Present Simple Exercises with Answers for Beginners

Do you want to test your understanding of the present simple tense? In this guide, you will find a collection of present simple exercises designed to help you practice English in a clear and interactive way.

These exercises include multiple choice questions, fill in the blanks, and sentence transformation activities. They cover all the important forms of the present simple, including affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions. The activities are especially useful as simple present exercises for beginners, and each section includes answers with short grammar explanations to help you learn from your mistakes.

By practicing these present simple exercises with answers, you can strengthen your grammar skills, avoid common mistakes, and build confidence when using English in everyday situations.

Multiple Choice Exercises

These present simple exercises help you test your understanding of the tense through multiple-choice questions. Read each sentence carefully and choose the correct option.

These exercises include affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions. They also help you practice the common rule of adding -s / -es with he, she, and it.

If you need more sentence examples before starting, you can review this guide: Simple Present Tense Examples for Everyday English.

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Affirmative Sentences – Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb form.

1. She ______ to work every day.
   a) go
   b) goes
   c) going
2. They ______ football after school.
   a) play
   b) plays
   c) playing
3. My brother ______ coffee in the morning.
   a) drink
   b) drinks
   c) drinking
4. We ______ English every day.
   a) study
   b) studies
   c) studying
5. The train ______ at 8 a.m.
   a) leave
   b) leaves
   c) leaving
6. He ______ his homework after dinner.
   a) do
   b) does
   c) doing
7. I ______ breakfast at 7 a.m.
   a) eat
   b) eats
   c) eating
8. The teacher ______ the lesson clearly.
   a) explain
   b) explains
   c) explaining
9. Birds ______ in the sky.
   a) fly
   b) flies
   c) flying
10. My mother ______ dinner every evening.
    a) cook
    b) cooks
    c) cooking

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Answer Key

1. b) goes
   Rule: With she, the verb takes -s.
2. a) play
   Rule: With they, we use the base form of the verb.
3. b) drinks
   Rule: With he/she/it, add -s to the verb.
4. a) study
   Rule: With we, use the base verb.
5. b) leaves
   Rule: With singular subjects, add -s.
6. b) does
   Rule: The verb do changes to does with he/she/it.
7. a) eat
   Rule: With I, we use the base verb.
8. b) explains
   Rule: The teacher (he/she) requires verb + s.
9. a) fly
   Rule: With plural subjects, use the base verb.
10. b) cooks
    Rule: With my mother (she), add -s to the verb.

Negative Sentences – Multiple Choice

These present simple exercises help you practice negative sentences using do not (don’t) and does not (doesn’t).

Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence.

1. She ______ coffee in the evening.
   a) don’t drink
   b) doesn’t drink
   c) not drink
2. I ______ TV in the morning.
   a) don’t watch
   b) doesn’t watch
   c) not watch
3. They ______ to school on Sunday.
   a) doesn’t go
   b) don’t go
   c) not go
4. He ______ fast food every day.
   a) don’t eat
   b) doesn’t eat
   c) not eats
5. We ______ English on Saturday.
   a) don’t study
   b) doesn’t study
   c) not study
6. The bus ______ here at night.
   a) don’t stop
   b) doesn’t stop
   c) not stop
7. My brother ______ tea in the morning.
   a) don’t drink
   b) doesn’t drink
   c) not drinks
8. I ______ late on weekdays.
   a) doesn’t sleep
   b) don’t sleep
   c) not sleep
9. The shop ______ on Sunday.
   a) don’t open
   b) doesn’t open
   c) not open
10. They ______ homework in the evening.
    a) doesn’t do
    b) don’t do
    c) not do

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Answer Key

1. b) doesn’t drink
   Rule: Use doesn’t with she/he/it.
2. a) don’t watch
   Rule: Use don’t with I/you/we/they.
3. b) don’t go
   Rule: With they, we use don’t + base verb.
4. b) doesn’t eat
   Rule: He/she/it uses doesn’t + base verb.
5. a) don’t study
   Rule: With we, use don’t.
6. b) doesn’t stop
   Rule: Singular subjects like the bus use doesn’t.
7. b) doesn’t drink
   Rule: My brother (he) requires doesn’t.
8. b) don’t sleep
   Rule: I uses don’t + base verb.
9. b) doesn’t open
   Rule: The shop (it) takes doesn’t.
10. b) don’t do
    Rule: With they, use don’t.

Questions – Multiple Choice

These present simple exercises help you practice questions in the present simple tense using Do and Does.

