Simple Present Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate like the verb "run" below. Notice how you add an "s" to third-person forms. Third-
person negative forms and third-person questions are made using "does."

Positive Negative Question

I run. I do not run. Do I run?
You run. You do not run. Do you run?
We run. We do not run. Do we run?
They run. They do not run. Do they run?
He runs. He does not run. Does he run?
She runs. She does not run. Does she run?
It runs. It does not run. Does it run?

Instead of "s," "es" is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z,
sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special "es"-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*.
Positive Negative Question
I rush. I do not rush. Do I rush?
You rush. You do not rush. Do you rush?
We rush. We do not rush. Do we rush?
They rush. They do not rush. Do they rush?
He rushes. * He does not rush. Does he rush?
She rushes. * She does not rush. Does she rush?
It rushes. * It does not rush. Does it rush?

To Have

The verb "have" is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with
an asterisk*.

Positive Negative Question

I have. I do not have. Do I have?
You have. You do not have. Do you have?
We have. We do not have. Do we have?
They have. They do not have. Do they have?
He has. * He does not have. Does he have?
She has. * She does not have. Does she have?
It has. * It does not have. Does it have?

To Be

The verb "be" is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms.

Positive Negative Question

I am. I am not. Am I?
You are. You are not. Are you?
We are. We are not. Are we?
They are. They are not. Are they?
He is. He is not. Is he?
She is. She is not. Is she?
It is. It is not. Is it?

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take "s" in the third person - there is
no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb "be" described
above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in simple present.
Positive Negative Question
I should go. I should not go. Should I go?
You should go. You should not go. Should you go?
We should go. We should not go. Should we go?
They should go. They should not go. Should they go?
He should go. He should not go. Should he go?
She should go. She should not go. Should she go?
It should go. It should not go. Should it go?

To learn more about modal verbs and how they behave differently from other verbs, visit [Link]'s
Modal Verb Tutorial.
Present Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question

I am speaking. I am not speaking. Am I speaking?
You are speaking. You are not speaking. Are you speaking?
We are speaking. We are not speaking. Are we speaking?
They are speaking. They are not speaking. Are they speaking?
He is speaking. He is not speaking. Is he speaking?
She is speaking. She is not speaking. Is she speaking?
It is speaking. It is not speaking. Is it speaking?
Present Perfect Forms

Positive Negative Question

I have traveled. I have not traveled. Have I traveled?

You have traveled. You have not traveled. Have you traveled?

We have traveled. We have not traveled. Have we traveled?

They have traveled They have not traveled. Have they traveled?

He has traveled. He has not traveled. Has he traveled?

She has traveled. She has not traveled. Has she traveled?

It has traveled. It has not traveled. Has it traveled?

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question

I have been sleeping. I have not been sleeping. Have I been sleeping?

You have been sleeping. You have not been sleeping. Have you been sleeping?

We have been sleeping. We have not been sleeping. Have we been sleeping?

They have been sleeping. They have not been sleeping. Have they been sleeping?

He has been sleeping. He has not been sleeping. Has he been sleeping?

She has been sleeping. She has not been sleeping. Has she been sleeping?

It has been sleeping. It has not been sleeping. Has it been sleeping?
Simple Past Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate by adding -ed like the verb "wait" below.

Positive Negative Question

I waited. I did not wait. Did I wait?

You waited. You did not wait. Did you wait?

We waited. We did not wait. Did we wait?

They waited. They did not wait. Did they wait?

He waited. He did not wait. Did he wait?

She waited. She did not wait. Did she wait?

It waited. It did not wait. Did it wait?

Irregular Verbs

Many verbs, such as "have," take irregular forms in the simple past. Notice that you only use the irregular
verbs in statements. In negative forms and questions, "did" indicates simple past. To learn more about
irregular verbs, visit [Link]'s Irregular Verb Dictionary. You can also use [Link]'s
Online Irregular Verb Flashcards to memorize irregular verb forms.

Positive Negative Question

I had. I did not have. Did I have?

You had. You did not have. Did you have?

We had. We did not have. Did we have?

They had. They did not have. Did they have?

He had. He did not have. Did he have?

She had. She did not have. Did she have?

It had. It did not have. Did it have?

To Be

The verb "be" is also irregular in the simple past. Unlike other irregular verbs, there are two simple past
forms: "was" and "were." It also has different question forms and negative forms. Always remember that you
DO NOT use "did" with the verb "be" in the simple past.

Positive Negative Question

I was. I was not. Was I?

You were. You were not. Were you?

We were. We were not. Were we?

They were. They were not. Were they?

He was. He was not. Was he?

She was. She was not. Was she?

It was. It was not. Was it?

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave very strangely in the simple past. The most important verb to remember is "must."
Notice how it becomes "had to" in the simple past.

"Must" becomes "had to":

 • I must call my wife now.
• I had to call my wife yesterday.

To learn more about modal verbs and how they change in the past, visit [Link]'s Modal Verb Tutorial.
Past Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question

I was singing. I was not singing. Was I singing?

You were singing You were not singing. Were you singing?

We were singing. We were not singing. Were we singing?

