Simple Present in the TOEIC®: Rules, Usage, and Common Mistakes

The simple present tense is used to express facts, habits, and general truths in English.

In the TOEIC®, you encounter it in the Reading section (Parts 5, 6, 7), especially when referring to professional routines, schedules, and processes.

Example:

"The team meets every Monday"
The team meets every Monday.

A common mistake: forgetting the -s in the third-person singular, especially when the subject is far from the verb.

Formation and Basic Rules of the Simple Present

The simple present is formed using the base form of the verb, but be careful: for the third-person singular (he/she/it), you must always add an -s or -es to the verb.

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The -s / -es / -ies Rules Explained Simply

Regular verbs: add -s (work → works)
Verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x: add -es (go → goes, teach → teaches)
Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to -ies (study → studies)
Verbs ending in vowel + y: just add -s (play → plays)

Example:

The manager sends reports every Friday.
The manager sends reports every Friday.

What we often see: the most frequent error remains forgetting this -s, even among candidates who generally have a good level.

Using the Simple Present in the TOEIC®

Test developers often include contexts where the simple present describes processes, company policies, or schedules.

Company Procedures:

The company offers health insurance to all employees.
The company offers health insurance to all employees.

Schedules and Timetables:

The conference starts at 10 AM sharp.
The conference starts exactly at 10 AM.

Job Responsibilities:

Ms. Chen manages the accounting department.
Ms. Chen manages the accounting department.

Meetings and Reports:

The data shows a positive trend this quarter.
The data shows a positive trend this quarter.

We frequently see an overuse of the present continuous in these rather formal contexts, whereas the simple present would sound more natural and professional.
Here, it is used to describe habitual or permanent situations, not actions happening at a specific moment.

Common Traps in Part 5

Part 5 tests your ability to choose the correct tense. And many people get caught out here.

Subject Far from the Verb

When several words separate the subject from the verb, candidates hesitate about the ending.

The director of marketing and sales meets clients weekly.
The director of marketing and sales meets clients weekly.

Here, "marketing and sales" are not the subject, just complements. The real subject is "director" (third-person singular).

Simple Present vs. Present Continuous in the TOEIC®

Developers often offer both forms in the answers:

Simple Present → for habits/facts;
Present Continuous (be + -ing) → for actions in progress.

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Time Indicators to Spot

Words like every, usually, always, often, never, daily, weekly almost always signal the simple present.

The company reviews its performance every quarter.
The company reviews its performance every quarter.
She usually arrives at the office before 9 a.m.
She usually arrives at the office before 9 a.m.
Our team always follows the safety procedures.
Our team always follows the safety procedures.

Common Errors and Corrections

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Stative verbs that should NEVER be in the present continuous: know, understand, believe, like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, seem, belong, own.

These verbs often appear in Part 5. Even if the sentence contains "now" or "right now," you must use the simple present with them.

I understand your concern right now.
I understand your concern right now.

Quick Checklist

Hesitating between several tenses? Here is the method:

Step 1: Look for time indicators in the sentence.

Every/always/usually/often → simple present
Now/currently/at the moment → present continuous (except for stative verbs)
Since/for → present perfect

Step 2: Identify the real subject (not the complements between the subject and the verb).

Step 3: Check if it is a stative verb. If yes, simple present is mandatory.

Step 4: Determine if it is a general habit/fact (simple) or a temporary action in progress (continuous).

This checklist saves you 15 to 20 seconds per Part 5 question. Out of 30 grammar questions, you reclaim almost 10 minutes for the longer parts.

Ready to Practice?

The simple present is a conjugation form often tested in Part 5. Mastering each conjugation point on this topic brings you closer to your target score.

On Flow Exam, you can practice this tense directly for Part 5, with thousands of questions in the same format as the official TOEIC®. You work on the exact traps we just covered, with a system that adapts exercises to your mistakes.

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