A2business

Present Simple Negative Exercises - Business English 1

Type your answer in each blank and press Enter to check it, or use Check answers below. A cue in (brackets) is the word to put in the right form.

Use the present simple with ordinary verbs (work, go, have, want, need) to talk about facts, habits, routines and timetables, things that are generally or regularly true. With I, you, we and they the verb keeps its base form: "I work in finance", "We need the report by Friday". With he, she and it you add -s: "She works in finance", "He needs the figures today". Watch the spelling: most verbs add -s (works), verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x add -es (goes, watches, finishes), and a consonant + y changes to -ies (study to studies, but play stays plays). To make negatives and questions, use the auxiliary do/does and return the main verb to its base form: "I do not (don't) agree", "She does not (doesn't) handle that account", "Do you work on Mondays?", "Does he report to you?". A very common mistake is keeping the -s after does: write "Does she work here?", never "Does she works here?". Likewise, the -s appears only once: "He wants" is correct, "He want" and "He does wants" are not. Time words such as usually, often, every day and on Fridays sit naturally with this tense.

Let's practise. Type each answer and press Enter, I'll check it with you.

  1. She (not manage) the team effectively.
  2. They (not attend) the weekly meetings.
  3. We (not prepare) the reports on time.
  4. He (not lead) the marketing campaign.
  5. You (not coordinate) with the project team regularly.
  6. I (not review) the financial statements every month.
  7. The team (not achieve) their targets consistently.
  8. The company (not expand) its operations globally.
  9. She (not analyze) market trends.
  10. We (not implement) new strategies often.
  11. He (not communicate) with clients daily.
  12. They (not develop) new products.
  13. You (not provide) sufficient customer service.
  14. I (not focus) on improving productivity.
  15. The manager (not schedule) meetings efficiently.
  16. Our department (not collaborate) with other teams.
  17. She (not design) marketing materials.
  18. We (not launch) new products every year.
  19. He (not negotiate) contracts with suppliers.
  20. They (not maintain) high standards of quality.
  21. You (not monitor) the project's progress.
  22. I (not attend) industry conferences regularly.
  23. The team (not celebrate) their successes often.
  24. The company (not offer) competitive salaries.
  25. She (not train) new employees thoroughly.

Common questions

When do you use the present simple instead of the present continuous?

Use the present simple for habits, routines and permanent facts: "I start work at nine", "Our office closes at six." Use the present continuous for actions happening right now or temporary situations: "I'm writing the report at the moment." Compare "She manages the Berlin team" (her ongoing job) with "She's covering for a colleague this week" (temporary).

How do I form negatives and questions with present simple verbs?

Add the auxiliary do or does and keep the main verb in its base form. For I/you/we/they use do: "I don't agree", "Do you have a minute?" For he/she/it use does: "He doesn't reply quickly", "Does she know about the meeting?" The -s moves onto does, so the main verb loses it: say "Does he work late?", never "Does he works late?"

When exactly do I add -s or -es to the verb?

Only with the third person singular: he, she, it, or a single person or thing (the manager, the system). Add plain -s to most verbs (sends, needs). Add -es after -o, -ch, -sh, -ss and -x (goes, watches, fixes). If the verb ends in a consonant plus y, change y to -ies (study to studies). Example: "The system updates every night and finishes by dawn."