Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises for Easy Practice

The simple present tense is one of the fundamental grammar topics that Grade 4 students need to understand when learning English. It helps children talk about their daily routines, describe habits, express likes and dislikes, and share simple facts about the world around them. Learning this tense also prepares students for more advanced grammar topics in later grades.

However, many young learners find it difficult to choose the correct verb form for different subjects. Some forget to add -s or -es when using he, she, or it, while others confuse the auxiliary verbs do and does in questions and negative sentences.

Regular practice with different types of exercises can help students recognize these patterns and avoid common mistakes. This guide provides Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises with answers, explanations, and practical learning tips to help children strengthen their grammar skills step by step.

Understanding the Simple Present Tense for Grade 4

Before starting the exercises, students should review when to use the simple present tense, how to form sentences, and which spelling rules to remember.

When Do We Use the Simple Present Tense?

The simple present tense is commonly used to describe habits, repeated actions, general facts, and personal preferences.

Daily routines

Use the simple present tense to talk about activities that happen regularly.

Example: I brush my teeth every morning.

Meaning: I do this activity every morning as part of my daily routine.

Repeated activities

Use this tense for actions that happen regularly on certain days or at particular times.

Example: She plays badminton on Sundays.

Meaning: Playing badminton is a regular activity for her.

General facts

The simple present tense can describe facts that are generally true.

Example: The sun rises in the east.

Likes and dislikes

Use this tense to talk about what someone likes or dislikes.

Example: He likes English.

These examples help Grade 4 students connect grammar rules with familiar situations in everyday life.

Simple Present Tense Rules for Grade 4

Students should understand the three main sentence forms: affirmative, negative, and interrogative.

S stands for the subject, V stands for the verb, and O stands for the object or another part of the sentence.

Important rules to remember:

• Use the base form of the verb with I, you, we, and they in affirmative sentences.
• Add -s or -es to most verbs when the subject is he, she, or it, or a singular noun.
• Use do not or does not to form negative sentences with ordinary verbs.
• Start yes/no questions with do or does.
• After does or doesn’t, always use the base form of the main verb.

Examples:

• They play football after school.
• Nam plays football after school.
• Nam doesn’t play football after school.
• Does Nam play football after school?

Notice that plays changes back to play when the sentence uses doesn’t or does.

How to Add -S and -ES to Verbs

One of the most important skills in Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises is knowing how to change verbs for third-person singular subjects.

Students should also remember these common irregular forms:

• have → has
• do → does
• go → goes

For example:

• Correct: Does she go to school by bus?
• Incorrect: Does she goes to school by bus?

The main verb stays in its base form after does.

Common Time Expressions in the Simple Present Tense

Certain adverbs and time expressions frequently appear in simple present tense exercises.

These expressions can help students understand the meaning of a sentence. However, students should read the whole sentence instead of relying only on a time expression to choose the correct verb form.

Common Mistakes in Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises

Understanding common errors can help students check their work more carefully and improve their accuracy.

Forgetting to Add -S or -ES

In affirmative sentences, most verbs need -s or -es when the subject is he, she, or it, or a singular noun.

Incorrect: She play the piano.

Correct: She plays the piano.

Confusing Do and Does

Use do with I, you, we, and they, as well as plural subjects. Use does with he, she, and it, or singular nouns.

Incorrect: Do he like milk?

Correct: Does he like milk?

Adding -S or -ES After Does

When does or doesn’t appears in a sentence, the main verb must remain in its base form.

Incorrect: Does Lan likes apples?

Correct: Does Lan like apples?

Using Have Instead of Has

Use have with I, you, we, and they, and use has with he, she, and it, or singular nouns.

Incorrect: He have a new bag.

Correct: He has a new bag.

Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb in Negative Sentences

Negative sentences with ordinary verbs require do not or does not.

Incorrect: She not play tennis.

Correct: She doesn’t play tennis.

Tips for Getting Better Results in Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises

Students can improve their accuracy by following a few simple steps whenever they practice.

Identify the subject first. Before changing a verb, determine whether the subject is I, you, we, they, he, she, it, or a noun.

Check for auxiliary verbs. If a sentence already contains does or doesn’t, keep the main verb in its base form.

Look for time expressions. Words such as every day, usually, and often may indicate a habit or repeated activity.

Read the entire sentence. Check that the subject and verb agree and that the sentence makes sense.

Practice different exercise types. Do not focus only on verb conjugation. Try multiple-choice questions, negative sentences, questions, error correction, and word-order activities.

Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises with Answers

The following Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises use familiar vocabulary about school, family, hobbies, and daily routines. Students should complete each activity before checking the answer key.

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentences with the Correct Verb Forms

Instructions: Write the correct simple present tense form of each verb in parentheses.

1. My father ______ (work) in a hospital.
2. She ______ (go) to school by bike.
3. We ______ (play) football every afternoon.
4. Tom ______ (watch) TV after dinner.
5. They ______ (study) English on Mondays.

Answers and explanations:

1. works — My father is a singular subject, so add -s.
2. goes — Use goes with she.
3. play — The subject we takes the base form.
4. watches — The verb watch ends in -ch, so add -es.
5. study — The subject they takes the base form.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer

Instructions: Choose the best option to complete each sentence.

Question 1. She _____ English every day.

