Daily Routine Detectives

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game worksheet preview for Elementary A1-A2 showing sentence completion and classmate guessing activities

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Guessing

In this fun present simple game, students practice base and third person singular verb forms by completing present simple sentences about their classmates' daily routines and then checking if their guesses are right or wrong...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Guessing In this fun present simple game, students practice base and third person singular verb forms by completing present simple sentences about their classmates' daily routines and then checking if their guesses are right or wrong. First, students complete present simple sentences using the verbs in brackets in the third person singular. Students then read each sentence and think about who in the class the sentence could be true for. Next, students write the name of the person in the 'Names' column next to each sentence, e.g. 'Hana goes to school by bus.' After that, students go around the class reading the sentences to the people on their worksheet to see if their guesses are right or wrong using 'I think you' + the base form of the verb, e.g. 'I think you go to school by bus.' If the person says 'Yes, I do', students put a tick in the last column. If the person says 'No, I don't', students put a cross. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins.
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During the Week

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game worksheet preview for Elementary A1-A2 with vocabulary and sentence forming group activities

ESL Present Simple Game - Vocabulary, Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work

In this engaging present simple game, students practice making present simple affirmative and negative sentences about their daily routines. In groups, students take turns turning over a verb card...

ESL Present Simple Game - Vocabulary, Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work In this engaging present simple game, students practice making present simple affirmative and negative sentences about their daily routines. In groups, students take turns turning over a verb card on a weekly schedule. If the verb matches one of the word cards in their hand, the student makes a true present simple affirmative or negative sentence about what they do or don't do at that time and day. For example, a student turns over the verb 'make' on the 'Wednesday afternoon' square, matches it with 'breakfast' and says, 'I don't make breakfast on Wednesday morning.' If the group agrees that the sentence is grammatically correct and appropriate, the student puts their word card on top of the verb card. The next student then turns over a verb card, and so on. If a student cannot match one of their word cards with the verb on the chart, the verb card is turned back over and play passes to the next student. The first student to get rid of all their word cards wins the game.
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Habits Battleships

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game preview for Elementary (A1-A2): forming sentences, guessing, pair work

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Guessing - Pair Work

In this enjoyable present simple game, students play Battleships by trying to find six habits on a partner’s timetable. First, students secretly write six habits from the Habit Bank in different squares on their own...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Guessing - Pair Work In this enjoyable present simple game, students play Battleships by trying to find six habits on a partner’s timetable. First, students secretly write six habits from the Habit Bank in different squares on their own timetable. Next, students take turns guessing their partner's habits by making present simple affirmative sentences, e.g. 'You do homework on Tuesday evening.' If the guess is correct, their partner says 'Hit', and the student writes the habit in the same square on the timetable marked 'My Partner'. If the guess is wrong, their partner says 'Miss' and repeats the present simple sentence in the negative form, e.g. 'I don't do homework on Tuesday evening.' Play then passes to the other student. The first student to find all six of their partner’s habits wins the game.
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Isn't or Doesn't?

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Present Simple Negative Worksheet preview for Elementary A1-A2 focusing isn't and doesn't

ESL Present Simple Negative Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Sorting, Gap-fill, Writing sentences - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions

In this useful present simple worksheet, students practice using 'isn't' and 'doesn't' in present simple negative sentences. First, students put words from a box...

ESL Present Simple Negative Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Sorting, Gap-fill, Error Correction, Writing and Rewriting sentences - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions In this useful present simple worksheet, students practice using 'isn't' and 'doesn't' in present simple negative sentences. First, students put words from a box in the correct 'isn't' or 'doesn't' group. Students then complete present simple negative sentences with 'isn't' or 'doesn't'. Next, students draw a line under the wrong word in each sentence, and then rewrite the sentences to make them correct. After that, students use prompts to write present simple negative sentences with 'isn't' or 'doesn't'. Students then match sentence halves to form sentences with 'isn't' and 'doesn't'. Finally, students go around the class, asking their classmates present simple yes/no questions. When a classmate answers 'No', students write their name at the start of the negative sentence.
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Monday to Friday

