Ah, the Present Simple tense—one of the first big grammar concepts we teach ESL students, and yet, somehow, it’s one of the most confusing for them. It seems so… simple, right? But then come the endless verb conjugation mistakes, the struggle with does/do questions, and the classic mix-ups with adverbs of frequency (because apparently, always can go anywhere in a sentence).
I’ve spent years fine-tuning how I teach this tense, and honestly, what’s made the biggest difference? Having structured, interactive, and engaging materials. That’s exactly why I put together my ESL Present Simple Bundle—a collection of guided notes, interactive slides, and fun grammar games that make teaching (and learning!) this tense way easier.
In this post, I’m sharing my top tips for teaching the Present Simple—all based on what’s worked for me in the classroom. Plus, if you want to save time and grab ready-to-go resources, I’ll share how you can get your hands on them at the end.
Let’s dive in!
Understanding the Present Simple: A Quick Overview for teachers
Okay, before we dive into strategies, let’s quickly review what we’re working with. The Present Simple tense is one of the first grammar structures ESL students will encounter, and it’s essential for talking about things that happen regularly, facts, and scheduled events.
We use the Present Simple for things like:
- Habits and routines: I wake up at 7 AM.
- Facts and truths: The sun rises in the east.
- Scheduled events: The train leaves at 6 PM.
It’s also worth mentioning that the structure of the Present Simple is pretty simple (pun intended), but there are a few tricky parts to watch out for:
- Affirmative sentences: We use the base form of the verb (She plays soccer).
- Negative sentences: We add “do not” (or “don’t”) before the base verb (She doesn’t play soccer).
- Questions: We start with “do” or “does” (Does she play soccer?).
So, why do students struggle with it? Well, it’s usually the little things:
- The third-person singular (he, she, it) requires that extra “s” at the end of verbs (He plays, She eats).
- Forming questions and negatives can trip them up, especially when switching between different sentence types.
- Adverbs of frequency can be tricky too—getting the word order right (I always eat breakfast vs. I eat breakfast always).
This is where a clear structure, engaging activities, and consistent practice really help!
4 Effective Strategies for Teaching the Present Simple
Use Guided Notes for a Strong Foundation
Tip: Start with clear explanations and structured exercises to build a solid understanding.
How to apply:
Before throwing students into complex activities, it’s helpful to guide them step-by-step. I love using guided notes to help students organize their thoughts. Start by giving them clear examples, then have them practice by categorizing different sentences (habits, facts, schedules) and completing exercises that reinforce the concepts.
You can use fill-in-the-blank activities or have them transform sentences from affirmative to negative or questions. It gives them practice while keeping things structured.
✅ Resource Highlight:
My Present Simple Guided Notes are a great tool for this. They provide step-by-step explanations, examples, and practice exercises that guide students through the key concepts of the Present Simple, ensuring they grasp the basics before moving on to more complex tasks.
Engage Students with Interactive Slides & Games
Tip: Make Present Simple fun with drag-and-drop activities and sentence challenges.
How to apply:
Let’s be honest—students are more likely to engage when they’re having fun! I use interactive slides and games to teach Present Simple forms (affirmative, negative, questions). For example, try drag-and-drop sentence-building activities where students arrange words into correct sentences. Or even better, a sentence correction race where students work in teams to spot and fix mistakes.
Using visual aids helps keep things interesting, and it also reinforces learning by allowing students to see the sentence structure in action.
✅ Resource Highlight:
Check out my ESL Present Simple Google Slides & PPT Activities. They’re packed with interactive exercises, engaging visuals, and grammar games that make learning the Present Simple more dynamic.
Reinforce Learning with Speaking & Writing Activities
Tip: Give students plenty of speaking practice to build confidence.
How to apply:
Let’s face it—language isn’t just about rules; it’s about using it! That’s why speaking and writing activities are so important for reinforcing the Present Simple. Pair students up and have them ask and answer daily routine questions like, “What time do you wake up?” or “How often do you go to the gym?” This helps them practice in a real-life context.
You can also assign short writing tasks where students describe their daily habits or routines using the Present Simple. These activities build confidence and fluency, while reinforcing the grammar in a meaningful way.
✅ Resource Highlight:
My Present Simple ESL Bundle includes PPT slides with questions student’s can aswer to by writing or speaking
Teach Adverbs of Frequency with Real-Life Contexts
Tip: Introduce a frequency scale (Always → Never) and encourage students to use it in sentences.
How to apply:
Adverbs of frequency are often one of the trickier parts of the Present Simple, but with the right approach, they can be easy to master. Start by teaching a frequency scale (Always → Never), then have students use it to describe their own habits. For example, “I always drink coffee in the morning” or “I never watch TV on weekdays.” It helps students see how frequency adverbs fit into their daily lives.
You can also use fill-in-the-blank exercises or sentence-building activities to practice adverb placement (I always eat lunch vs. I eat lunch always).
Save Time & Engage Your Students with This Ready-to-Use ESL Bundle
We’ve talked about strategies, but let’s be real: we all love a good shortcut when it comes to teaching. And that’s exactly why I created my ESL Present Simple Bundle—it’s packed with everything you need to teach the Present Simple with ease and keep your students engaged at the same time!
If you’re looking for structured, interactive, and ready-to-go materials that will make your life a whole lot easier, this bundle is exactly what you need.
💡 What’s Included?
- ✅ Guided Notes – Step-by-step explanations and exercises to build a solid foundation.
- ✅ Google Slides & PPT Activities – Interactive lessons with drag-and-drop tasks, sentence challenges, and more!
- ✅ Fun Grammar Games – Engaging quizzes, adverb of frequency activities, and sentence-building tasks to keep your students practicing and having fun.
This bundle is perfect for ESL beginners and elementary students who are just starting to get the hang of the Present Simple. With a mix of engaging visuals, structured practice, and interactive activities, you’ll be able to teach the tense in a way that sticks. Your students will grasp the Present Simple quickly and confidently—while having a blast doing it!
📥 Get it now on TpT → Present Simple Grammar Bundle: Digital ESL Lesson & Games for A1-A2
✅ Resource Highlight:
My Present Simple Games & Exercises are full of fun quizzes, sentence-building tasks, and frequency adverb activities that will make these concepts stick!
Teaching the Present Simple doesn’t have to be a struggle for you—or your students. With the right tools, strategies, and resources, it’s easy to turn what could be a boring lesson into something fun and engaging. Whether you’re using guided notes, interactive games, or real-life speaking and writing activities, the key is to make it hands-on and relatable.
By incorporating these tips and ready-to-use resources, you’ll not only help your students understand the Present Simple tense but also give them the confidence to use it in everyday conversation. And let’s be honest, seeing those “aha!” moments in your students makes all the effort worth it!
So, if you’re ready to level up your Present Simple lessons, grab my ESL Present Simple Bundle and start teaching with ease today!
Happy teaching, and let’s make grammar fun! 🎉
