The Present Simple Tense: Routines, Habits, and Everyday English with Emma
- Oct 4, 2020
- 7 min read
What is the Present Simple in English Grammar?
The Present Simple tense is one of the first and most useful English tenses you’ll learn.
We use it to talk about routines, habits, facts, timetables, instructions, and programmes.
In this story, we’ll follow Emma, a cheerful English teacher who enjoys her calm, organised life.
Through her day, you’ll see how we naturally use the Present Simple in real life — with clear examples and time expressions.
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📚Emma’s Everyday World: Learning the Present Simple
Emma is an English teacher who lives in Singapore. She loves her morning routine.
Every morning, she wakes up at 6:30 a.m. and makes a cup of green tea. She usually listens to music while she gets ready for work.
At 7:30, she takes the MRT to school. The train leaves at 7:35, so she never arrives late. On the train, she often reads a book or checks her lesson plan for the day.
When Emma arrives at school, she greets her students and starts her first class at 8:30 a.m. She teaches English grammar and vocabulary. Her students ask questions, and she answers patiently.
At 12:30, she has lunch with her colleagues in the school café. She usually eats rice with vegetables and drinks lemon water. After lunch, she marks homework or plans lessons for the next day.
After work, Emma goes to yoga class. The class starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 7. Her yoga instructor always says, “Breathe deeply and relax.” (That’s an instruction in Present Simple!)
In the evening, Emma cooks dinner, watches her favourite TV programme at 9, and calls her family in Malaysia. She goes to bed around 10:30 p.m. because she gets up early the next day.
On weekends, she visits her friends, goes to art galleries, or writes blog posts about language learning. She doesn’t work on Sundays, but she checks her emails — just in case!
🕒 Grammar Focus: When Do We Use the Present Simple?
We use the Present Simple to talk about:
Situation | Example from the Story | Time Expressions |
Daily routines | Emma wakes up at 6:30. | every morning |
Habits | She usually listens to music. | usually, often |
Timetables / schedules | The train leaves at 7:35. | at 7:35 |
Instructions | “Breathe deeply and relax.” | always |
Facts / general truths | Emma is an English teacher. | — |
Notices / programmes | The class starts at 6 p.m. | at 6 p.m., every week |
Negative form | She doesn’t work on Sundays. | on Sundays |
📩 Download Free PDF Worksheet
💡 Quick Grammar Tips:
✅ Add -s or -es for he/she/it → She wakes up, he goes to work.
✅ Use do/does for questions → Does Emma like yoga?
✅ Use don’t/doesn’t for negatives → She doesn’t drink coffee.
Practice Exercises
A. Choose the correct verb form.
Emma (wake / wakes) up at 6:30.
She (listen / listens) to music in the morning.
The train (leave / leaves) at 7:35.
She (don’t / doesn’t) work on Sundays.
Her class (start / starts) at 8:30.
B. Complete the sentences with time expressions:
every morning | on weekends | at 12:30 | usually | sometimes
Emma drinks tea ________.
She has lunch ________.
She ________ does yoga .
She ________ checks her emails .
She writes blog posts ________.
C. Answer the questions.
What time does Emma get up?
Where does she work?
What does she do after work?
What does she do on weekends?
Does she work on Sundays?
D. Write about you!
Write 5 sentences about your daily routine using Present Simple.
Use words like always, often, sometimes, never, every day.
Example:
I get up at 7 a.m. I usually have toast for breakfast. I go to work by bus. I don’t drink coffee in the evening.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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🗝️ Answer Key
A: 1. wakes, 2. listens, 3. leaves, 4. doesn’t, 5. starts
B: 1. every morning, 2. at 12:30, 3. usually, 4. sometimes, 5. on weekends
C: (Answers vary)
✅ Tip:
The Present Simple is used for routines, habits, timetables, facts, and instructions.
Discussion Questions – Present Simple Practice
(A1- A2 Level)
🏡 Daily Life
What time do you usually get up?
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
How do you usually travel to work or school?
What do you do after work or classes?
What household chores do you do every week?
☕ Habits & Routines
Do you exercise regularly? Why or why not?