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game preview for Elementary A1-A2 with sentence completion and routine guessing

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Guessing, Completing and Forming Sentences - Pair Work

In this free present simple game, students complete sentences about a partner's Monday to Friday routine and then find out if the information is right or wrong using present simple affirmative and...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Guessing, Completing and Forming Sentences, Controlled and Freer Practice - Pair Work In this free present simple game, students complete sentences about a partner's Monday to Friday routine and then find out if the information is right or wrong using present simple affirmative and negative sentences. First, students complete sentences about their partner's Monday to Friday routine by guessing the information and writing it in the spaces. Next, students take turns reading each sentence to their partner, e.g. 'I think that you wake up at 7 o'clock.' Their partner tells them if the sentence is right or wrong. If the student's guess is wrong, their partner gives the correct information by first making a present simple negative sentence, followed by an affirmative sentence, e.g. 'I don't wake up at 7 o'clock. I wake up at 6 o'clock.' If the student guesses correctly, they put 'right' in the last column. If their guess is incorrect, they put 'wrong'. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins.
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Pick Up Two

Elementary (A1-A2) 20 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game worksheet preview for Elementary (A1-A2): matching sentence halves and pelmanism game

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar: Matching - Pair Work

In this rewarding present simple game, students match sentence halves together to form basic present simple sentences. In pairs, students start by matching the beginning of each sentence with its correct ending to make a grammatically correct...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar: Matching - Pair Work In this rewarding present simple game, students match sentence halves together to form basic present simple sentences. In pairs, students start by matching the beginning of each sentence with its correct ending to make a grammatically correct present simple sentence. Afterwards, check the answers with the class by asking students to read each sentence aloud. Pairs score one point for each correct sentence. The pair with the most points wins the game. Next, pairs play a pelmanism game with the cards. Students take turns turning over one card from each set. If the two halves make a grammatically correct present simple sentence, the student keeps the two cards and has another turn. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
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Positive or Negative?

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Board Game worksheet preview for Elementary (A1-A2): board game forming affirmative and negative sentences

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar: Forming Sentences - Group Work

In this fun present simple board game, students practice making present simple affirmative or negative sentences from prompts. In groups, players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a player...

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Group Work In this fun present simple board game, students practice making present simple affirmative or negative sentences from prompts. In groups, players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a player lands on a square, they make a present simple affirmative sentence using the prompt on the square, adding other words such as an object, place or time, e.g. I watch TV in the evening.' If the prompt includes 'not', the player makes a negative sentence, e.g. ‘Our teacher isn’t late for class.’ If the other group members agree that the sentence is grammatically correct, the player stays on the square. If not, the player goes back two squares. If players land on the same square, they are not allowed to repeat another student's sentence. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
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Present Simple Collocation Challenge

Elementary (A1-A2) 35 minutes
ESL Present Simple worksheet and game preview for Elementary A1-A2 for common verb-noun collocations

ESL Present Simple Worksheet and Game - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Writing Sentences, Odd Word Out - Speaking: True or False, Guessing - Pair Work

In this free present simple worksheet and game, students practice using common verb-noun collocations in present simple affirmative and negative sentences...

ESL Present Simple Worksheet and Game - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Writing Sentences, Identifying, Odd Word Out - Speaking Game: True or False, Guessing - Pair Work In this free present simple worksheet and game, students practice using common verb-noun collocations in present simple affirmative and negative sentences. First, students complete sentences with verbs from a box in the correct form. Students then write positive and negative sentences using the verbs from the box. Next, students complete each sentence with the correct negative. After that, students circle the nouns that do not go with the verbs. Next, students write ten true present simple positive and negative sentences about themselves using the verb-noun collocations from Exercise D. Five sentences should be true, and five should be false. In pairs, students then take turns reading one of their sentences to their partner, who guesses if it's true or false. Students score one point for each correct guess. The student with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
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Present Simple Dominoes

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game worksheet preview for Elementary (A1-A2): dominoes game forming sentences

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar: Matching, Forming Sentences - Group Work

