Grammar · Verb & Sentence Basics
Present Simple
The words for things you do every day. Learn work and works with the film Despicable Me.
Grammar › Verb & Sentence Basics › Present Simple
The rule in one sentenceUse work with I, you, we and they, and works with he, she and it.
About the film
Despicable Me is a film from 2010. Gru lives in a big house with three girls. The Minions work for him every day. Agnes likes unicorns.
What does the present simple do?
We use it for things that are true. We use it for things you do again and again. Not just now. Every day.
Look at the Minions. They work for Gru. Today, tomorrow, every day:
The word changes a little. With he, she or it, add -s:
A name is like he or she. Gru is one man. So Gru gets the -s:
The Minions work. (more than one) Gru works. (one person)
Same idea. One person, he or she → add -s.
Visual guide
👉 Swipe through Teacher Teddy’s 6-slide illustrated guide to this rule
How to make it
I / you / we / they work
The girls go to school.
The girls don’t go to school on Sunday.
don’t + the wordDo the girls go to school?
Do + person + the wordhe / she / it works
Gru drinks coffee.
Gru doesn’t like Vector.
doesn’t + the word (no -s)Does Gru drink coffee?
Does + person + the word (no -s)When to use each one
Work — I / you / we / they
Works — he / she / it
Words that help: every day words
These words say “again and again”. They go with work and with works.
work / works → every day words
They go before the word: Agnes always hugs her unicorn. The Minions usually work for Gru.
Common mistakes
❌ Gru live in a big house.
✅ Gru lives in a big house.
Gru is one man. He → add -s.
❌ The Minions works for Gru.
✅ The Minions work for Gru.
The Minions are more than one. They → no -s.
❌ Does Gru drinks coffee?
✅ Does Gru drink coffee?
“Does” has the -s. The word does not. One -s only.
❌ Gru don’t like Vector.
✅ Gru doesn’t like Vector.
Gru is he. He → doesn’t, not don’t.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Some words change a little. go → goes. watch → watches. study → studies. have → has.
✅ Margo goes to school. Agnes has a unicorn.
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.
1. Gru ___ in a big house.
Gru is one man → lives.
2. The Minions ___ for Gru.
The Minions are more than one → work.
3. Agnes ___ unicorns.
Agnes is one girl → loves.
4. The girls ___ to school.
The girls are more than one → go.
5. I ___ this film.
I → no -s.
6. ___ Gru drink coffee?
Gru is he → Does.
7. Dr Nefario ___ machines.
Dr Nefario is one man → makes.
8. Gru ___ like Vector.
Gru is he → doesn’t.
Your turn
Choose one word that is true for you. Then listen to your sentence.
Every word here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
This film’s lesson
More lessons
Now hear it in the film
You have just learned the present simple with Despicable Me. Now hear the whole film explained in English.
The full listening episode on the same film — a slow, clear movie review with the language used in real speech, and a free transcript.
BeginnerEpisode 61Watch on YouTube