How often do you read books or magazines?
Do you prefer mornings or evenings? Why?
What do you usually do on weekends?
How often do you meet your friends?
🍕 Food & Lifestyle
What foods do you eat most often?
Do you cook at home or eat out more often?
What drinks do you usually order at a café?
What healthy habits do you have?
What unhealthy habits do you want to change?
✈️ Travel
Where do you usually go for holidays?
Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?
What do you always pack for a trip?
How do you usually plan your vacations?
Which country interests you the most?
🎬 Hobbies & Free Time
What hobbies do you enjoy?
What kind of music do you listen to?
What TV shows or movies do you usually watch?
Do you enjoy learning new skills? Which ones?
How do you relax after a busy day?
💼 Work & Study
What does your typical workday look like?
Which English skills do you practise most?
How often do you study English?
What helps you remember new vocabulary?
Why do you want to improve your English?
🌍 Opinions & General Truths
Why is exercise important?
What makes a good friend?
Which season do you like best? Why?
Why do people learn English?
What makes a city a good place to live?
Pair Work Follow-up Questions
Encourage learners to keep the conversation going.
Why?
Really?
How often?
With whom?
Where?
What happens next?
Can you tell me more?
What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?
What do you recommend?
Challenge Activity
Answer each question using at least two Present Simple sentences.
Example
Question: What do you usually do on weekends?
Answer:
"I usually visit my parents on Saturdays. On Sundays, I relax at home and watch movies. I also prepare my meals for the week."
✏️ Share your answers in the comments below! ⬇️
Self-Study Speaking Tips
Answer every question aloud using complete sentences.
Add one extra detail to every answer.
Record yourself and listen for pronunciation and grammar.
Practise with a partner or use the questions as speaking prompts with AI.
Try answering the same questions again a week later using new vocabulary.
🔗 Keep Learning:
🎥 Checkout the YouTube Video with 🗣️voice narration to practise listening
Frequently Asked Questions:Mastering the Present Simple
1. When will I actually use this in my daily life?
The Present Simple is your "everyday" tense. You’ll use it most often to talk about your life, your family, and your career.
Daily Routine: "I wake up at 7:00 AM and prepare breakfast for my kids."
Work Responsibilities: "I manage a team of five people."
Personal Facts: "I speak English and Spanish."
2. Why do I keep forgetting the "-s" for "He" or "She"?
Don't worry—it's the most common mistake for learners! Think of the -s as a "tag" you must add whenever you talk about someone else (like your boss, your husband, or your daughter).
My friend lives nearby.
She works from home.
He cooks dinner on Fridays.
3. How do I talk about my weekly schedule?
The Present Simple is perfect for your calendar. We often use it with "Frequency Adverbs" to show how often we do things:
"I always check my email first thing in the morning."
"I usually go to the gym on Tuesdays."
"I never drink coffee after 4:00 PM."
4. "I don't" vs. "She doesn't"—which one is it?
When you want to say "no," use don't for yourself and doesn't for another person.
The Golden Rule:
When you use doesn't, the main verb goes back to its simple form. No extra "s"!
✅ Correct: "She doesn't have a car."
❌ Incorrect:
"She doesn't has a car."
5. How do I ask polite questions?
In a social or professional setting, we start questions with Do or Does.
Networking: "Do you work in this building?"
Socialising: "Does your daughter go to this school?"
Shopping: "Do you accept credit cards?"
📝 Quick Reference Guide
Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
I / You / We | I work. | I don't work. | Do you work? |
She / He / It | She works. | She doesn't work. | Does she work? |
💡 Pro-Tip for Learners
If you aren't sure whether to add the -s, remember this:
One person (other than you) = Add an -s.
* My sister (one person) → She calls me.
My sisters (more than one) → They call me.
🔗 Keep Learning:
Learn Grammar Through Stories:
🎥 Shorts Video: Past Simple or Present Perfect? Let's Fix It!
Learn Grammar Through Stories:
🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel Playlist:
Watch and Learn! For more ESL reading and listening practice video lessons, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
🔗 Related Posts
Learn more about related Tenses below ⬇️
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easy to understand👍