This present simple dominoes game helps students practice forming present simple affirmative and negative sentences. The first player tries to make a present simple affirmative or negative sentence by placing a domino down either before...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar: Matching, Forming Sentences - Group Work This present simple dominoes game helps students practice forming present simple affirmative and negative sentences. The first player tries to make a present simple affirmative or negative sentence by placing a domino down either before or after the domino on the table. If the player can match two halves and make a sentence, they read it to the group to show the match is correct. If the group agrees that the two halves match correctly, the domino stays in place. If not, the player picks it back up. The next player then tries to put down one of their dominoes at either end of the domino chain, and so on. The first player to get rid of all their dominoes wins the game.
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Present Simple Places

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Board Game worksheet preview for Elementary (A1-A2): board game with prepositions of place

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences - Group Work

In this creative present simple board game, students practice making affirmative sentences with prepositions of place. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board...

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Group Work In this creative present simple board game, students practice making affirmative sentences with prepositions of place. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board. When a player lands on a square, they read the subject pronoun and verb and match it with a place on one of their cards. The player then makes a present simple affirmative sentence, adding in the correct preposition, e.g. 'They work in an office.' If the player's sentence is grammatically correct, they place the card at the bottom of the pile and take one from the top. If the player's sentence is incorrect, they keep the card and go back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
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Right or Wrong Routines

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game worksheet preview for Elementary A1-A2 with habits and lifestyle guessing activities

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Guessing, True or False, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice

In this productive present simple game, students find out about their classmates' daily routines using present simple affirmative and negative sentences. First, students write the names of 14 people in the...

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Guessing, True or False, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice In this productive present simple game, students find out about their classmates' daily routines using present simple affirmative and negative sentences. First, students write the names of 14 people in the class in the 'Name' column. Students then unfold the worksheet to reveal present simple affirmative sentences about the people. Next, students read each sentence and decide whether it's true or false for the person at the beginning of the sentence, writing their answer in the 'True or False?' column. Students then find out if their guesses are right or wrong by checking their guess with the person who is the subject of the sentence. If students think a sentence is right, they make a present simple affirmative sentence, e.g. 'Emma, you watch TV in the evening.' If students think a sentence is wrong, they make a present simple negative sentence, e.g. 'Emma, you don't watch TV in the evening.' That person then tells the student if they are right or wrong. Students then put right or wrong in the last column. When the students have checked all the answers, they add up their correct guesses and write the number at the bottom of the worksheet. The student with the most correct guesses wins the game.
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Running Routines

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Present Simple Activity worksheet preview for Elementary (A1-A2): running dictation, questions, and answers

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Running Dictation, Writing Answers, Asking and Answering Questions - Pair Work

Here is a present simple running dictation activity to help students practice present simple sentences and questions about daily routines in the first and third...

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Running Dictation, Writing Answers, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts - Pair Work Here is a present simple running dictation activity to help students practice present simple sentences and questions about daily routines in the first and third person. One student is the reader and the other is the writer. The reader runs to the text about Antonio's daily routine, reads the first part, tries to remember as much as they can, runs back and dictates it to their partner who writes it down. This continues until the text has been fully dictated. Next, students read the text about Antonio's daily routine and pretend they are Antonio. Students then answer present simple Wh questions as Antonio, writing their answers in the first person. After that, students use the questions to write present simple sentences about their own daily routine. After that, students ask their partner about their routine and complete present simple sentences in the third person.
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Guess My Go-To

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Game preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): forming sentences, guessing, pair work

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Guessing - Pair Work

In this engaging present simple game, students predict a partner's preferences and habits by completing present simple affirmative sentences about them and checking their guesses. First,..

