Present Simple – Routines

Hook

“I get up at seven. My sister works in a bank. We don’t work on Sundays.” When you talk about your routine, habits and facts that are always true, you use the present simple. It is the most common tense in everyday English.

Notice

  • I get up at 7 am. He gets up at 6 am.
  • We eat breakfast at 8. She eats breakfast at 7:30.
  • My brother studies at night. He watches TV after dinner.
  • I don’t drink coffee. She doesn’t drink tea.
  • Do you work? — Yes, I do. Does he live here? — No, he doesn’t.

What happens to the verb after he, she and it?

Rule

I / you / we / theyhe / she / it
PositiveI work.She works.
NegativeI don’t work.She doesn’t work.
QuestionDo you work?Does she work?
Short answerYes, I do. / No, I don’t.Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.

Spelling for he/she/it: most verbs + s (works, plays) · -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o + es (watches, washes, goes, does) · consonant + y → ies (study → studies) · have → has.

After doesn’t and does, the verb has no -s: She doesn’t work. Does he play?

Daily routine verbs: get up · have a shower · get dressed · have breakfast · go to work/school · start/finish work · have lunch · come home · cook dinner · watch TV · go to bed.

Watch Out

  • ✗ She work in a bank. → ✓ She works in a bank. (he/she/it + s)
  • ✗ He doesn’t works. → ✓ He doesn’t work. (no -s after doesn’t)
  • ✗ Do she like tea? → ✓ Does she like tea?
  • ✗ He haves a car. → ✓ He has a car.

Practice

  1. She ___ (work) in a hospital.
  2. I ___ (not/like) coffee.
  3. ___ he ___ (speak) English?
  4. They ___ (study) every evening.
  5. My father ___ (watch) the news at 9.
  6. Tom ___ (not/have) a car.
  7. Short answer: “Do you live near here?” (yes)
  8. He-form of go and study
Show the answers
  1. works
  2. don’t like
  3. Does… speak
  4. study
  5. watches
  6. doesn’t have
  7. Yes, I do.
  8. goes, studies

Your Turn

Write six sentences about your daily routine, from morning to night. Then write four sentences about the routine of someone in your family, using he or she. Check every -s!

Connect

Our Grammar Quiz has present simple questions at A1, with an explanation for each answer.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

Find and fix mistakes like “She work in a bank” in our Error Correction tool.

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CEFR A1 — Spoken Production: I can describe my daily routine and habits in simple sentences.

Azizul Hakim
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