Module 1 · Verb Tenses
Simple Present
Step 1
Quick Look
The Simple Present describes habits, routines, facts, and permanent situations. It is the most-used tense in English — and the one Hindi speakers most often mix up with the Present Continuous.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Affirmative
Subject+verb (+s/es for he/she/it)
She works in Noida.
Negative
Subject+do/does+not+base verb
She does not work on Sundays.
Question
Do/Does+subject+base verb?
Does she work here?
The golden rule: with he, she, it — add -s to the verb, or use ‘does’ in negatives and questions (and then the verb loses its -s).
The -s rule at a glance
Step 2
When to Use It
Use 1
Habits and routines
Actions that repeat: daily, weekly, always, sometimes.
- I check my email every morning before breakfast.
- Ravi takes the metro to office.
- We visit our village twice a year.
Use 2
Facts and general truths
Things that are always true, whether scientific facts or general realities.
- The sun rises in the east.
- Property prices depend on location.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Use 3
Permanent situations
Situations that are stable and long-term, not temporary.
- My brother lives in Ghaziabad.
- She works as a chartered accountant.
Use 4
Scheduled events (timetables)
Fixed schedules — trains, flights, classes — even when talking about the future.
- The Shatabdi leaves at 6:15 tomorrow morning.
- The exhibition opens next Monday.
Use 5
Feelings, opinions, and states (stative verbs)
Verbs like know, believe, want, love, need, own, understand describe states, not actions. They stay in the Simple Present even when the feeling is happening right now.
- I know the answer. (NOT: I am knowing the answer.)
- He wants a bigger flat.
Step 3
Hindi Concept Note
अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
Simple Present वो tense है जो आदत (habit), सच्चाई (fact) और स्थायी स्थिति (permanent situation) बताता है।
हिंदी में जब वाक्य ‘ता है / ती है / ते हैं’ पर ख़त्म होता है, तो अंग्रेज़ी में लगभग हमेशा Simple Present लगेगा:
वह रोज़ ऑफिस जाता है।
He goes to office every day.
मैं चाय पीता हूँ।
I drink tea.
ध्यान दें: ‘रहा है / रही है’ (abhi ho raha hai) के लिए Simple Present नहीं, Present Continuous लगता है — वह अगला chapter है।
Step 4
Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make
Wrong
Right
Why
I am knowing him for 10 years.
I have known him for 10 years.
‘Know’ is a stative verb — never continuous. (Duration needs Present Perfect — Chapter 6.)
He is having two cars.
He has two cars.
‘Have’ meaning ownership is stative. ‘Having’ only works for meals: He is having lunch.
She go to school daily.
She goes to school daily.
Third person singular (he/she/it) needs -s/-es.
Does he goes to gym?
Does he go to the gym?
After does/doesn’t, the verb returns to base form. The -s lives in ‘does’.
I am agree with you.
I agree with you.
‘Agree’ is a verb, not an adjective. No ‘am’ needed. Direct transfer from ‘main sehmat hoon’.
He do not like tea.
He does not like tea.
He/she/it takes ‘does not’, not ‘do not’.
Step 5
Signal Words
If you see these words, Simple Present is almost always the right choice:
alwaysusuallyoftensometimesrarelyneverevery day / every week / every yeardailyon Sundaysgenerallynormallyas a rule
Step 6
Practice
Fill in the blanks
- 1My father (read) the newspaper every morning.AnswerreadsDid you get it?
- 2She (not/eat) non-veg food.Answerdoes not (doesn’t) eatDid you get it?
- 3your team (work) on Saturdays?AnswerDoes ... workDid you get it?
- 4The office (open) at 9:30 a.m.AnsweropensDid you get it?
- 5Priya and Amit (live) in the same society.AnswerliveDid you get it?
- 6Water (freeze) at zero degrees.AnswerfreezesDid you get it?
- 7He (not/know) how to swim.Answerdoes not (doesn’t) knowDid you get it?
- 8this bus (go) to Sector 62?AnswerDoes ... goDid you get it?
- 9My clients usually (prefer) ready-to-move flats.AnswerpreferDid you get it?
- 10It (rain) a lot in July.AnswerrainsDid you get it?
Correct the mistake
- 11She don’t like loud music.AnswerShe doesn’t like loud music.Did you get it?
- 12I am understanding your point.AnswerI understand your point. (‘Understand’ is stative — no continuous.)Did you get it?
- 13Ramesh watch TV after dinner.AnswerRamesh watches TV after dinner.Did you get it?
- 14Does your sister lives in Delhi?AnswerDoes your sister live in Delhi? (Base verb after ‘does’.)Did you get it?
- 15They plays cricket every Sunday.AnswerThey play cricket every Sunday.Did you get it?
- 16He is having a big house in Gurgaon.AnswerHe has a big house in Gurgaon.Did you get it?
- 17The train leave at 8 p.m. daily.AnswerThe train leaves at 8 p.m. daily.Did you get it?
- 18I am not agree with this decision.AnswerI do not (don’t) agree with this decision.Did you get it?
Translate into English
- 19वह हर रोज़ सुबह छह बजे उठता है।AnswerHe gets up at six o’clock every morning.Did you get it?
- 20मैं मीठा नहीं खाता।AnswerI don’t eat sweets.Did you get it?
- 21क्या तुम्हारा भाई यहाँ काम करता है?AnswerDoes your brother work here?Did you get it?
- 22सूरज पश्चिम में डूबता है।AnswerThe sun sets in the west.Did you get it?
- 23हम हर साल गर्मियों में पहाड़ जाते हैं।AnswerWe go to the mountains every summer.Did you get it?
- 24उसे हिंदी फ़िल्में पसंद हैं।AnswerShe likes Hindi movies. / He likes Hindi films.Did you get it?
- 25यह दुकान रविवार को बंद रहती है।AnswerThis shop stays closed on Sundays. / This shop is closed on Sundays.Did you get it?
Step 7Answer Key
Show answersHide answers
Answer Key
Answers · Set A
1
reads
2
does not (doesn’t) eat
3
Does ... work
4
opens
5
live
6
freezes
7
does not (doesn’t) know
8
Does ... go
9
prefer
10
rains
Answers · Set B
11
She doesn’t like loud music.
12
I understand your point. (‘Understand’ is stative — no continuous.)
13
Ramesh watches TV after dinner.
14
Does your sister live in Delhi? (Base verb after ‘does’.)
15
They play cricket every Sunday.
16
He has a big house in Gurgaon.
17
The train leaves at 8 p.m. daily.
18
I do not (don’t) agree with this decision.
Answers · Set C
19
He gets up at six o’clock every morning.
20
I don’t eat sweets.
21
Does your brother work here?
22
The sun sets in the west.
23
We go to the mountains every summer.
24
She likes Hindi movies. / He likes Hindi films.
25
This shop stays closed on Sundays. / This shop is closed on Sundays.
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Next up · Chapter 2Present Continuous
Actions happening right now, and why ‘I am knowing’ is still wrong.