ESL Present Simple Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Guessing - Pair Work In this engaging present simple game, students predict a partner's preferences and habits by completing present simple affirmative sentences about them and checking their guesses. First, students secretly circle one option in each sentence that is true for them. Students then guess the choices their partner made by completing each sentence with one of the words. Next, students check whether their guesses are right or wrong by taking turns reading each completed sentence to their partner, who tells them if it is correct or not. If a guess is correct, their partner repeats the sentence and gives a short reason, e.g. 'That's right. I like cats more than dogs because I think they are cute.' If a guess is wrong, their partner repeats the sentence in the negative and then gives the correct affirmative sentence, e.g. 'No, that's not right. I don't like dogs more than cats. I like cats more than dogs.' For each correct guess, students put a tick next to the sentence. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins. Finally, students tell the class about their partner's preferences and habits in the third person, e.g. 'Maria likes cats more than dogs.'
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Present Simple Practice

Pre-intermediate (A2) 45 minutes
ESL Present Simple Worksheet preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): grammar exercises and sentence writing

ESL Present Simple Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Reforming Words, Identifying, Binary Choice, Writing and Rewriting Sentences, Gap-fill

In this free present simple worksheet, students learn and identify the rules and verb forms associated with the present simple tense. First, students add third...

ESL Present Simple Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Reforming Words, Identifying, Binary Choice, Writing and Rewriting Sentences, Gap-fill In this free present simple worksheet, students learn and identify the rules and verb forms associated with the present simple tense. First, students add third-person singular verb endings to verbs (-s, -es or -ies). Students then use the answers to complete spelling rules for third-person singular verb forms. Next, students underline the correct verb forms in present simple sentences and write what they understand about subject-verb agreement in the present simple. After that, students complete present simple affirmative and negative sentences with verbs in brackets and then write the rules for negative verb forms in the present simple. Finally, students rewrite sentences, adding adverbs of frequency and frequency expressions in the correct position. After which, they complete sentences, explaining the correct position of frequency adverbs and expressions in a sentence.
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Simon the Sportsman

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Activity preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): information gap and question formation

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Information Gap, Asking and Answering Questions, Matching, Writing Sentences - Pair Work

In this present simple information gap activity, students practice making questions and affirmative sentences in the third-person singular together with adverbs...

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Information Gap, Asking and Answering Questions, Matching, Writing Sentences - Pair Work In this present simple information gap activity, students practice making questions and affirmative sentences in the third-person singular together with adverbs of frequency, adverbial time expressions and sports vocabulary. First, in pairs, students complete missing information in a chart about Simon's free-time routine by asking and answering present simple questions with their partner. Next, students match sentence halves to make true present simple sentences about Simon. Finally, students create five more true present simple affirmative sentences of their own about Simon's routine using the information in the chart.
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Two Artists

Pre-intermediate (A2) 20 minutes
ESL Present Simple Activity preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): comparing similarities and differences with picture prompts

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences - Pair Work

In this imaginative present simple speaking activity, students find out about two people's similarities and differences using picture prompts and the present simple. In pairs, students find out about two artists' similarities and differences. Students...

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Pair Work In this imaginative present simple speaking activity, students find out about two people's similarities and differences using picture prompts and the present simple. In pairs, students find out about two artists' similarities and differences. Students use the picture prompts to describe the artist in their picture to their partner using present simple affirmative and negative statements. Students mark the similarities with a tick and differences with a cross.
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What do you do at the weekend?

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Activity preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): asking and answering about weekend routines

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences, Discussion, Describing, Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this interesting present simple speaking activity, students discuss what they usually do at the weekend. In pairs, students take turns asking their partner about...

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences, Guided Discussion, Describing, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this interesting present simple speaking activity, students discuss what they usually do at the weekend. In pairs, students take turns asking their partner about what they usually do at certain times during the weekend. Their partner replies by making a present simple affirmative statement. The student then writes a present simple sentence in the third-person singular about their partner's answer. When the pairs have finished, they discuss how their weekends are different. Finally, students describe their partner's weekend to the class.
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What do you usually do at...?

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Board Game preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): describing usual activities at different times

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Forming Sentences - Group work

In this insightful present simple affirmative board game, students use the present simple tense to describe what they usually do at certain times. Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their...

