







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 | |
|---|---|
| Hello my friend, how are you? | 안녕 친구, 어떻게 지내셨나? |
| Yeah, I wonder if we share the same taste in movies! | 그러게, 우리 영화 취향도 비슷하려나! |
| No, she is a uni student in Russia. | 아니, 러시아에서 대학 다녀. |
| He is a plumber, dear, apparently it's clogged. | 배관수리공이셔, 변기가 막혔대나봐. |
| Come on in, here on the ground floor, we have two bedrooms... | 들어와요, 여기 1층에는 침실이 두 개 있고... |
| How do you get to Brighton? | 브라이튼까지는 어떻게 갈 거야? |
| Those kind of irresponsible people make me angry! | 그렇게 무책임한 사람들을 보면 화가 난단 말이지! |
| When I have free time. | 시간이 있으면 가죠. |
| Are there any fries or any kind of snacks? | 튀김이나 다른 안주 뭐 있어? |
| Hope to see you later. | 나중에 봐. |
| What else could I do? Do you expect me not to sleep till I die? | 달리 뭘 해야 했는데? 나는 죽을 때 까지 잠도 못 자고 버텨야 했다는 거야? |
| As they say, time is the best medicine. | 옛말에 시간이 약이라고 하잖아. |
| Come on, Mike, it's not about me being home. | 아 진짜, 마이크, 집에 있고 없고의 문제가 아니잖아. |
| So I don't snore everyday... | 그럼 매일 곤다는 건 아니네... |
| Sorry, I hope it doesn't ruin your childhood memories... | 미안, 어린 시절의 기억이 더럽혀지지 않았길 바라... |
| Of course, my name is Cate and my number is 077... | 물론이죠, 제 이름은 케이트고 번호는 077... |
| Are they older or younger? | 언니, 아니면 동생? |
| I guess so, but I want to finish seeing all the houses today. | 그렇긴 해도, 집 알아보는 거 오늘 다 끝내고 싶어서. |
| There is nothing much left to do, there are only bits and pieces. | 크게 할 건 없어, 그냥 자잘한 거 몇 개 하면 돼. |
| Because we know them and have their mobile numbers? | 왜냐면 우리랑 아는 사이고 휴대폰 번호도 알고 있으니까요? |