







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 | |
|---|---|
| Don't worry Mike, I think this one is better. | 걱정마, 마이크. 난 이쪽이 더 좋아. |
| I don't need to wake up very early. | 엄청 일찍 일어날 필요는 없는데. |
| Ah, I can't eat the breast, it's too dry for me! | 아, 나 가슴살은 못 먹어. 너무 퍽퍽해! |
| Why? It looks pretty clean to me! | 왜? 이만하면 깨끗해 보이는데! |
| I like girls' nights out. | 여자들 외출 좋지. |
| Because I don't want to waste more time finding a new house... | 새 집 찾느라 더 시간 낭비하기 싫으니까 그렇지... |
| No she is a very cute, easygoing and friendly girl. | 아냐, 정말 귀여운데다 무던하고 붙임성있는 애라구. |
| It seems there is no one in the house! | 집에 아무도 없는 모양인데! |
| I searched: does Pinocchio know he is not a real boy. | 피노키오는 자기가 진짜 아이가 아니라는 걸 아나요, 라고 검색했어. |
| But Bear has got hip dysplasia. | 근데 베어한테 고관절 문제가 있거든. |
| Thanks father, where is Bear's lead? | 고마워요 아빠. 베어 목줄은 어디 있어? |
| Why do you want to live there? | 너는 왜 거기 살고 싶어? |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | 모리슨즈가 더 가깝지 않아? |
| How are things going, is everything ok? | 일은 어때, 다 잘 되가? |
| Sure, our kitchen is newly refurbished... | 물론이죠, 우리 주방은 새로 리모델링 되었어요... |
| I guess I can meet you there at 20:30, or is it too late? | 레스토랑 앞에서 8시 반쯤에 만날 수 있을 거 같은데, 너무 늦어? |
| Are you sure she is from Australia? | 진짜 호주출신이 맞아? |
| There is nothing much left to do, there are only bits and pieces. | 크게 할 건 없어, 그냥 자잘한 거 몇 개 하면 돼. |
| Yeah, he is keen on moving house... | 응, 옮기고 싶어하는 마음이 있는데... |
| And the buses always arrive on time. | 버스는 언제나 제 시간에 도착하고. |