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Forming Sentences - Group work In this insightful present simple affirmative board game, students use the present simple tense to describe what they usually do at certain times. Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a student lands on a square, the person to their right asks them a 'What do you usually do at...?' question using the time in the square, e.g. 'What do you usually do at 7:30 a.m.?' The student then uses the present simple to describe what they usually do at that time of day, e.g. 'At 7:30 a.m., I usually have a shower.' If a student can't think of anything to say, repeats a previous sentence, or makes a grammar mistake, they go back two squares. The first student to reach the finish wins the game.
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Your Neighbourhood

Pre-intermediate (A2) 50 minutes
ESL Present Simple Activity preview for Pre-intermediate (A2): talking about neighbourhood, facilities, and transport

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Gap-fill, Preparing and Presenting a Dialogue - Pair Work

This useful present simple activity helps to teach students how to talk about housing, transport, facilities and services in their neighbourhood. In pairs...

ESL Present Simple Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Gap-fill, Preparing and Presenting a Dialogue - Pair Work This useful present simple activity helps to teach students how to talk about housing, transport, facilities and services in their neighbourhood. In pairs, students take turns asking and answering questions on the worksheet using the prompts to guide them. Afterwards, students use the vocabulary, questions and answers to create a conversation about their neighbourhood. Finally, pairs present their conversations to the class.
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The Name Game

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Present Simple Board Game preview for Intermediate (B1): forming sentences and practicing pronunciation

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar, Pronunciation and Speaking: Forming Sentences - Group Work

In this compelling present simple board game, students make present simple affirmative sentences and practice pronouncing third-person singular verb forms correctly. Players take turns rolling the dice...

ESL Present Simple Board Game - Grammar, Pronunciation and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Group Work In this compelling present simple board game, students make present simple affirmative sentences and practice pronouncing third-person singular verb forms correctly. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board. When a player lands on a square, they take a name card from the top of the pile. The player then reads out the name on the card and tries to make a true present simple affirmative sentence about the person using the verb marked on the square, pronouncing the third-person singular verb form correctly. The person whose name is on the card tells the player if their sentence is right or wrong. If the sentence is true, the player stays on the square. If the sentence is untrue or the pronunciation or grammar is incorrect, the player goes back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
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Understanding Present Simple Affirmative and Negative

The present simple affirmative states a fact, habit, or routine as true: 'She works in a hospital.' The present simple negative states that something does not happen or is not true: 'He doesn't eat meat.' When students confuse the two forms or get the verb agreement wrong, their sentences send the opposite message, causing real confusion, especially when describing habits or facts about other people.

This page covers present simple affirmative and negative sentences across Elementary (A1-A2), Pre-intermediate (A2), and Intermediate (B1) levels, with 20 resources ranging from pair guessing games and board games to running dictation activities and grammar worksheets, including three free downloads.

The present simple uses different affirmative and negative forms depending on the subject pronoun and whether the verb is 'be' or a main action verb.

SubjectAffirmative FormNegative FormExample Pair
I / You / We / They subject + base verb subject + don't + base verb 'I work from home.' / 'I don't work from home.'
He / She / It subject + base verb + -s or -es subject + doesn't + base verb 'She works from home.' / 'She doesn't work from home.'
He / She / It (-es spelling: verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -o, -s, -x) base verb + -es doesn't + base verb 'He watches TV.' / 'He doesn't watch TV.'
He / She / It (-y spelling: consonant + y, remove -y and add -ies) base verb changes to -ies doesn't + base verb 'She studies English.' / 'She doesn't study English.'
I am am not / I'm not 'I am tired.' / 'I'm not tired.'
He / She / It is is not / isn't 'She is a teacher.' / 'She isn't a teacher.'
You / We / They are are not / aren't 'They are late.' / 'They aren't late.'

When to Use Present Simple Affirmative and Negative

Talking About Regular Schedules: Writers and speakers use the present simple affirmative to describe fixed, timetabled events where something happens on a reliable, recurring basis, making it the natural choice in travel and professional contexts, as in 'The train leaves at 8:15.'

Expressing Personal Beliefs or Opinions: Certain verbs that describe states of mind, such as think, believe, and know, appear almost exclusively in the present simple when someone states a view or position, as in 'I don't believe the report is accurate.'

