







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 | |
|---|---|
| Nothing, 'cause I don't know what the woman looks like. | 나야 아무 것도 안하지, 그 할머니가 어떻게 생겼는지 모르니까. |
| Can I get you some more drinks? | 잔부터 먼저 채워드릴까요? |
| How are things going, is everything ok? | 일은 어때, 다 잘 되가? |
| Sorry, the line is very bad! | 미안, 통화연결이 안 좋아! |
| I prefer red onions. | 나는 적양파가 좋아. |
| That's nice... I hope she is not a teenager! How old is she? | 멋있네... 아직 십대인 건 아니겠지! 몇 살인데? |
| I'd like to one day, when they invent teleportation. | 순간이동이 발명되는 날 가보면 좋겠다. |
| I would like to... But I have other things to do... | 그럼 좋기야 하겠지만... 다른 할 일이 있는데... |
| It's a double room plus we get a cleaner once a week. | 더블룸이고 일주일에 한번씩 청소부가 와. |
| Maybe I get a bit moody on the first day of my period. | 생리 첫 날에는 좀 기분이 왔다갔다 하기는 해. |
| And these days, I go to that pub quite often. | 요즘 그 술집에 자주 가요. |
| That's a very interesting combination. | 되게 재밌는 조합이네. |
| I have one sister and she is nineteen. | 여동생이 있는데 19살이야. |
| How old are you? | 그쪽은 몇살? |
| I'm so sorry, but we need to cancel our meeting today. | 정말 미안한데, 오늘 회의 취소해야 할 것 같아. |
| Hey Mike, you look so worried! | 어이 마이크, 얼굴에 걱정이 가득한데! |
| It's a kind of welcoming party for her. | 환영식 비슷하게 하는 거야. |
| I'm really sorry, what kind of sickness is it? | 정말 유감이야. 무슨 병인지 물어봐도 될까? |
| Hello, my name is Mike, I'm Cate's boyfriend... | 안녕하세요, 제 이름은 마이크고요, 케이트의 남자친구... |
| She could even have been her mum... Who knows? | 그 여자 어머니일 수도 있는 거고... 혹시 모르잖아? |