







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| I live very close by. | 요 바로 근처에 살아요. |
| Yeah, I guess spring is the worst time for allergies! | 하긴, 봄철이 알레르기에 끔찍하긴 하죠! |
| I think Diego and I are the only smokers in the house. | 내 생각에 디에고랑 나 밖에 없는 거 같아. |
| It's individually, the small ones are 30p, big ones 50p. | 따로야. 작은 건 30펜스, 큰 건 50펜스. |
| Okay, how long is it, do you know? | 좋아, 얼마나 긴지 혹시 알아? |
| I wish you all the best. | 다 잘되길 빌어요. |
| That's extreme, I don't think we have a mortar and pestle. | 그런 극단적인 요구가 있나, 사발하고 막자는 없을 텐데. |
| Mike, it is a continent! | 마이크, '처럼'이 아니라 대륙 맞아! |
| Yeah, I wonder if we share the same taste in movies! | 그러게, 우리 영화 취향도 비슷하려나! |
| Diego, do you want me to get you anything to eat? | 디에고, 뭐 먹을 거 갖다줄까? |
| Thanks, but I don't have time to stay. | 고맙지만, 곧 가야해서요. |
| Sure! Why is it so important to you? | 그러죠! 그게 왜 당신한테 그렇게 중요한데요? |
| Normally, it's much more expensive than the other ones. | 보통은 다른 것보다 훨씬 더 비싼데. |
| My meeting starts at one o'clock. | 내 미팅은 1시에 시작해. |
| Dear, who is it? | 자기야, 누구야? |
| The rest of the house is okay, but the kitchen is a bit dirty. | 집 나머지는 괜찮은데, 부엌은 좀 더럽다. |
| It looks like you've got some experience with coffee. | 커피를 꽤 잘 아는 것 같아 보이는걸. |
| Thank god there is nothing to worry about. | 천만다행으로, 걱정할 일 없어. |
| Of course, oh, there is a half-eaten pizza in the oven. | 물론이지, 어, 오븐 안에 반만 먹고 남은 피자가 있어. |
| I haven't been there before, where is it? | 거긴 안 가봤는데, 어디야? |