Stating Facts and General Truths: The present simple is the standard tense for facts that are always or generally true, from scientific principles to everyday observations. There is no past or future version of these statements because the truth does not change, as in 'The sun rises in the east' or 'Oil doesn't mix with water.'

3-Step Framework for Teaching Present Simple Affirmative and Negative

1. Build the Forms Through Controlled Guessing: Start with a pair guessing game where students practice both forms together in the same exchange. One student forms a present simple affirmative sentence to guess a partner's habit, and if the guess is wrong, the partner corrects it by producing the negative form, for example saying 'I don't do homework on Tuesday evening.' This immediate back-and-forth means students hear and produce both forms in context, which locks in the contrast quickly.

2. Extend the Forms to Vocabulary in Context: Once students can switch accurately between affirmative and negative, push them to use those forms with a wider range of verb-noun combinations. Give them a task where they write a set of present simple sentences about themselves, with exactly five true and five false, mixing affirmative and negative forms across both groups. Then put them in pairs to guess which sentences are real, adding a communicative reason to get the grammar right.

3. Build Fluency with a Running Activity: Finish with a physical activity that develops fluency under pressure. In pairs, one student runs to a text describing someone's daily routine, memorizes as much as they can, runs back, and dictates it to their partner who writes it down. Students then answer questions about the text in the first person before asking their partner about their routine and writing those answers in the third person, which pushes them to produce present simple sentences independently and spontaneously.

Common Mistakes with Present Simple Affirmative and Negative

Keeping the -s Ending After Doesn't: Students often add -s or -es to the main verb after 'doesn't', treating it as still needing the third-person singular marker even though 'doesn't' already carries it. Wrong: 'She doesn't likes coffee.' Correct: 'She doesn't like coffee.'

Using Don't Instead of Doesn't for He/She/It: Students often apply the first and second-person negative 'don't' to third-person singular subjects, skipping the form 'doesn't' entirely. Wrong: 'He don't play football.' Correct: 'He doesn't play football.'

Common Questions About Teaching Present Simple Affirmative and Negative

What is a fun board game for practicing present simple affirmative and negative sentences?

The board game Positive or Negative? is a fun way to practice both present simple forms. Players make an affirmative or negative sentence from the prompt they land on. If the prompt contains 'not', they produce a negative, for example 'Our teacher isn't late for class.' A correct sentence keeps them on the square; a wrong one sends them back two squares.

What is a good worksheet for teaching the present simple?

A structured worksheet covering the full set of present simple rules gives students a solid reference point. The free worksheet Present Simple Practice takes learners through third-person singular verb endings (-s, -es, or -ies), subject-verb agreement, negative forms with 'don't' and 'doesn't', and the correct position of adverbs of frequency. It runs to around 45 minutes.

What is an engaging present simple speaking activity?

Asking about a partner's weekend gives students a genuine reason to produce present simple sentences. In the activity What do you do at the weekend?, students take turns asking each other about their usual weekend routine. Their partner replies with a present simple affirmative statement, and the student writes that answer as a third-person sentence before a class report round.

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Mina Zolfaghari

English Tutor, Australia

"I like the efficiency and organization of the website. The resources cater to various levels with topic-based options for higher levels. The worksheets are very engaging and the answer keys are particularly helpful for teacher. The resources are also highly specific to levels and outcomes, making planning much easier. Finding what I need is simple and time-saving with the keyword search feature. Everything is clear and straightforward."

★★★★★

Karin Kiss

ESL Teacher, Switzerland

"The easy and ready-to-go materials have helped me a lot during the last few years. Most of all I like the grammar games that activate my pupils and keep them engaged. My lessons have become way more playful and varied. Additionally, I like the grammar worksheets which I use to consolidate what I have worked on during class. The website is very user-friendly, and I have never had any difficulties finding what I was looking for."

