







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yes, the guy with the beard is Mike. | 응, 수염 기른 남자가 마이크야. |
| Of course, 2 tomatoes are enough, I think. | 물론이지, 토마토는 2개면 충분할 것 같아. |
| As I'm a smoker, I prefer sitting outside. | 나는 흡연자라서 바깥을 선호하긴 해. |
| That's bad, do you have a cold? | 저런, 안됐어요, 감기에 걸린 거예요? |
| But one of them is £2.44 and the other one is £1.22. | 근데 하나는 2.44파운드이고 다른 하나는 1.22파운드야. |
| Do your parents live in London, too? | 부모님께서도 런던에 사셔? |
| It's not much less... There is a slight difference! | 훨씬 적은 게 아니라... 미묘한 차이일 뿐이에요! |
| No, I haven't, I don't know what's yours in the fridge. | 아니, 네 냉장고에서 뭐가 네 건지를 모르겠어서. |
| If you are going to ask for money, I don't have any, either. | 돈 빌리려고 그러는 거면, 나도 없어. |
| Well, I'm used to getting bad news today, what's that? | 안 좋은 소식이라면 오늘 벌써 익숙해진 참이라서요. 무슨 일인데 그러세요? |
| I've only got Saturday left before I have to move on Sunday. | 일요일에 이사 가기 전에 토요일 하루 밖에 안 남았어. |
| Set times always stress me out. | 나는 시간이 정해져있으면 스트레스 받거든. |
| Which website do you use? | 사이트 뭐 쓰는데? |
| Mike, 250 degrees is the highest! | 마이크, 250도가 최고 온도야! |
| You need to press the button down and turn it right. | 버튼을 아래로 누르고 오른쪽으로 돌려야해. |
| Do you have any area in mind? | 너는 생각하고 있는 구역이 있어? |
| Do they weigh them here or at the checkout? | 여기서 저울 달면 돼, 아니면 계산대로 가야 해? |
| Of course, she is an angel, do you want to talk to your mum? | 그럼, 그럼, 천사같고 말고, 엄마랑 얘기하고 싶은 게냐? |
| I am alone till my friend comes. | 나는 친구 올 때까지 혼자인데. |
| How much are they supposed to pay? | 얼마 주기로 돼있었는데? |