Choose the correct option to complete each question.

1. ______ you like coffee?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Are
2. ______ she work in this office?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
3. ______ they play football after school?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Are
4. ______ he live near the school?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
5. ______ you watch TV every day?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Are
6. ______ the train arrive at 8 a.m.?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
7. ______ we have English class today?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
8. ______ she drink tea in the morning?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
9. ______ they work on weekends?
   a) Do
   b) Does
   c) Is
10. ______ the shop open on Sunday?
    a) Do
    b) Does
    c) Is

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Answer Key

1. a) Do
   Rule: Use Do with I, you, we, they.
2. b) Does
   Rule: Use Does with he, she, it.
3. a) Do
   Rule: They takes Do in questions.
4. b) Does
   Rule: He requires Does.
5. a) Do
   Rule: You uses Do.
6. b) Does
   Rule: Singular subjects like the train (it) use Does.
7. a) Do
   Rule: We uses Do.
8. b) Does
   Rule: She takes Does.
9. a) Do
   Rule: They uses Do.
10. b) Does
    Rule: The shop (it) requires Does.

Fill in the Blanks Exercises

These present simple exercises with answers help you practice writing the correct verb form. Read each sentence and fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in present simple.

These exercises cover affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions, and they help learners practice the common rule of adding -s / -es with he, she, and it.

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Affirmative – Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the correct verb form.

1. She ______ (work) in a bank.
2. I ______ (drink) coffee every morning.
3. They ______ (play) football after school.
4. My father ______ (drive) to work every day.
5. We ______ (study) English together.
6. The train ______ (leave) at 8 a.m.
7. He ______ (read) the newspaper every morning.
8. Birds ______ (fly) in the sky.
9. The teacher ______ (explain) the lesson clearly.
10. My sister ______ (watch) TV in the evening.

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Answer Key

1. works
   Rule: With she, add -s.
2. drink
   Rule: With I, use the base verb.
3. play
   Rule: With they, use the base verb.
4. drives
   Rule: With he/she/it, add -s.
5. study
   Rule: With we, use the base verb.
6. leaves
   Rule: Singular subjects take verb + s.
7. reads
   Rule: With he, add -s.
8. fly
   Rule: Plural subjects use the base verb.
9. explains
   Rule: The teacher (he/she) requires -s.
10. watches
    Rule: Some verbs add -es with he/she/it.

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Negative – Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence using don’t or doesn’t.

1. She ______ like spicy food.
2. I ______ watch TV in the morning.
3. They ______ work on Sunday.
4. He ______ drink coffee at night.
5. We ______ start class late.
6. The shop ______ open on Sunday.
7. My brother ______ eat fast food often.
8. I ______ sleep late on weekdays.
9. The bus ______ stop here at night.
10. They ______ play football today.

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Answer Key

1. doesn’t
   Rule: Use doesn’t with he/she/it.
2. don’t
   Rule: Use don’t with I/you/we/they.
3. don’t
   Rule: They takes don’t.
4. doesn’t
   Rule: He uses doesn’t.
5. don’t
   Rule: We requires don’t.
6. doesn’t
   Rule: The shop (it) uses doesn’t.
7. doesn’t
   Rule: My brother (he) requires doesn’t.
8. don’t
   Rule: I uses don’t.
9. doesn’t
   Rule: Singular subjects take doesn’t.
10. don’t
    Rule: They uses don’t.

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Questions – Fill in the Blanks

Complete each question using Do or Does.

1. ______ you like tea?
2. ______ she work here?
3. ______ they play football after school?
4. ______ he drive to work?
5. ______ we have English class today?
6. ______ the train arrive at 8 a.m.?
7. ______ she drink coffee every day?
8. ______ they live near the school?
9. ______ the shop open on Sunday?
10. ______ you study English every day?

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Answer Key

1. Do
   Rule: Use Do with you.
2. Does
   Rule: Use Does with she.
3. Do
   Rule: They uses Do.
4. Does
   Rule: He requires Does.
5. Do
   Rule: We takes Do.
6. Does
   Rule: The train (it) requires Does.
7. Does
   Rule: She takes Does.
8. Do
   Rule: They uses Do.
9. Does
   Rule: The shop (it) requires Does.
10. Do
    Rule: You uses Do.

Sentence Transformation Exercises

These present simple exercises help you practice changing sentences from one form to another. This type of exercise improves your understanding of affirmative, negative, and question forms in the present simple.

Read each sentence and transform it as instructed.