★★★★★

David-Wonbae Lee

Business English Teacher, Canada

"A friend told me about the site, and it's awesome. I have found the Business English resources especially engaging and relevant for my students as the materials help them understand business writing and terms. My teaching experience has also improved from using the games on the site as they allow me to teach in a fun way. The user experience is outstanding. Great job!"

★★★★★

Daniela Garcia

English Teacher, Mexico

"I found Teach-This a long time ago when I started teaching. It's always had great resources. I really appreciate the grammar materials, board games, and group activities. They've saved me lots of time on lesson planning. The materials are easy to use and understand, making my job much simpler. The best thing is that many resources can be downloaded for free. I've used it for around 8 years, and it consistently offers great content."

★★★★★

Thomas Wilson

Primary School Teacher, United Kingdom

"I use the resources from the Games Section as part of my daily 30-minute morning warm-up activities, and I've received rave reviews for using them. The games help me maintain student interest and participation and leave the students feeling happy and awake. I like everything about the site, and customer support is very effective as they respond in time."

★★★★★

Eugenia Fernandez

EFL Teacher, Argentina

"Teach-This is one of the best EFL websites I've found. It's extremely user-friendly, and I always find what I need quickly. I like the design, and the content is fun, engaging and original. I am very thankful for all your work and generosity by making some resources free. I always recommend this website to my fellow teachers. Your work is really helpful, and I value it enormously."

★★★★★

Jakub Havlk

Language School Teacher, Czechia

"I like the grammar-focused resources the most as they save me time. The resources also inspire me. If I see an interesting grammar activity, I often rework it for other grammar rules. I like the fact that I simply pay a flat fee, and I can download whatever I want. Teach-This really is a great timesaver. I know that if I am in need of resources for my students, I can go to Teach-This and find something interesting."

★★★★★

Alice Dimpz

English Teacher, Kenya

"Getting familiar with the site and how to use the resources is not difficult. I found the writing skills resources to be the most valuable as they have enhanced my teaching of this skill. The website is elaborate and full of all types of resources to help me teach English. When I contacted customer support, they were super-fast to deal with my enquiry. So overall, I recommend it."

★★★★★

Ikrram Badaoui

ESL Teacher, Morocco

"I have found the grammar and vocabulary resources the most valuable. They have improved my teaching experience because they are easy to use and well-organized. The materials are very engaging for my students. The website is also very user-friendly. The best thing about Teach-This is that it offers ready-made worksheets for busy teachers, and the content is well-organized and full of information."

★★★★★

Tania Ahmed

High School Teacher, Kurdistan

"I'm really glad I found the Teach-This website. The materials in the General English section have proven to be really helpful and made my classes more engaging. The materials are well-structured and cover a wide range of topics, making it easy to keep my students interested and motivated. Overall, my experience using your resources has been great."

★★★★★

Khawla Orq

EFL Teacher, Yemen

"My first impression of the website was that it was amazing. The games and activities have really improved my teaching. The resources are engaging and relevant to my students' needs, and I find the website easy to use and navigate. Thanks."

★★★★★

Anika Yadav

English Teacher, India

"I would like to thank you for making a fantastic website. I particularly enjoy teaching the functional language materials, which have been very helpful in my classes. The resources have significantly improved my students' communication skills in daily life, so it was rewarding to see them benefit in this way. It feels great to be able to make a difference in my students' lives. Please keep up the good work."

★★★★★

Dr. Elena Petrov

Academic English Coordinator, Spain

"I've been teaching Academic English for over eight years, and Teach-This.com has become my go-to resource for university preparation classes. The academic vocabulary exercises and speaking test preparation activities are exceptionally well-designed for advanced learners. My students particularly appreciate the study skills resources and paragraph writing materials, which have significantly boosted their confidence and exam scores."

★★★★★

Suzanne Coleman

Volunteer English Teacher, England

"I like your resources because they are so interesting and attractive. Your resources help to maintain student interest. Your resources have helped with the planning and preparation of my lessons because I have often been able to find resources focusing on specific topics, grammar or vocabulary. I am particularly grateful for your free resources, which I use at the English Club where I am a volunteer and help to support internationals in the community who are learning English."

★★★★★