They were singing. They were not singing. Were they singing?

He was singing. He was not singing. Was he singing?

She was singing. She was not singing. Was she singing?

It was singing. It was not singing. Was it singing?

Past Perfect Forms

Positive Negative Question

I had finished. I had not finished. Had I finished?

You had finished. You had not finished. Had you finished?

We had finished. We had not finished. Had we finished?

They had finished. They had not finished. Had they finished?

He had finished. He had not finished. Had he finished?

She had finished. She had not finished. Had she finished?

It had finished. It had not finished. Had it finished?

Past Perfect Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question

I had been listening. I had not been listening. Had I been listening?

You had been listening. You had not been listening. Had you been listening?

We had been listening. We had not been listening. Had we been listening?

They had been listening. They had not been listening Had they been listening?

He had been listening. He had not been listening. Had he been listening?

She had been listening. She had not been listening. Had she been listening?

It had been listening. It had not been listening. Had it been listening?
Simple Future Forms
Using "Will"

Positive Negative Question

I will help. I will not help. Will I help?

You will help. You will not help. Will you help?

We will help. We will not help. Will we help?

They will help. They will not help. Will they help?

He will help. He will not help. Will he help?

She will help. She will not help. Will she help?

It will help. It will not help. Will it help?

Using "Be Going to"

Positive Negative Question

I am going to leave. I am not going to leave. Am I going to leave?

You are going to leave. You are not going to leave. Are you going to leave?

We are going to leave. We are not going to leave. Are we going to leave?

They are going to leave. They are not going to leave. Are they going to leave?

He is going to leave. He is not going to leave. Is he going to leave?

She is going to leave. She is not going to leave. Is she going to leave?

It is going to leave. It is not going to leave. Is it going to leave?

Future Continuous Forms

Using "Will"

Positive Negative Question

I will be waiting. I will not be waiting. Will I be waiting?

You will be waiting. You will not be waiting. Will you be waiting?

We will be waiting. We will not be waiting. Will we be waiting?

They will be waiting. They will not be waiting. Will they be waiting?

He will be waiting. He will not be waiting. Will he be waiting?

She will be waiting. She will not be waiting. Will she be waiting?

It will be waiting. It will not be waiting. Will it be waiting?

Using "Be Going To"

Positive Negative Question

I am going to be waiting. I am not going to be waiting. Am I going to be waiting?

You are going to be waiting. You are not going to be waiting. Are you going to be waiting?

We are going to be waiting. We are not going to be waiting. Are we going to be waiting?

They are going to be waiting. They are not going to be waiting. Are they going to be waiting?

He is going to be waiting He is not going to be waiting. Is he going to be waiting?

She is going to be waiting. She is not going to be waiting. Is she going to be waiting?

It is going to be waiting. It is not going to be waiting. Is it going to be waiting?

Future Perfect Forms

Using "Will"

Positive Negative Question

I will have stopped. I will not have stopped. Will I have stopped?

You will have stopped. You will not have stopped. Will you have stopped?

We will have stopped. We will not have stopped. Will we have stopped?

They will have stopped. They will not have stopped. Will they have stopped?

He will have stopped. He will not have stopped. Will he have stopped?

She will have stopped. She will not have stopped. Will she have stopped?

It will have stopped. It will not have stopped. Will it have stopped?
Using "Be Going To"

Positive Negative Question

I am going to have stopped. I am not going to have stopped. Am I going to have stopped?

You are going to have stopped. You are not going to have stopped. Are you going to have stopped?

We are going to have stopped. We are not going to have stopped. Are we going to have stopped?

They are going to have stopped. They are not going to have stopped. Are they going to have stopped?

He is going to have stopped. He is not going to have stopped. Is he going to have stopped?

She is going to have stopped. She is not going to have stopped. Is she going to have stopped?

It is going to have stopped. It is not going to have stopped. Is it going to have stopped?
Future Perfect Continuous Forms

Using "Will"

Positive Negative Question

I will have been sleeping. I will not have been sleeping. Will I have been sleeping?

You will have been sleeping. You will not have been sleeping. Will you have been sleeping?

We will have been sleeping. We will not have been sleeping. Will we have been sleeping?

They will have been sleeping. They will not have been sleeping. Will they have been sleeping?

He will have been sleeping. He will not have been sleeping. Will he have been sleeping?

She will have been sleeping. She will not have been sleeping. Will she have been sleeping?

It will have been sleeping. It will not have been sleeping. Will it have been sleeping?
Using "Be Going To"

Positive Negative Question

I am going to have been sleeping. I am not going to have been sleeping. Am I going to have been sleeping?

You are going to have been sleeping. You are not going to have been sleeping. Are you going to have been sleeping?

We are going to have been sleeping. We are not going to have been sleeping. Are we going to have been sleeping?

They are going to have been sleeping. They are not going to have been sleeping. Are they going to have been sleeping?

He is going to have been sleeping. He is not going to have been sleeping. Is he going to have been sleeping?

She is going to have been sleeping. She is not going to have been sleeping. Is she going to have been sleeping?

It is going to have been sleeping. It is not going to have been sleeping. Is it going to have been sleeping?