Present Simple — Test Questions
Eight questions on the present simple: habits, facts, do/does negatives and questions, and adverbs of frequency. Part of the Present Tenses Test.
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She ___ in a small flat near the river.
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lives
Present simple for a permanent state — third person singular adds -s: 'she lives'.
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Water ___ at 100°C.
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boils
Present simple for a scientific fact — 'water boils'.
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He ___ like coffee — he prefers tea.
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doesn't
Present simple negative with 'he/she/it' uses 'doesn't' + base form.
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___ you speak any other languages?
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Do
Present simple questions use 'do/does' as the auxiliary.
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She ___ to the gym three times a week.
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goes
Present simple for a regular habit; 'go' → 'goes' for she/he/it.
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I always ___ breakfast at seven o'clock.
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have
Present simple for a daily routine — 'I always have'.
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How often ___ your parents?
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do you visit
Present simple question with 'how often' — 'do you visit'.
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They ___ understand the question.
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don't
Present simple negative with 'they' uses 'don't' + base form.
Present Simple: Habits, Facts and Do/Does
This block reviews the present simple for routines and general facts, together with its negative and question forms using 'do' and 'does'. The core rule to apply throughout: he/she/it takes an -s on the main verb in the affirmative, but 'does' (not 'do') carries that marking in negatives and questions, leaving the main verb in its base form. Learners who already handle the affirmative confidently often still slip in negatives and questions, because the -s has to move from the main verb onto the auxiliary — a shift that is easy to forget under time pressure in a mixed test like this one.
Habits and General Facts
Routines repeated on a regular schedule, and facts that are generally or scientifically true, both take the present simple regardless of the subject.
Water boils at 100°C.
She goes to the gym three times a week.
I always have breakfast at seven o'clock.
Negatives with Don't / Doesn't
'Doesn't' with he/she/it, 'don't' with I/you/we/they — and the main verb always drops back to its base form afterwards.
They don't understand the question.
Questions with Do / Does
The same auxiliary rule applies in questions: 'does' with he/she/it, 'do' with everything else, both followed by the base form of the main verb.
How often do you visit your parents?
Common Mistakes
✗ Does you speak any other languages? → ✓ Do you speak any other languages?
✗ They doesn't understand the question. → ✓ They don't understand the question.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial