How to Form the Simple Present: Exercise

1. Formation of the Simple Present
The Simple Present of any verb other than the verb to be is formed from the bare infinitive of the verb. As shown in the following examples, the bare infinitive of a verb consists of the infinitive without the word to. The bare infinitive is the form in which English verbs are usually listed in dictionaries. For example:

Infinitive	Bare Infinitive
to be	be
to walk	walk
to work	work

In the Simple Present of verbs other than the verb to be, the form of the verb used with the subjects I , you, we and they is the same as the bare infinitive. The form of the verb used with the subjects he, sheand it has the ending s added to the bare infinitive.

For example, the Simple Present of the verb to work is conjugated as follows:

I work

you work 

he works

she works 

it works 

we work 

they work

The form of the verb used with the subjects he, she and it is generally referred to as the third person singular.

Using the Simple Present tense, fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
      I ______ to the radio. (to listen)
      I listen to the radio.

      He _______ to the radio. (to listen)
      He listens to the radio.

Answers: 1. plays 2. play 3. like 4. likes 5. call 6. calls 7. practises 8. practise 9. shop 10. tastes