Present Simple is one of the most frequently used tenses in English. It is used for general truths, permanent situations, habits, and routines — in other words, things that are true 'in general', not just happening right now.
General facts and routines — they repeat across timeGenel gerçekler ve rutinler — zaman boyunca tekrar eder
📐 Rule
When Do We Use It?Ne Zaman Kullanılır?
- General truths: The sun rises in the east.Genel gerçekler: The sun rises in the east.
- Habits and routines: I go to the gym every morning.Alışkanlık ve rutinler: I go to the gym every morning.
- Permanent situations: She lives in Ankara.Kalıcı durumlar: She lives in Ankara.
- Scheduled events, like timetables: The train leaves at 9am.Programlanmış olaylar (tarifeler): The train leaves at 9am.
- With state verbs (feelings, thoughts, ownership): I like coffee. I know the answer.Duygu, düşünce, sahiplik bildiren fiillerle: I like coffee. I know the answer.
Affirmative SentencesOlumlu Cümle
- I/you/we/they + base verb: I work, you play, they live.I/you/we/they + fiil kökü: I work, you play, they live.
- he/she/it + verb+s/es: She works, he plays, it rains.he/she/it + fiil+s/es: She works, he plays, it rains.
Negative SentencesOlumsuz Cümle
- I/you/we/they + don't + base verb: I don't work on Sundays.I/you/we/they + don't + fiil kökü: I don't work on Sundays.
- he/she/it + doesn't + base verb (no -s on the verb!): She doesn't work on Sundays.he/she/it + doesn't + fiil kökü (fiile -s EKLENMEZ!): She doesn't work on Sundays.
QuestionsSoru Cümlesi
- Do + I/you/we/they + base verb? Do you work here?Do + I/you/we/they + fiil kökü? Do you work here?
- Does + he/she/it + base verb? Does she work here?Does + he/she/it + fiil kökü? Does she work here?
Spelling Rules for -s / -es3. Tekil Şahısta Yazım Kuralları
- Most verbs just add -s: work→works.Çoğu fiile sadece -s eklenir: work→works.
- Verbs ending in -s, -x, -ch, -sh, -o add -es: watch→watches, go→goes, do→does.-s,-x,-ch,-sh,-o ile bitenlere -es eklenir: watch→watches, go→goes, do→does.
- Consonant + y changes to -ies: study→studies.Ünsüz+y, -ies olur: study→studies.
- 'Have' is irregular: have→has.'Have' düzensizdir: have→has.
Common Signal WordsSık Kullanılan Zaman Belirteçleri
- always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never — frequency words, placed before the main verb / after 'be'.always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never — sıklık bildirir, fiilden önce/be'den sonra gelir.
- every day/week/year, on Mondays, in the morning — routine time expressions.every day/week/year, on Mondays, in the morning — rutin zaman ifadeleri.
✏️ Examples
- I go to work by bus.İşe otobüsle giderim.
- She works in a hospital.O bir hastanede çalışır.
- They don't eat meat.Et yemezler.
- Does he speak French?O Fransızca konuşuyor mu?
- Water boils at 100 degrees.Su 100 derecede kaynar (genel gerçek).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✗ She work every day.✓ She works every day.
- ✗ He don't like coffee.✓ He doesn't like coffee.
📖 Reading Passage
~1 min readA Day in the Life of a Nurse
Selin works as a nurse at a busy hospital. She starts her shift at seven in the morning and checks on her patients regularly. She always writes notes about their condition.
Every day, Selin gives medicine to patients and helps doctors during small procedures. She talks to worried family members and explains things calmly. Her colleagues say she never loses her patience.
After her shift ends, Selin usually feels tired but satisfied. She believes that helping people gives her life meaning. She loves her job, even on the most difficult days.
Selin, yoğun bir hastanede hemşire olarak çalışıyor. Vardiyasına sabah yedide başlıyor ve hastalarını düzenli olarak kontrol ediyor. Durumları hakkında her zaman notlar yazıyor.
Selin her gün hastalara ilaç veriyor ve küçük işlemler sırasında doktorlara yardım ediyor. Endişeli aile üyeleriyle konuşuyor ve durumu sakince açıklıyor. İş arkadaşları onun asla sabrını kaybetmediğini söylüyor.
Vardiyası bittikten sonra, Selin genelde yorgun ama tatmin olmuş hissediyor. İnsanlara yardım etmenin hayatına anlam kattığına inanıyor. En zor günlerde bile işini seviyor.
🧠 Test Yourself
📝 Mini Quiz
0/51. She ___ to music every evening.
2. They ___ in London.
3. ___ he play the guitar?
4. Water ___ at 0 degrees Celsius.
5. My sister ___ in a bank.
🔖 Summary — Quick Recap
- Used for habits, routines, and general truths — not just 'now'.Alışkanlık, rutin ve genel gerçekler için kullanılır — sadece 'şu an' değil.
- He/she/it takes -s/-es: works, watches, goes; have→has.He/she/it -s/-es alır: works, watches, goes; have→has.
- Negative/question use don't/does: doesn't work (no -s on the verb!).Olumsuz/soru don't/does kullanır: doesn't work (fiile -s yok!).
- Signal words: always, usually, often, every day.Zaman belirteçleri: always, usually, often, every day.