







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 | |
|---|---|
| Sorry, I don't have much time, can I tell you the story when I'm back? | 미안해요, 내가 시간이 별로 없어서, 갔다 와서 얘기해줘도 돼요? |
| No, actually, he is properly toilet trained. | 아냐, 원래는 배변 훈련이 잘 돼있어. |
| It sounds like a good deal. | 좋은 생각 같은걸. |
| No, I haven't, I don't know what's yours in the fridge. | 아니, 네 냉장고에서 뭐가 네 건지를 모르겠어서. |
| I guess my only choice is coming to your house! | 네 집에서 사는 거 말고는 선택지가 아무 것도 없네! |
| Yes, I like them, too. | 응, 그것도 좋아하지. |
| Yes, it was quite easy, actually, I live very close by. | 네, 사실 꽤 쉬웠어요. 저는 바로 근처에 살거든요. |
| Do you want me to slice the mushrooms for you? | 버섯 썰어 줄까? |
| Erm, we don't have any, but there is someone else's bread. | 음, 내 건 없는데, 남의 빵은 있지. |
| Yep, she was born in Australia, but her mother is Japanese. | 그럼, 호주에서 태어났지만 어머니가 일본인이셔. |
| Do you go to the Windmill often? | 윈드밀 자주 가요? |
| I'm really sorry about that! | 정말 미안해! |
| You look a bit sad, are you okay? | 너 조금 슬퍼보이는데, 괜찮아? |
| Are you close friends? | 둘이 친해요? |
| Well, maybe we can get a 2 bedroom flat. What do you think? | 음, 침실이 2개인 아파트를 구할 수 있을지도 몰라. 어떻게 생각해? |
| Then he finds out he is a robot, not a real kid. | 그러다 자기가 진짜 아이가 아니라 로봇이라는 걸 깨달은 거야. |
| I hate them buzzing around my ear all night long and waking me up. | 밤 새도록 귓가에 앵앵거리면서 날 못 자도록 하는 게 딱 질색이야. |
| Oh Jesus Christ... I get it now! That's disgusting... | 아 하나님 맙소사... 이제 알겠다! 더러워 진짜... |
| I really don't know, but I believe it's more than 100 years old. | 잘은 모르지만, 100년은 넘었다고 생각해. |
| It doesn't matter, I think they are the same distance away. | 상관 없는 거 같아, 둘다 거리가 비슷비슷할걸. |