Tenses rules + exercises
PART 1: THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
1 Examples: (affirmative; third person singular: he, she, it)
He boxes twice a year.
She passes all her examinations, as she is a hard-working
student.
It finishes at seven o’clock.
She watches television every day.
Gabriel goes to Libya once a month.
A bee buzzes.
When a verb ends in a sibilant sound (-ch, -sh, -ss, -x or -zz)
or -o, we add -es to this verb.
a My adopted child (do) a bit of everything. He’s very smart.
b My neighbour normally (fish) here.
c Joseph (teach) Semitic languages.
d He never (mix) business with pleasure.
e Mark (miss) her.
2 Examples: (affirmative; third person singular: he, she, it)
He plays cricket very well. (vowel + y)
She fries eggs every day. (consonant + y→i + es)
If -y is preceded by a vowel, we add only an -s to the verb;
if it is preceded by a consonant, we change from y to i, and
add -es.
a Michelle (fly) off the handle very easily.
b Hilda (rely) on you.
c He (say) that he is proud of you.
d Raphael (enjoy) science fiction movies.
e He (study) the fine arts.
3 Examples: (affirmative; third person singular: he, she, it)
He sells fruit and vegetables.
My dog barks a lot.
With any other endings than the ones previously seen, we add
only an -s in the third person singular.
a Delia (water) her roses now and again.
b He never (raise) his voice.
c My clock always (run) down at three o’clock.
d She (blow) her top almost every day.
e My bedroom (look) out on the courtyard.
4 Examples: (affirmative; all the persons, but the third
person singular)
I feel like having an ice-cream.
They know of somebody who can cure her illness.
The -s or -es is only added in the third person singular.
a I (want) to get to know Robin.
b We always (mistake) Kevin for Malcolm, as they (look) exactly
the same.
c My tenants always (treat) me very well.
d I (reckon) that she is a career girl.
e They (disapprove) of her behaviour.
5 Revision exercise.
a Every time I (go) abroad, people take me for an Englishman,
as my English is very good.
b Mildred (get) angry about little things. She always (make)
a mountain out of a molehill.
c If you (keep) on burning the candle at both ends, you’ll die of
a heart attack.
d Time (fly).
e You (need) more freedom. You should live on your own.
f I’ll wait for her until the morning (come).
g News (spread) like wildfire in this town, you’d better run
away from the Mafia, or you’ll be killed.
h This hen (lay) very tasty eggs.
i Whenever she (see) him, she (kiss) him.
j Time (go) by very quickly.
k ‘The early bird (catch) the worm,’ she said.
l This sweater (cost) an arm and a leg.
m These new products (sell) like hot cakes.
n Every time he (get) angry, he (slam) the door.
o She (wish) to join the club.
p They (hate) gossiping.
q Lucy (annoy) me from time to time.
r I (propose) a toast.
s We (tease) our neighbours every now and then.
t My mistress never (call) me bad names.
u Pepper (upset) me.
v I (think) this word (convey) the idea of pain.
w ‘Money (talk)!’ she exclaimed.
x My adoptive parents (belong) to a sect. I’m always trying to
persuade them to abandon it, but they always (tell) me that
they can’t.
y This chap is very brave. Nothing (scare) him.
z She (say) that she (need) some fresh air.
6 Examples: (negative; third person singular: he, she, it)
She writes letters now and then. (affirmative)
She does not/doesn’t write letters now and then. (negative)
He fries eggs very well. (affirmative)
He does not/doesn’t fry eggs very well. (negative)
Philip pays us a visit every day. (affirmative)
Philip does not/doesn’t pay us a visit every day. (negative)
This jersey washes well. (affirmative)
This jersey does not/doesn’t wash well. (negative)
As you can see in the examples, the -s or -es is dropped when
we use does.
a She (not praise) anybody.
b It (not rain) here very often.
c Sebastian (not avoid) talking to people, but he’s always very
busy, and (not have) time to talk to anybody. I think he ought
to slow down, but he (not want) to.
d My cousin (not collect) stamps.
e She usually2 (not buy) a single ticket, but a return one.
7 Examples: (negative; all the persons, but the third person
singular)
I hate ants (affirmative)
I do not/don’t hate ants. (negative)
They usually read fairy-tales. (affirmative)
They do not/don’t usually read fairy-tales. (negative)
a They usually (not show) anything good on television.
b Yes, my brothers are policemen, but they (not carry) handcuffs.
c They (not show) any trace of remorse.
d My travelling companions (not tell) bawdy jokes.
e They say that they (not dream) at night.
8 Examples: (interrogative; third person singular: he, she, it)
He regrets going to that island. (affirmative)
Does he regret going to that island? (interrogative)
Does he not/Doesn’t he regret going to that
island? (negative interrogative)
She generally stays at home during the week. (affirmative)
Does she generally stay at home during the week?
(interrogative)
Does she not/Doesn’t she generally stay at home during the
week? (negative interrogative)
This iron goes rusty very easily. (affirmative)
Does this iron go rusty very easily? (interrogative)
Does this iron not/Doesn’t this iron go rusty very
easily? (negative interrogative)
Martha usually carries a bag. (affirmative)
Does Martha usually carry a bag? (interrogative)
Does Martha not/Doesn’t Martha usually carry a bag?
(negative interrogative)
When we use does, the -s or -es is left out, that is, we use
an infinitive.
a He (call) a spade a spade?
b She (make) benches?
c It (snow) in your country?
d He (have) a severe illness?
e He (not rule3) the country any more?
9 Examples: (interrogative; all the persons, but the third person
singular)
They fear death. (affirmative)
Do they fear death? (interrogative)
Do they not/Don’t they fear death? (negative interrogative)
We need more labour force. (affirmative)
Do we need more labour force? (interrogative)
Do we not/Don’t we need more labour force? (negative
interrogative)
a They (wish) to demolish the entire church?
b You (have) many amenities in your town?
c Your parents (defend) human rights?
d You (fancy) fish and chips?
e They (not use4) underwear?