Learn the present indefinite (simple present) tense: subject-verb agreement, s/es and do/does rules, all its uses, and present simple vs continuous, with a 15-sentence exercise and answers for SSC, HSC, admission, and job exams.
“The sun rises in the east.” “I drink tea every morning.” “Water boils at 100 degrees.” What do these have in common? None of them is about this exact second, yet all of them use the present tense. That is because the present indefinite tense, also called the simple present, is not really about “now”. It is the tense of habits, routines, and truths that stay true. It is the most used tense in English, and this lesson covers it fully, from the s/es rule up to the finer points for admission and job exams.
“The sun rises in the east।” “I drink tea every morning।” “Water boils at 100 degrees।” এদের মধ্যে মিল কী? এদের কোনোটিই ঠিক এই সেকেন্ডের কথা বলছে না, তবু সবগুলোই present tense ব্যবহার করছে। কারণ present indefinite tense, যাকে simple present ও বলা হয়, আসলে “এখন” নিয়ে নয়। এটি অভ্যাস, রুটিন আর চিরসত্যের tense। তাহলে চলো, শুরু করা যাক।
What is the Present Indefinite Tense?
The present indefinite tense expresses a habit, a routine, a general truth, or a regular action (অভ্যাস, রুটিন, সাধারণ সত্য বা নিয়মিত কাজ)।
Present indefinite tense একটি অভ্যাস, রুটিন, সাধারণ সত্য বা নিয়মিত কাজ প্রকাশ করে।
It is one of the twelve tenses. For the full picture, see our classification of tenses.
Signal words (চিহ্ন): always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, daily, generally, regularly.
The Structure and Subject-Verb Agreement
This is the heart of the tense. The verb changes with the subject, and getting that agreement right is what most exam questions test.
এটাই এই tense এর মূল কথা। subject অনুযায়ী verb বদলায়, আর এই agreement ঠিক করাই বেশিরভাগ পরীক্ষার প্রশ্নের বিষয়।
Structure: subject + verb (+ s/es for third person singular) + object.
| Subject | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / we / you / they (ও বহুবচন) | base verb | I read the news daily. |
| he / she / it / a name (তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন) | verb + s/es | He reads the news daily. |
So the rule is simple: add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb only when the subject is third person singular (he, she, it, a single name). For all other subjects, use the base verb.
তাই নিয়মটি সহজ: verb এ ‘s’ বা ‘es’ তখনই যোগ করো যখন subject তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন (he, she, it, একটি নাম)। বাকি সব subject এর জন্য base verb ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- She works in a bank. (third person singular)
- They work in a bank. (plural)
- Water freezes in winter. (third person singular)
Rule 1: When to Add ‘s’ and When ‘es’
For a third person singular subject, add ‘es’ to verbs ending in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o. Add just ‘s’ to all other verbs.
তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন subject এর ক্ষেত্রে -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o দিয়ে শেষ হওয়া verb এ ‘es’ যোগ করো। বাকি সব verb এ শুধু ‘s’ যোগ করো।
Examples:
- Add ‘s’: reads, plays, writes, comes
- Add ‘es’: kisses, rushes, watches, fixes, goes
Rule 2: Verbs Ending in Consonant + ‘y’
If a verb ends in a consonant + ‘y’, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’ for a third person singular subject.
verb টি একটি ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ + ‘y’ দিয়ে শেষ হলে, তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন subject এর জন্য ‘y’ কে ‘i’ তে পরিবর্তন করে ‘es’ যোগ করো।
Examples:
- cry → cries, study → studies, fly → flies
- But a vowel + y just adds ‘s’: play → plays, enjoy → enjoys
Rule 3: The ‘Be’ and ‘Have’ Verbs
When the only verb is a ‘be’ verb or a ‘have’ verb, it takes a special form. Use ‘am/is/are’ for a state, and ‘have/has’ for possession.
যখন একমাত্র verb টি ‘be’ verb বা ‘have’ verb হয়, তখন এটি একটি বিশেষ রূপ নেয়। অবস্থার জন্য ‘am/is/are’, আর অধিকারের জন্য ‘have/has’ ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- I am tired. / He is busy. / They are ready.
- I have a laptop. / She has a laptop.
Rule 4: Negative Sentences (do not / does not)
To make a negative, use ‘do not’ or ‘does not’ before the base verb. Use ‘does not’ with a third person singular subject, and ‘do not’ with all others. Note that the main verb drops its s/es.
Negative করতে base verb এর আগে ‘do not’ বা ‘does not’ বসাও। তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন subject এর সাথে ‘does not’, আর বাকি সবের সাথে ‘do not’। খেয়াল করো, main verb তার s/es হারায়।
Examples:
- I do not go there. / He does not go there. (not “does not goes”)
- They do not like coffee. / She does not like coffee.
Rule 5: Interrogative Sentences (do / does)
To make a question, begin with ‘do’ or ‘does’, then the subject and the base verb. Again, the main verb has no s/es.
প্রশ্ন করতে ‘do’ বা ‘does’ দিয়ে শুরু করো, তারপর subject ও base verb। এখানেও main verb এ s/es থাকে না।
Examples:
- Do you live here? / Does he live here? (not “Does he lives”)
- Do they play football?
The Uses of the Present Indefinite Tense
Now the uses. Exams test each of these, so learn them with their examples.
এবার ব্যবহারগুলো। পরীক্ষায় এদের প্রতিটি আসে, তাই উদাহরণসহ শেখো।
Use 1: Daily activities, habits, and regular actions.
দৈনন্দিন কাজ, অভ্যাস ও নিয়মিত কাজ।
Examples:
- My mother cooks rice every morning.
