Present Indefinition Tense Rules & Examples

Present Indefinite Tense

In this blog, you will learn Present Indefinite Tense or Simple Present Tense rules with detailed examples.

Present Indefinite Tense Rules Chart:

Affirmative Sentences: Subject+ V1(s/es) + Object

Examples: He respects my family.

Negative Sentences: Subject+ do/does+ not +V1 + Object

Examples: He doesn’t respect my family.

Interrogative Sentences: Do/Does + subject + V1 + Object

Examples: Does he respect my family?

Present Indefinite Tense Formula and examples:

            Rule: 1st form of the verb +s /es

In the simple present tense, we use 1st form of the verb in affirmative sentences. We also add ‘s’ or ‘es’ with the verb, but that depends entirely on whether we use 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person. So, first, we need to understand this concept in detail.

To learn simple present tense, follow these steps:

Step 1: Learn singular and plural in the 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person.

Third-person singular also includes the name of individuals. Consider the following examples of Present Indefinite Tense.

• • Sumit speaks English.

• • Riya works in a school.

• • My father drives a car.

• • Her sister washes clothes.

• • Mohit cleans the room.

The third-person plural also includes the name of individuals. Consider the following examples:

• • Riya and Mohit cook delicious food.

• • My friends sing badly.

• • His cousins play volleyball.

• • My friend’s daughters write poems.

• • His sons drink wine.

Step 2: Learn which verb takes ‘s’ or which verb takes ‘es’

      1. We add -es in the third person for verbs that end in- O.

• • go – goes

• • undergo- undergoes

• • do –does

2. We add- es in the third person for verbs that end in CH and SH.

• • catch – catches

• • watch – watches

• • attach – attaches

• • wash –    washes

• • push – pushes

3. We add- es in the third person for verbs that end in SS and X.

• • pass – passes

• • cross- crosses

• • dress- dresses

• • mix – mixes

• • fix – fixes

4. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -ies

• • cry – cries

• • fry – fries

• • study – studies

5. For verbs that end in ‘a’ vowel + Y, we add -S.

• • stay – stays

• • pray – prays

• • betray- betrays

Step 3: Learn where you can use this tense

Present Indefinite Tense definition and examples:

The simple present tense in English describes a regular, actual or normal action.

Present Indefinite Tense (Affirmative sentences)

Present Indefinite Tense Uses:

    1. For Universal Truth:

• • The Earth revolves around the sun.

• • The sun rises in the east.

• • The Ganga rises in the Himalayas.

2. For General Truth:

• • Fortune favours the brave.

• • Honesty is the best policy.

• • All that glitters is not gold.

• • Work is worship.

          3. For Habitual Action and Regular Action:

• • My mother gets up early every day.

• • Riyal takes meals twice a day.

• • We travel to our Grandparents’ house every weekend.

• • I talk to my mother on the phone for 1 hour during the weekend.

• • He keeps his promises.

• • She always quarrels over trifles.

          4. For Actual Present:

• • I completely understand what you say.

• • My father works in a bank.

• • She owns a manufacturing unit.

• • Meera has beautiful eyes.

• • Aishwarya Rai is gorgeous.

Present Indefinite Tense Negative Sentences Rule or Structure

Rule 1: do not / does not + 1st form of the verb

While using doesn’t with third-person singular He / She / It, you should not put ‘s’ or ‘es’ with the main verb as it consists of “es.”

Present Indefinite Tense Negative Example Sentences :

Third-person singular:

• • Riya doesn’t work in a school.

• • Sumit doesn’t speak English.

• • My father doesn’t drive a car.

• • Her sister doesn’t wash clothes.

• • Mohit doesn’t clean the room.

Third-person plural: 

• • Riya and Mohit don’t cook delicious food.

• • My friends don’t sing badly.

• • His cousins don’t play volleyball.

• • My friend’s daughters don’t write poems.

• • His sons don’t drink wine.

Next:

A contraction is a word made by shortening and combining two words and using an apostrophe. Words like:

can’t (can + not)

don’t (do + not)

I’ve (I + have)

How to use contractions in Simple Present Tense?

    Subject + don’t + verb

    Subject + doesn’t + verb

But, we generally use contractions while writing and speaking in English.

Contractions don’t change the meaning of a sentence. They are generally used while speaking in English and help you sound more fluent.

do not = don’t

      does not = doesn’t

He does not like Pasta. = He doesn’t like Pasta.

I do not like Pasta = I don’t like Pasta.

If you are at a beginner level, you can speak, do not, or does not, but if you are at an intermediate level, use don’t and doesn’t as you will sound more fluent.

I do not play football. = Beginner Level

I don’t play football. = Intermediate Level

Let’s discuss how to change an Affirmative sentence to a negative sentence?

Affirmative: I speak Italian.
Negative:    I don’t speak Italian.

Affirmative: My mother cooks delicious food.

Negative:     My mother doesn’t cook delicious food.

Affirmative: She lives in this house.

Negative:     She doesn’t live in this house.

Affirmative: My friends play basketball in school.

Negative:      My friends don’t play basketball in school.

Present Indefinite Tense Interrogative Example Sentences:

Rule: Auxiliary verb + Subject + main verb + object

Rule:  Do + children+ study + at home?

Affirmative:  I speak Italian.
Negative:   I don’t speak Italian.

Interrogative: Do I speak Italian?

Affirmative: My mother cooks delicious food.

Negative:      My mother doesn’t cook delicious food.

Interrogative: Does my mother cook delicious food?

Affirmative:  She lives in this house.

Negative:      She doesn’t live in this house.

Interrogative: Does she live in this house?

Affirmative: My friends play basketball in school.

Negative:      My friends don’t play basketball in school.

Interrogative:  Do my friends play basketball in school?

For related topics visit our Grammar Page.

Noun

Pronoun

Adjective

Adverb