (To visit, interrogative)
• The project _____  on time by the team. (To complete, passive)
• He _____ the newspaper every morning. (To read, active)
• _____ the room _____ for the guests? (To prepare, interrogative)
• We _____ movies every Friday night. (To watch, active)
• The cake is baked by my mom every Sunday. (To bake, passive)
• Does she attend the meeting regularly? (To attend, interrogative)
• The house is cleaned by the maid every Monday. (To clean, passive)
• They study English every evening. (To study, active)
• The car is serviced by the mechanic twice a year. (To Service, passive)
• Do you visit your grandparents often? (To visit, interrogative)
• The project is completed on time by the team. (To complete, passive)
• He reads the newspaper every morning. (To read, active)
• Is the room prepared for the guests? (To prepare, interrogative)
• We watch movies every Friday night. (To watch, active)

What is a present simple example?

An example for present simple is the following:

• She walks to school every day.

What is the present simple form?

The present simple form of a verb consists of the base form (infinitive) for all subjects except the third-person singular, which typically adds an “-s,” “-es,” or “-ies” to the base form. For example:

• He walk s .
• He cr ies .

What are 10 examples of simple present tense?

• She reads books in the evening.
• They play tennis on weekends.
• He works at a bank.
• We go to the gym every morning.
• The sun rises in the east.
• I drink coffee every morning.
• It rains a lot in April.
• She teaches English.
• They live in New York.
• He studies  French.

What is the rule for present simple?

The rule for present simple is to use the base form of the verb for all subjects, except the third-person singular (he, she, it), which adds an “-s,“ “-es,” or “-ies” to the base form. This tense is used to express habitual actions, general truths, fixed arrangements, and scheduled events.

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Present simple ( I work )

Present simple: form.

We use the base form of the verb, and add -s for the third person singular.

Present simple: spelling

For most verbs we add -s to the base form to make the she, he, it (third person singular) form:

For other verbs, the spelling changes are:

When the verb ends in -s or -z we double the -s or -z and add -es , e.g. quiz , quizzes . These verbs are not common.

Present simple: uses

General truths and facts.

We use the present simple to talk about general facts that are always true and permanent about the world:

Ten times ten makes one hundred. (10 x 10 = 100)

There is always a holiday on the last Monday in August in the UK.

Time passes very quickly when you get older.

We use the present simple to talk about general facts that we think are true and permanent at the present time:

I really love my job.

Mrs Clare doesn’t teach me but she teaches my sister.

Do you live in Glasgow? My cousin lives there too.

Spiders don’t frighten me.

Martha does what she wants . No one tells her what to do.

Regular and habitual events

We use the present simple to talk about regular or habitual events. We often use always, often, usually, sometimes, never and other frequency adverbs for regular and habitual events:

How do you get to work? Do you get the bus?

I read every night before I go to sleep.

We always have a holiday in the summer. We never work in August.

We usually fly to France when we go. Lorea doesn’t like the ferry. It makes her feel sick.

Instructions and directions

We use the present simple when we are giving instructions or directions. We often use ordering words, such as and , first and then with this use of the present simple:

[giving directions]

You take the train into the city centre and then you take a number five bus. You don’t get off at the museum. You get off at the stop after the museum.

[giving instructions before a test]

So what you do is … you read the questions first and then you write down your answers in the box. You don’t write on the question paper.

Stories and commentaries

We often use the present simple to describe a series of actions – one action after another. We see this especially in stories, summaries of stories or reviews:

[talking about the series of events in a novel]

Alex doesn’t ring back at midnight … she waits till the morning to ring, and they get annoyed with Liz when she goes on … they know she ’s got plenty of money by their standards …

The present simple is often used by sports commentators to give commentaries or report actions as they are happening:

Mwaruwauri Benjani fouls Cahill. Habsi takes the free kick, Caicedo shoots and volleys . O’Brien blocks .

Immediate reactions

We use the present simple, often with verbs of senses and perception, to talk about feelings and reactions at the moment of speaking:

Do you think that meat is ok to eat? It doesn’t smell very good.

Where does it hurt ?

[talking about the colour of a dress]

I don’t like the colour. I think I look terrible.

It seems a bit quiet in here. Where is everyone?

Don’t you believe me? It’s true, honestly.

