







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 | |
|---|---|
| Look, there is a shop assistant. | 봐, 저기 가게 종업원이 있다. |
| Do you like them with or without the skin on? | 닭껍질은 있는 게 좋아, 없는 게 좋아? |
| Okay, I don't like cooking, but I like tasting food. | 좋아, 난 요리는 안 좋아하지만, 음식 맛 보는 건 좋아하니까. |
| As I'm a smoker, I prefer sitting outside. | 나는 흡연자라서 바깥을 선호하긴 해. |
| Is there anything else you want me to do? | 또 내가 했으면 하는 거 있어? |
| How do you want me to chop the onions, big or small? | 양파는 어떻게 썰면 되겠어, 크게 아니면 작게? |
| As far as I know, Chows are not good with other animals. | 그런데 차우차우는 다른 동물들하고 잘 못 어울린다고 알고 있는데. |
| It doesn't matter, I think they are the same distance away. | 상관 없는 거 같아, 둘다 거리가 비슷비슷할걸. |
| And it's hard to believe, but it's clean. | 그리고 믿기 어렵겠지만 깨끗하답니다. |
| It sounds like a good deal. | 좋은 생각 같은걸. |
| Because you are in it. | 네가 있잖아. |
| What genre do you listen to? | 너는 어떤 장르 들어? |
| Sorry, is it possible to see it this Saturday after 2 o'clock? | 죄송합니다. 이번 토요일 오후 2시 이후에 집을 볼 수 있을까요? |
| 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? |
| You don’t look like an English teacher to me. | 영어 선생님처럼 안 생겼는데. |
| It goes faster, but we don't want to walk to the tube station. | 빠른 건 맞는데, 지하철 역까지 걷기 싫어. |
| All of my work is in that laptop and I don't have any backup! | 내가 작업한 거 다 거기 있고, 난 백업파일 없단 말야! |
| Yeah, I think the logo looks much better in the centre, what do you think? | 응, 이 로고 중앙에 두는 게 훨씬 나은 거 같아. 어떻게 생각해? |
| My lovely wife always tells me how good your spring rolls are. | 제 사랑스러운 아내가 언제나 이 집 춘권을 칭찬한답니다. |
| Is that a crack in the bath? | 저건 욕조에 금이 간 건가요? |