







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 | |
|---|---|
| Why don't you get it then? Do you want to see upstairs or not? | 그럼 그 집으로 하지 그래요? 위층은 볼 거예요 말 거예요? |
| It's the second one from the top. | 위에서 두 번째 거야. |
| Thank you, I'm 26. | 고마워요, 나는 26살이니까. |
| Hello my friend, how are you? | 안녕 친구, 어떻게 지내셨나? |
| Okay, I want to have something similar then! | 아 알겠어, 그럼 비슷한 걸로 하지 뭐! |
| No, what is that? | 뭔데? |
| Where is Flora, isn't she here? | 플로라는 어딨어. 여기 없어? |
| Hello dear, how is it going, do you need any help? | 안녕 자기. 어떻게 돼 가? 필요한 거 있어? |
| I hope she is not a problematic one, then... | 골치덩어리 친구는 아니면 좋겠는데... |
| Where are you? | 지금 어디야? |
| Sure! Why is it so important to you? | 그러죠! 그게 왜 당신한테 그렇게 중요한데요? |
| Erm... Yeah... Sure! It's our first anniversary! | 어... 네... 그럼요! 저희 첫번째 결혼기념일이에요! |
| Then people come and complain to me! | 그럼 사람들이 나한테 와서 불평한단 말야! |
| He wants to, but tonight it's impossible. | 그러려고 했는데, 오늘밤은 안되겠어요. |
| They also have three big windows in their room! | 그 사람들 방에는 큰 창문도 세 개나 있잖아요! |
| Erm, I can't work it out, I guess it's more than 150 years old. | 엄, 계산은 안되지만, 150년이 넘는 것 같은데. |
| Sorry Mrs. Jones, there is a misunderstanding... | 죄송합니다, 존스 부인, 오해가 있었던 것 같은데요... |
| Sorry, look, here is the station. | 미안한데, 봐봐, 역 도착했다. |
| No, no, nothing is wrong, no need to worry, we are all fine... | 아냐, 아냐, 잘못된 건 하나도 없단다, 걱정하지 말렴, 우리는 잘 지내니까... |
| What do you do? | 일은 뭐하는데요? |