I promise , I swear , I agree (speech act verbs)

We use the present simple with speech act verbs (verbs which perform the act that they describe):

I will pay you back, I promise , when I get paid.

I agree with everything you say.

We also use the present simple in a similar way in formal statements and in business or legal communications:

I attach the original signed copies for your records.

On behalf of the Society, and particularly those involved in medical work, I write to thank you for your kind gift of £20,000 … (more formal than I’m writing to thank you … )

Timetables and plans

We use the present simple to talk about events that are part of a future plan or timetable:

The lesson starts at 9.30 tomorrow instead of 10.30.

Lunch is at 12.30. Don’t be late.

What time do you land ? (talking about a flight at some time in the future)

They don’t start back to school until next Monday.

We can also often use will in these sentences, with no change in meaning:

The lesson will start at 9.30 tomorrow instead of 10.30.

Future: present simple to talk about the future ( I work tomorrow )

Present simple after when , before , etc.

We use the present simple for future reference in subordinate clauses after words like when , before , as soon as , if and whether :

I’ll call you when I get there.

Not: I’ll call you when I’ll get there .

Don’t forget to ring before you go .

Not: Don’t forget to ring before you’ll go .

They hope to move in to the new house as soon as they get back from Australia next month.

Not: … as soon as they’ll get back from Australia next month .

Conditionals

Newspaper headlines

We often see the present simple in news headlines to report past events. It emphasises the drama or immediacy of an event:

Man rescues child from lake

Taiwanese envoys arrive in China

Word of the Day

play truant

to be regularly absent from school without permission

It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)

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Simple Present or Present Progressive in English Grammar

Simple present vs. present progressive, when to use simple present and present progressive, signal words: simple present vs. present progressive, simple present signal words, present progressive signal words, verbs that are not used in the present progressive, conjugation.

• Exercises – Simple Present – Present Progressive

We use the simple present and the present progressive to talk about things that take place in the present

The simple present is used for facts, permanent states, regularly occurring actions and as a narrative form for stories that take place in the present.

The present progressive is used for temporary actions and to describe what is happening at the moment of speaking.

Compare the use of the simple present and present progressive tenses in English grammar with Lingolia. Practise using these tenses in the interactive exercises.

The Smiths are going on holiday. They usually go on holiday by train. They take a taxi to the station, check the timetable and get on the train.

At the moment, they are standing in front of the timetable. The train departs at 15:12 and arrives in Brighton at 16:45.

At 6pm the Smiths are meeting Ben’s aunt in Brighton. She studies law in London, but she is working as a waitress in Brighton during the summer holiday.

The table below provides an overview of the differences between the English simple present and present progressive tenses.

Signal words can help us to recognise which tense to use in a sentence. Below is a list of signal words for the simple present and present progressive tenses.

The following verbs are not generally used in a progressive form.

• stative verbs be*, cost, fit, mean, remain, suit Example: They are on holiday.
• verbs that show possession/belonging belong, have* Example: The luggage belongs to the family.
• verbs of sensation feel*, hear, see*, smell*, taste*, touch Example: They hear the loudspeaker announcement.
• verbs that express emotions hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Ben loves going by train.
• verbs of thought and recognition believe, know, realise, recognise, seem, think*, understand Example: He knows where they have to get off the train.
• clauses accompanying direct speech answer, ask, reply, say Example: “We must hurry to get the train”, Ben’s father says .

*change of meaning

Some stative verbs also have a progressive form, but the meaning of the progressive form is sightly different.

For information on the conjugation of these two tenses, see:

• Simple Present
• Present Progressive

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Short Stories in Simple Present Tense

Reading short stories in simple present tense is an important part of learning English for many good reasons. It helps to improve vocabulary and grammar skills of ESL students. Also short stories often contain a variety of words and sentence structures, providing a good opportunity for language learners to practice using them in context.

Mary and the Magical Forest  (293 Words)

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Mary. She lives in a small village with her parents and brother. Mary is a kind and hardworking girl. Every day, she wakes up early and helps her parents in the farm. In the afternoon, she goes to school to learn and play with her friends.

One day, Mary hears that there is a magical forest near her village. She wants to explore the forest, so she asks her parents for permission. Her parents allow her to go, but they warn her to be careful.

Mary starts her journey and soon reaches the entrance of the forest. As she walks deeper into the forest, she sees many beautiful trees and animals. She also sees a small house in the distance. She walks towards the house and sees an old woman sitting outside.