- We play cricket every Friday.
Use 2: Universal truths and facts that are always true.
চিরন্তন সত্য ও সবসময় সত্য এমন তথ্য।
Examples:
- The earth revolves around the sun.
- Honey tastes sweet.
Use 3: Historical truths, told in the present (the historical present).
ইতিহাসের সত্য, বর্তমানে বলা হয় (historical present)।
Examples:
- Napoleon loses the Battle of Waterloo.
- Shakespeare writes many great plays.
Use 4: Scheduled events and timetables in the future.
ভবিষ্যতের নির্ধারিত ঘটনা ও সময়সূচি।
Examples:
- The train leaves at six tomorrow morning.
- The exam starts next Monday.
Use 5: Instructions, directions, and commentaries.
নির্দেশনা, পথনির্দেশ ও ধারাবিবরণী।
Examples:
- You turn left after the bank.
- Messi passes the ball and scores a goal.
Use 6: Telling a story or narrating a film or novel in the present.
কোনো গল্প, সিনেমা বা উপন্যাস বর্তমান কালে বর্ণনা করা।
Examples:
- In the story, the hero defeats the villain and saves the village.
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Students are often tested on this difference. Use the present simple for a habit or a permanent truth. Use the present continuous for an action happening right now.
শিক্ষার্থীদের প্রায়ই এই পার্থক্য নিয়ে প্রশ্ন করা হয়। অভ্যাস বা স্থায়ী সত্যের জন্য present simple ব্যবহার করো। আর এই মুহূর্তে ঘটছে এমন কাজের জন্য present continuous ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- I drink tea every morning. (present simple: a habit)
- I am drinking tea now. (present continuous: happening now)
Practice Exercise with Answers
Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.
বন্ধনীর verb টির সঠিক রূপ ব্যবহার করো। নিজে চেষ্টা করার পরে উত্তর মিলিয়ে নাও।
- Robin ______ (help) me in the shop every day.
- Everything ______ (be) connected in this world.
- On average, cats ______ (sleep) about fifteen hours a day.
- The sun ______ (rise) in the east.
- How long ______ you ______ (study) every day?
- The magician ______ (have) many rare skills.
- The human heart ______ (beat) about seventy times a minute.
- They ______ (not / have) any friends in this city.
- The shop ______ (not / close) before evening.
- ______ your brother ______ (come) home late?
- Light ______ (travel) very fast.
- My sister ______ (study) French at college.
- Water ______ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
- The baby ______ (not / cry) at night.
- The train ______ (leave) at six every morning.
Answers
- helps (third person singular)
- is (be verb)
- sleep (plural subject)
- rises (universal truth)
- do … study
- has (have verb, singular)
- beats (third person singular)
- do not have (plural subject)
- does not close (singular subject)
- Does … come (base verb after ‘does’)
- travels (universal truth)
- studies (consonant + y)
- boils (universal truth)
- does not cry (singular subject)
- leaves (a scheduled event)
A Tip for the Exam
Almost every present-simple question is really a subject-verb agreement question. So before you write, ask one thing: is the subject third person singular (he, she, it, one name)? If yes, add s/es to the verb. If no, use the base verb. Then remember the golden rule for negatives and questions: after ‘does’, ‘do’, ‘doesn’t’, and ‘don’t’, the main verb always loses its s/es (does he go, not “does he goes”). Get those two habits right, and you will not lose a mark on the right form of verbs.
প্রায় প্রতিটি present-simple এর প্রশ্নই আসলে subject-verb agreement এর প্রশ্ন। তাই লেখার আগে একটি বিষয় জিজ্ঞেস করো: subject কি তৃতীয় পুরুষ একবচন (he, she, it, একটি নাম)? হ্যাঁ হলে verb এ s/es যোগ করো। না হলে base verb ব্যবহার করো। তারপর negative ও প্রশ্নের সোনালি নিয়মটি মনে রেখো: ‘does’, ‘do’, ‘doesn’t’, ‘don’t’ এর পরে main verb সবসময় তার s/es হারায় (does he go, “does he goes” নয়)। এই দুটি অভ্যাস ঠিক করলে right form of verbs এ একটি নম্বরও হারাবে না।
Related Lessons
Keep learning the tenses with these lessons:
- 12 Tenses in English Grammar: Full Classification with Examples
- Present Continuous Tense in English Grammar
- Present Perfect Tense in English Grammar
- Present Perfect Continuous Tense in English Grammar
- Past Indefinite Tense (Simple Past): Rules & Examples
- Past Continuous Tense in English Grammar
- Past Perfect Tense in English Grammar
- Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English Grammar
- Future Indefinite Tense (Simple Future): Rules & Examples
- Future Continuous Tense: Rules, Structure & Examples
- Future Perfect Tense: Rules & Usages in English Grammar
- Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Rules, Structure & Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the present indefinite tense?
It is the simple present tense, used for habits, routines, and general truths, such as “She reads every day” and “The sun rises in the east”.
What is the structure of the present indefinite tense?
Subject + verb (+ s/es for third person singular) + object. Add s or es only with he, she, it, or a singular name; use the base verb for all other subjects.
When do I add ‘s’ and when ‘es’?
Add ‘es’ to verbs ending in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o (watches, goes), and just ‘s’ to others (reads, plays). For a consonant + y, change y to i and add es (study to studies).
Why is it “does he go” and not “does he goes”?
After ‘do’, ‘does’, ‘don’t’, and ‘doesn’t’, the main verb goes back to its base form. So the s/es is dropped: “does he go”.
What is the difference between present simple and present continuous?
The present simple is for habits and truths (I drink tea every morning). The present continuous is for an action happening now (I am drinking tea now).