







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 | |
|---|---|
| He wants to, but tonight it's impossible. | 그러려고 했는데, 오늘밤은 안되겠어요. |
| I have two more lessons, I finish at three thirty. | 수업 두 개 남았으니까, 3시 30분에 마쳐. |
| It's more than enough, I need some garlic, also. | 아주 충분해. 그리고 마늘도 좀 필요한데. |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | 모리슨즈가 더 가깝지 않아? |
| Erm... They pay 170 weekly. | 음... 매 주 170파운드를 내요. |
| I guess so, but I want to finish seeing all the houses today. | 그렇긴 해도, 집 알아보는 거 오늘 다 끝내고 싶어서. |
| Thanks for warning me now, that's very helpful! | 이제야 말해 줘서 고마워, 정말 도움이 되네! |
| Yeah, he is keen on moving house... | 응, 옮기고 싶어하는 마음이 있는데... |
| Do you need to wake up early tomorrow or something? | 내일 일찍 일어난다든가 해야 돼? |
| Well, instead of chicken you can try the duck, it's yummy! | 그럼, 닭 대신에 오리를 먹어보면 되지, 맛있다니까! |
| Yeah, I wonder if we share the same taste in movies! | 그러게, 우리 영화 취향도 비슷하려나! |
| But I don't know him well. | 잘 아는 사이는 아니네. |
| And Pogo gets very scared of the crowd and the noise. | 그러면 포고가 사람들이랑 소리 때문에 엄청 겁을 먹는다구. |
| Oh f*ck off, I've got to go now... | 아 꺼져, 나 이제 가야돼... |
| Okay, what temperature do you want me to set it at? | 좋아, 몇 도로 설정하면 되겠어? |
| I need to wake him up now! | 이제 가서 깨워야겠다! |
| Is it possible to move in tomorrow? | 내일 바로 이사와도 되나요? |
| I'm unleashing him now, is that okay for you? | 목줄 풀게. 그래도 괜찮겠어? |
| How is there four of us? | 어떻게 사람이 네 명이 돼? |
| What else do we need? | 또 뭐가 필요하지? |