The old woman greets Mary and asks her why she is in the forest. Mary explains that she heard about the magical forest and wanted to explore it. The old woman tells her that she is a fairy and that the forest is indeed magical. She gives Mary a magical flower and tells her that if she ever needs help, she just has to hold the flower and the fairy will appear.

Mary thanks the fairy and continues her journey. She spends the whole day exploring the forest and having fun. When she returns home, her parents are very happy to see her. They ask her about her adventure and Mary tells them everything.

From that day on, Mary visits the forest often and makes many new friends. She always holds the magical flower and knows that the fairy will always be there to help her. And she lives happily ever after.

Check Also: Present Simple Tense Examples, Short Story (PDF) ✅ Simple Past Tense Exercises (Short Story PDF) Future Tense Exercise Short Stories 20+ Example Sentences in Simple Present Tense

Treasure Map (260 Words)

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Tom. He lives in a small village with his family. Tom is a curious boy and loves to explore the world around him. Every day, he wakes up early and goes for a walk in the countryside.

One day, Tom finds a mysterious map in his grandmother’s room. The map shows the location of a hidden treasure. Tom is very excited and decides to begin an adventure to find the treasure.

He packs his backpack with food and water and starts his journey. He walks for hours and finally reaches the location marked on the map. There, he finds a cave. He enters the cave and soon finds himself in a dark tunnel.

Tom is not afraid. He takes out his flashlight and continues walking. He walks for a while and then he sees a light in the distance. He runs towards the light and finds a big room with a treasure chest in the center.

Tom opens the chest and finds a lot of gold and jewels. He is very happy and decides to take some of the treasure back to his village. He fills his backpack with as much treasure as he can carry and sets off back home.

When Tom returns to his village, he gives the treasure to his family. They are very happy and proud of him. From that day on, Tom becomes famous in the village and is loved by everyone. He continues to have many adventures and always looks for new challenges to explore.

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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

• Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
• Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
• Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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| | --> by vivile189 , | Views: 65,886 | Level: , , | 5 out of 5, rated by 3 teachers | ! Click this link & select your corrected file. Once we've received your revision, we'll review it and publish here, replacing the original worksheet."> Found a mistake? ' + ' Your revised worksheet '+file.name+' has been uploaded successfully and will be moderated shortly. Thank you! ' + '' + ' ' + ''; $(notice).purr({usingTransparentPNG:true,removeTimer:4000/*,isSticky:true*/}); } }); uploader.bind('Error', function(up, err) { var notice = ' ' + ' '+(err.file ? 'File: '+err.file.name+' ' : '')+err.message+' ' + '' + ' ' + ''; $(notice).purr({usingTransparentPNG:true,removeTimer:4000/*,isSticky:true*/}); $('#fileupload .progress').css('display', 'none'); // $('#fileupload .progress .bar').css('width', '100%'); $('#fileupload-browser').css('display', 'block'); up.refresh(); // Reposition Flash/Silverlight }); }); Copyright 2007-2021 пїЅ Submit a worksheet Mobile version 160 COMMENTS Simple Present Tense Present simple vs. present continuous. While the present simple is typically used to refer to habits, states, and facts, the present continuous is used to describe a temporary action that is currently taking place.. Examples: Present simple vs. present continuous Justin eats. dinner at 6 p.m. every day.. [describing a habit] Justin is eating dinner right now. . [describing a temporary action ... Simple Present Tense (Present Indefinite) Grammarly. Updated on April 11, 2023 Grammar. The simple present is a verb tense with two main uses. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it's sometimes called present indefinite). Depending on the person, the simple present tense is formed by using ... The Writing Center This handout provides the overview of three tenses that are usually found in academic writing. Background. There are three tenses that make up 98% of the tensed verbs used in academic writing. The most common tense is present simple, followed by past simple and present perfect. These tenses can be used both in passive and active voice. Verb Tenses in Academic Writing There are three main verb tenses: past , present , and future. In English, each of these tenses can take four main aspects: simple , perfect , continuous (also known as progressive ), and perfect continuous. The perfect aspect is formed using the verb to have, while the continuous aspect is formed using the verb to be. Simple Present Tense: Explanation and Examples The simple present tense is an English verb tense used to describe facts and habits, to describe scheduled events in the future, and to tell stories. Here are two easy examples of each usage: (1) Simple present tense to describe facts and habits. Alan walks the dog every morning.; He plays chess. (2) Simple present tense to describe scheduled events in the future. Verb Tenses The present simple, past simple, and present perfect verb tenses account for approximately 80% of verb tense use in academic writing. This handout will help you understand how to use these three verb tenses in your own academic writing. Click here for a color-coded illustration of changing verb tenses in academic writing. Present Simple Tense (Simple Present): Definition, Rules and ... First Person: I mix/We mix. Second Person: You mix. Third Person: He mixes/They mix. The simple present tense can combine with phrases like "every Tuesday," "always," "usually," and "twice a month.". You can make this tense negative or use it in questions. This flexibility helps express complex ideas. Present Simple Tense Example & Exercises (Free PDF) In the present simple tense, you add "s" to the base form of the verb when the subject is a singular third person (he, she, it). Here are the rules: For most verbs, simply add "s": He works at a bank. She runs every morning. It seems fine. For verbs ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add "es": He misses the bus. Simple Present Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage The Simple Present Tense is used for giving directions or instructions, especially in recipes or manuals. Examples: First, you mix the ingredients together. ( Instruction) Open the book to page 10. ( Direction) Mix the ingredients in a bowl. ( Instruction) Turn left at the next intersection. The Present Simple Tense Present simple tense with other verbs. With all other verbs, we make the present simple in the same way. The positive is really easy. It's just the verb with an extra 's' if the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it'. Let's take the verb 'play' as an example: Positive (of 'play') I play. you play. 20 Examples of Present Simple Sentences The Present Simple tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. It is formed using the base form of the verb, with an added "s" or "es" for the third person singular. Unlike the Present Continuous tense, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action, the Present Simple tense focuses on regular ... Present Simple Tense The simple present tense. does not. refer to actions that are happening right now (. is running. ). For some verbs, the third-person singular ends with -es instead of -s. Generally, these verbs end with o, ch, gh, gh, zh, th, ss, and z. Third-person singular (go, touch): She goes. She touches. Writing in the Present Tense To form present perfect continuous verbs, we must use either "has" or "have" followed by the past participle "been" and the main verb ending in "-ing.". Examples: (singular subject) Matt has been writing his thesis paper since last month. (plural subject) The kids have been playing in the rain for about an hour now. Simple Present Tense (Formula, Examples & Exercises) Simple present tense also called present indefinite tense, is used to express general statements and describe usual or habitual actions. In simple words, we can say that the simple present tense is used to describe routine acts. Formula. Its formula is very simple as only base form of verb is used. Present Simple tense (with example sentences) Present Simple for general time and now. The verb be is always special. It is a stative verb, and we use it in the Present Simple tense to talk about now situations and about general situations. Look at these examples of the verb be in the Present Simple tense - some are general and some are now: I am not fat. Present Simple ~ Forms, Examples & Practice The present simple (also: simple present) tense is a verb tense used to describe habits, facts, fixed arrangements, and unchanging situations, such as jokes and stories. As the name already tells, it is a quite simple tense as it is formed by using the base form or infinitive of the verb . Present simple ( I work ) Present simple ( I work ) - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Simple Present or Present Progressive in English Grammar The present simple is used for permanent actions, to describe daily events, facts or as a narrative form. The present progressive is used for temporary actions and to describe what is happening at the current moment. Compare the usage of the simple present and present progressive in English grammar online with Lingolia. In the free exercises, you can put your knowledge to the test. How to Structure an Essay The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay. General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body. The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis. Short Stories in Simple Present Tense Treasure Map (260 Words) Once upon a time, there was a boy named Tom. He lives in a small village with his family. Tom is a curious boy and loves to explore the world around him. Every day, he wakes up early and goes for a walk in the countryside. One day, Tom finds a mysterious map in his grandmother's room. The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay Come up with a thesis. Create an essay outline. Write the introduction. Write the main body, organized into paragraphs. Write the conclusion. Evaluate the overall organization. Revise the content of each paragraph. Proofread your essay or use a Grammar Checker for language errors. Use a plagiarism checker. Writing Practice Use the simple present tense. Try to use the following phrases and structures. Write at least 100 words." This is a simple exercise to help your students practice writing using the simple present tense. It can be adjusted to include the targeted vocabulary or expressions that they have learned.&. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis