Inductive Grammar Worksheet: The Present Simple

Inductive Grammar Worksheet Present Simple Activities for ESL Learners

Welcome! In this worksheet, your students will learn about the Present Simple tense using an inductive approach to teach grammar. The lesson will guide them to explore how the Present Simple is used to talk about daily routines, habits, general facts, and things that happen regularly.

They will first read a short text to notice how the tense is used, then explore the form through charts and exercises, and finally practice using it in sentences and short activities.

By the end of the worksheet, your students will be able to understand, form, and use the Present Simple confidently in their own writing and speaking.

The Present Simple: An Inductive Grammar Worksheet

This simple present lesson plan adopts an inductive approach to English language teaching.

Step 1 – Read the Text

Read the short text below. The verbs in the Present Simple tense are highlighted.

Hello! My name is Sarah. I live in London. I work as a teacher. I get up at 7 o’clock and I drink coffee every morning. My brother plays football on weekends, and my sister studies at university. My parents read the newspaper every evening and watch TV together after dinner.

Step 2 – Comprehension Questions

Answer the questions about the text in full sentences:

  1. Where does Sarah live?
  2. What does Sarah drink every morning?
  3. What does her brother do on weekends?
  4. Does her sister study at school or university?
  5. What do Sarah’s parents do every evening?

Step 3 – Grammar Discovery Task

A) Complete the chart with the correct verb forms from the text.

SubjectVerb Form
I_____
I_____
I_____
I_____
My brother_____
My sister_____
My parents_____
My parents_____

B) Decide if the statements are True (T) or False (F).

  1. The simple present refers to an action that happened in the past. (___)
  2. The simple present is used to talk about routines and habits. (___)
  3. We add -s for third-person singular (he, she, it). (___)
  4. With I/you/we/they, the verb stays in its base form. (___)
  5. With he/she/it, some verbs change spelling (e.g., study → studies). (___)

Step 4 – Rule Discovery

Work with a partner or discuss as a class:

  • When do we use the Present Simple tense?
  • How do we form it with I/you/we/they?
  • How do we form it with he/she/it?
  • Are there any spelling changes? (e.g. verbs ending in y)

👉 Write the rule in your own words:

…

Step 5 – Practice & Extension

A) Matching Exercise

Match the subject in Column A with the correct verb phrase in Column B. Write the number and letter.

Column A

  1. I
  2. My brother
  3. My parents
  4. She
  5. We

Column B

  • a) study English on Mondays. Our teacher is American.
  • b) studies at university.
  • c) watch TV in the evening after dinner.
  • d) plays football on weekends with his friends.
  • e) drink coffee every morning before work.
1. e
2. d
3. c
4. b
5. a

B) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the Present Simple.

  1. My best friend __________ (live) near me.
  2. She __________ (go) to school every day at 8.
  3. I __________ (like) pizza but my brother __________ (prefer) pasta.
  4. My parents __________ (watch) TV in the evening.
  5. We __________ (study) English every Monday and Wednesday.
1. lives
2. goes
3. like
4. watch
5. study

C) Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the sentences so that they are about another subject. Remember to change the verb form if needed.

  1. I drink juice. → My sister __________ juice.
  2. We play football. → My brother __________ football.
  3. I get up early. → My parents __________ early.
  4. I read a book every night. → She __________ a book every night.
  5. We go to school. → He __________ to school.
1. drinks
2. plays
3. get up
4. reads
5. goes

D) Personalization – Talk about Yourself!

Write 3–4 sentences about your daily routine using the Present Simple.
Examples:

  • I… at…
  • I usually…
  • My family…
  • My sister/brother…
  • My friend…

Step 6 – Production Stage: Use the Present Simple

At this stage, students use the Present Simple more freely in meaningful contexts. Teachers can choose one or two of the activities below, depending on time constraints.

Here are some options for production activities:

A) Interview a Classmate

Ask a partner about their daily routine and write their answers in full sentences.
Example questions:

  • What time do you usually get up?
  • What do you eat for breakfast?
  • What do you do after school/work?
  • Do you play any sports or hobbies?
  • What does your family usually do in the evening?

B) Create a “Daily Routine” Poster or Paragraph

Use the information from the interview and your own routine to make a short paragraph or poster. Make sure to use the Present Simple.

C) Mini Role-Play

In pairs or small groups, create a short conversation using the Present Simple. Include:

  • Greetings
  • Talking about daily habits
  • Asking about hobbies or routines

✅ Note: Teachers may choose only one or two activities, depending on class time and objectives.

Conclusion

This worksheet is designed to guide students through the process of learning the Present Simple in a clear, structured way:

  1. Meaning (Comprehension): Students first understand the text and answer questions, noticing how the tense is used in context.
  2. Form (Noticing and Practice): Through the chart, matching exercises, gap-fills, and sentence transformations, students observe patterns and practice forming the Present Simple correctly.
  3. Rule (Induction): By discussing and writing the rules in their own words, students consolidate their understanding and can apply the rules independently in the correct tense.
  4. Production (Application): Optional communicative activities give students the chance to use the Present Simple in real-life, meaningful contexts, reinforcing both accuracy and fluency.

✅ This sequence ensures students see, practice, and use the language, moving from recognition to mastery.

More inductive grammar teaching examples

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