1. study
2. studies
3. studying

Question 2. They _____ to school by bus.

1. goes
2. go
3. going

Question 3. My brother _____ TV every evening.

1. watch
2. watches
3. watching

Question 4. We _____ lunch at school.

1. has
2. have
3. having

Question 5. Lan _____ milk every morning.

1. drinks
2. drink
3. drinking

Answers and explanations:

1. B. studies — Study changes to studies because the subject is she.
2. B. go — Use the base form with they.
3. B. watches — My brother is a singular subject.
4. B. have — Use have with we.
5. A. drinks — Lan is a singular subject, so add -s.

Exercise 3: Change the Sentences into Negative Forms

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence in the negative form.

1. She likes apples.
2. They play basketball.
3. Tom goes to school by bus.
4. I watch TV every night.
5. My mother cooks breakfast.

Answers:

1. She doesn’t like apples.
2. They don’t play basketball.
3. Tom doesn’t go to school by bus.
4. I don’t watch TV every night.
5. My mother doesn’t cook breakfast.

Explanation: Use don’t or doesn’t before the main verb. When using doesn’t, return the main verb to its base form. For example, goes becomes go, and cooks becomes cook.

Exercise 4: Turn the Sentences into Questions

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence as a yes/no question.

1. She goes to school on foot.
2. They play football.
3. Nam watches TV every evening.
4. You like English.
5. He has lunch at school.

Answers:

1. Does she go to school on foot?
2. Do they play football?
3. Does Nam watch TV every evening?
4. Do you like English?
5. Does he have lunch at school?

Explanation: Put do or does at the beginning of the question, followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb. Remember that has changes to have after does.

Exercise 5: Find and Correct the Mistakes

Instructions: Each sentence contains one mistake. Find it and rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. She go to school every day.
2. They plays football after school.
3. Does Tom likes milk?
4. My father don’t work on Sundays.
5. I watches TV every evening.

Answers and explanations:

1. She goes to school every day. — Add -es to go.
2. They play football after school. — Use the base form with they.
3. Does Tom like milk? — Use the base form after does.
4. My father doesn’t work on Sundays. — Use doesn’t with a singular subject.
5. I watch TV every evening. — Use the base form with I.

Exercise 6: Fill in the Blanks with Do, Does, Don’t, or Doesn’t

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct word.

1. ______ you like English?
2. ______ she play badminton?
3. They ______ go to school on Sundays.
4. He ______ like carrots.
5. ______ your parents work in a hospital?

Answers:

1. Do
2. Does
3. don’t
4. doesn’t
5. Do

Explanation: Use do and does to form questions. Use don’t and doesn’t to form negative sentences. The subject determines which auxiliary verb is appropriate.

Exercise 7: Put the Words in the Correct Order

Instructions: Arrange the words to make complete sentences.

1. every day / I / English / study
2. likes / she / cats
3. football / don’t / play / we
4. does / where / live / he
5. breakfast / my mother / cooks / every morning

Answers:

1. I study English every day.
2. She likes cats.
3. We don’t play football.
4. Where does he live?
5. My mother cooks breakfast every morning.

Explanation: Identify the subject and main verb before arranging the other words. In questions with a question word such as where, place the question word first, followed by the auxiliary verb, subject, and main verb.

How to Review After Completing the Exercises

After finishing these Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises, students should check their answers and identify which rules need more practice.

If they make mistakes when changing verbs, they should review the -s/-es spelling rules. If they confuse do and does, they should practice identifying singular and plural subjects. Students who struggle with negative sentences or questions can rewrite affirmative sentences in both forms to become more familiar with the patterns.

Parents can also support learning by asking children to describe familiar routines in English. For example:

• I get up at six o’clock.
• My sister likes music.
• We go to school every day.

Connecting grammar to everyday activities helps children understand how the tense works instead of simply memorizing formulas.

Students can practice in short sessions, completing around 10–20 questions per session depending on their ability and concentration. Regular practice, careful answer checking, and reviewing mistakes can help them build a stronger foundation in English grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grade 4 Simple Present Tense Exercises

Which exercise types should Grade 4 students practice?

Students should begin with verb conjugation and multiple-choice questions. They can then practice negative sentences, question formation, auxiliary verbs, word ordering, and error correction. Using different exercise types helps them apply grammar rules in a variety of contexts.

How can students remember when to add -S or -ES?

First, identify the subject. In affirmative sentences, most verbs take -s or -es with he, she, it, or a singular noun. When does or doesn’t is used, the main verb returns to its base form.

How many exercises should students complete each week?

Students can practice two or three times a week, completing approximately 10–20 questions per session. The amount can be adjusted to their learning needs. If a particular exercise type remains difficult, they should review it before moving on to a new topic.

Is memorizing the formula enough to learn the simple present tense?

No. Memorizing formulas is a useful first step, but students also need to apply them in sentences. Reading examples, writing their own sentences, and completing exercises can help them understand and remember the rules more effectively.

What grammar topics can students learn after the simple present tense?

Once students understand the basic rules, they can continue learning the verb to be with am, is, and are, the present continuous tense, and the past simple tense according to their school curriculum. Studying one topic at a time and practicing each structure before combining different tenses can make learning more manageable.

Keywords:

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