Simple Present Tense Grammar Worksheet from TurtleDiary.com

Let's solve this grammar exercise step by step. The task is to change the verbs in parentheses to their correct simple present tense form.

The simple present tense is used for:
- Habits or routines (e.g., "I eat breakfast every morning")
- General truths (e.g., "The sun rises in the east")
- Current actions (especially with time expressions like *every day*, *always*, *usually*)

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Rules for Present Tense:

1. For I, you, we, they: Use the base form of the verb.
2. For he, she, it: Add -s or -es to the base verb.
- Most verbs: add -s (e.g., cook → cooks)
- Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z: add -es (e.g., watch → watches)
- Verbs ending in -y preceded by a consonant: change -y to -ies (e.g., study → studies)
- Verbs ending in -y preceded by a vowel: just add -s (e.g., play → plays)

Now let’s go through each sentence:

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1. Sarah (cook) _______ breakfast every morning.
→ Sarah cooks breakfast every morning.
*(She = third person singular → cook + s)*

2. Laura (live) _______ in Florida.
→ Laura lives in Florida.
*(She = third person singular → live + s)*

3. Paul (play) _______ the piano at the concert.
→ Paul plays the piano at the concert.
*(He = third person singular → play + s)*

4. Every night I (read) _______ my book.
→ Every night I read my book.
*(I = first person → base form)*

5. I always (ask) _______ a lot of questions.
→ I always ask a lot of questions.
*(I = first person → base form)*

6. She (drive) _______ too fast!
→ She drives too fast!
*(She = third person singular → drive + s)*

7. Kara (turn) _______ on the light.
→ Kara turns on the light.
*(She = third person singular → turn + s)*

8. I (wave) _______ to my sister.
→ I wave to my sister.
*(I = first person → base form)*

9. My mom (bake) _______ the best brownies.
→ My mom bakes the best brownies.
*(She = third person singular → bake + s)*

10. She always (walk) _______ the dog.
→ She always walks the dog.
*(She = third person singular → walk + s)*

11. Zack (throw) _______ the frisbee onto the roof.
→ Zack throws the frisbee onto the roof.
*(He = third person singular → throw + s)*

12. The dog (bark) _______ at the mailman.
→ The dog barks at the mailman.
*(It = third person singular → bark + s)*

13. The band (play) _______ salsa music.
→ The band plays salsa music.
*(“Band” is treated as a collective noun; here it acts as a singular unit → play + s)*

14. I (drink) _______ lemonade on the porch.
→ I drink lemonade on the porch.
*(I = first person → base form)*

15. My dad (build) _______ boats.
→ My dad builds boats.
*(He = third person singular → build + s)*

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Sarah cooks breakfast every morning.
2. Laura lives in Florida.
3. Paul plays the piano at the concert.
4. Every night I read my book.
5. I always ask a lot of questions.
6. She drives too fast!
7. Kara turns on the light.
8. I wave to my sister.
9. My mom bakes the best brownies.
10. She always walks the dog.
11. Zack throws the frisbee onto the roof.
12. The dog barks at the mailman.
13. The band plays salsa music.
14. I drink lemonade on the porch.
15. My dad builds boats.

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Summary of Key Concepts:

- Use -s for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, names).
- Use base form for I, you, we, they.
- Remember exceptions: -es after -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z (e.g., watches), and -ies for consonant + y (e.g., studies).

This exercise helps reinforce correct verb conjugation in the present tense — essential for clear and accurate English writing and speaking.