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Affirmative → Negative

Change the following sentences into negative sentences.

1. She works in a hospital.
2. He plays football after school.
3. They watch TV every evening.
4. My brother drinks coffee every morning.
5. The train arrives at 8 a.m.
6. She likes chocolate.
7. He reads the newspaper every day.
8. We study English on Monday.
9. The shop opens at 9 a.m.
10. My sister drives to work.

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Answer Key

1. She does not work in a hospital.
   Rule: With she, use does not + base verb.
2. He does not play football after school.
   Rule: After does not, the verb returns to the base form.
3. They do not watch TV every evening.
   Rule: Use do not with they.
4. My brother does not drink coffee every morning.
   Rule: My brother (he) requires does not.
5. The train does not arrive at 8 a.m.
   Rule: Singular subjects take does not.
6. She does not like chocolate.
   Rule: Use does not + base verb.
7. He does not read the newspaper every day.
   Rule: The -s disappears after does not.
8. We do not study English on Monday.
   Rule: We uses do not.
9. The shop does not open at 9 a.m.
   Rule: It uses does not.
10. My sister does not drive to work.
    Rule: She requires does not.

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Affirmative → Question

Change the following sentences into questions.

1. She works in an office.
2. He drinks coffee every morning.
3. They play football after school.
4. The shop opens at 9 a.m.
5. She studies English every day.
6. He drives to work.
7. They live near the school.
8. The train arrives at 8 a.m.
9. She teaches English.
10. He reads books every evening.

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Answer Key

1. Does she work in an office?
   Rule: Use Does + subject + base verb.
2. Does he drink coffee every morning?
   Rule: After Does, use the base verb.
3. Do they play football after school?
   Rule: Use Do with they.
4. Does the shop open at 9 a.m.?
   Rule: The shop (it) uses Does.
5. Does she study English every day?
   Rule: Remove -s from the verb after Does.
6. Does he drive to work?
   Rule: He requires Does.
7. Do they live near the school?
   Rule: Use Do with plural subjects.
8. Does the train arrive at 8 a.m.?
   Rule: Singular subjects take Does.
9. Does she teach English?
   Rule: Does + base verb.
10. Does he read books every evening?
    Rule: The verb stays in the base form.

Common Mistakes in Present Simple Exercises

When students do present simple exercises, they often make a few common mistakes. Understanding these errors helps learners improve faster and avoid repeating them in future exercises.

Below are some of the most common mistakes in the present simple tense.

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1. Forgetting -s with He, She, It

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to add -s to the verb when the subject is he, she, or it.

❌ She work in a hospital.
✅ She works in a hospital.

Rule: With he / she / it, the verb usually takes -s or -es.

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2. Adding -s After Does

Some learners keep the -s on the verb after using does in questions or negative sentences.

❌ Does she works here?
✅ Does she work here?

Rule: After does or doesn’t, the verb must return to the base form.

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3. Using Don’t with He / She / It

Another common mistake is using don’t instead of doesn’t.

❌ He don’t like coffee.
✅ He doesn’t like coffee.

Rule: Use doesn’t with he, she, it.

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4. Using Does with Plural Subjects

Sometimes students use does with I, you, we, or they, which is incorrect.

❌ Does they play football?
✅ Do they play football?

Rule: Use do with I, you, we, they.

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5. Forgetting the Base Verb in Questions

In present simple questions, the verb must stay in the base form.

❌ Do you likes coffee?
✅ Do you like coffee?

Rule: After do/does, the verb must be in its base form.

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Final Tips for Practicing Present Simple

To improve your skills with present simple exercises, follow these simple tips:

• Practice a few exercises every day.
• Pay attention to he, she, and it + s.
• Check your answers using the answer key.
• Review your mistakes and understand the grammar rule behind them.
• Try writing your own present simple sentences about daily life.

With regular practice, these simple present exercises for beginners will help you build strong grammar skills and use the present simple tense confidently in everyday English.

Conclusion

Practicing with present simple exercises is one of the best ways to improve your English grammar. By completing different types of activities such as multiple choice questions, fill in the blanks, and sentence transformation, you can better understand how the present simple works in affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions.

These exercises also help you avoid common mistakes, especially when using he, she, and it, or when forming questions with do and does. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to use the present simple naturally in everyday English.

If you want to learn more about how this tense fits into the full English grammar system, you can read our complete guide: All tenses in English: A Simple Guide. This article explains all the main English tenses in a simple and clear way, helping you build a stronger foundation in English grammar.