Present
Simple present for habits and facts; he/she/it + s/es.
Present
Simple Present Tense
What you'll learn
- Use simple present for habits, routines, and general facts.
- Add -s/-es with he, she, it and singular nouns.
- Form negatives with do not/does not and questions with Do/Does.
- Spot signal words: every day, always, usually, often, never.
Key concepts
Level 1 — Form
I/You/We/They + base verb → I play cricket, They eat mangoes.
He/She/It + verb + s/es → She plays, Ravi goes to school.
Level 2 — Uses
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Habit | Priya brushes her teeth twice a day. |
| Fact | The Sun rises in the east. |
| Routine | School starts at 8 a.m. in Mumbai. |
| Timetable | The train leaves at 6 p.m. (fixed schedule) |
Level 3 — Spelling rules
- Most verbs: add -s (reads, walks).
- -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o: add -es (watches, goes).
- Consonant + y → -ies (carries, studies).
Level 4 — Negative and questions
- She does not (doesn't) like bitter gourd.
- Do you play kabaddi? Does he study Hindi?
NCERT anchor: Marigold 4 (CBSE English reader); CBSE Class 4 grammar — daily routines and habits
Worked example
Fill in: My sister ___ (read) storybooks every night.
Step 1 — Subject = **My sister** (she, 3rd person singular).
Step 2 — **Every night** → habit → simple present.
Step 3 — read + s = **reads**.
Answer: My sister **reads** storybooks every night.
Make negative: He likes mango lassi.
Step 1 — He → use **does not**.
Step 2 — Base verb after doesn't: **like**.
Answer: He **doesn't like** mango lassi.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| He play football every day | Forgetting -s with he/she/it | He plays football every day |
| She is go to school daily | Mixing present continuous with habit | She goes to school daily (simple present) |
| Do she like tea? | Wrong auxiliary Do/Does | Does she like tea? |
| I plays cricket | Adding -s with I | I play cricket (-s only for he/she/it) |
Quick check
- Complete: Birds ___ (fly) in the sky.
- Fix: He play cricket. → ?
- Make a question: She eats idli. → ?
- Stretch: Rewrite in simple present: 'Ravi went to the park yesterday.' → wrong tense! Write a correct habit sentence about Ravi and the park instead.
Revision tip: List five daily habits and write each in simple present — underline the verb ending for he/she/it.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Simple Present Tense.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
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