







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 | |
|---|---|
| Where is your school, is it in central London? | 너희 학교 어딨는데? 런던 중앙이야? |
| Except mosquitoes because they ruin my sleep. | 모기는 빼고. 잠자는 시간을 망쳐놓으니까. |
| Very nice! I hope he doesn't do it all the time! | 멋있기도 해라! 항상 그러는 건 아니면 좋겠는데! |
| Do you know her well? | 잘 아는 사이야? |
| Do you want me to put the chicken into the cooker first? | 닭고기를 솥에 먼저 넣을까? |
| Okay, I found it... but it looks filthy! | 알았어, 찾았어.... 근데 더러워 보여! |
| I think we should wait for a while till all that smoke disappears. | 연기가 다 사라질 때 까지 좀 기다려야 할 것 같아. |
| If you are going to ask for money, I don't have any, either. | 돈 빌리려고 그러는 거면, 나도 없어. |
| But... I'm not good at lying... | 그치만... 나 거짓말 잘 못하는데... |
| What's the time, are we early? | 지금 몇 시지, 우리가 일찍 왔나? |
| Do we have to do that every time we need to open the door? | 문을 열 때마다 방금처럼 해야 하는 거예요? |
| I guess I can meet you there at 20:30, or is it too late? | 레스토랑 앞에서 8시 반쯤에 만날 수 있을 거 같은데, 너무 늦어? |
| I'd like to one day, when they invent teleportation. | 순간이동이 발명되는 날 가보면 좋겠다. |
| Can you stop acting like I always ask for money? | 너는 내가 맨날 돈 빌리는 사람으로 보이냐? |
| Erm... Yeah... Sure! It's our first anniversary! | 어... 네... 그럼요! 저희 첫번째 결혼기념일이에요! |
| What's your favourite movie? | 네가 제일 좋아하는 영화는 뭐야? |
| I mostly work till late at night, I never wake up at 7 in the morning. | 나는 보통 밤 늦게까지 일해서, 아침 7시에는 절대 못 일어나는데. |
| Oh god, it's the second thing I hate doing in the kitchen! | 아 저런, 그건 내가 두번째로 싫어하는 부엌일인데! |
| Oh god, I feel too tired now. | 아이고, 이제 너무 피곤해. |
| Okay, so do you want me to make 3 serves? | 좋아, 그럼 3인분을 만들면 되는 거지? |