







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 | |
|---|---|
| Do you want the tray in the middle? | 트레이는 중간에 둘래? |
| I usually take the train. | 보통 기차 타고 가지. |
| I don't understand why they call it a bank holiday. | 공휴일을 왜 뱅크 홀리데이라고 부르는지 모르겠어. |
| Do you expect me to make the room bigger by pushing the walls out? | 벽을 사방으로 밀어서 방을 더 크게 만들어 주기라도 바라는 거야? |
| I think I've got a better idea about what to do with the bed! | 난 침대에서 뭘하면 좋을지 더 좋은 생각이 났는데! |
| That's good, seeing three houses in one day is not bad. | 그건 괜찮은 거지, 하루에 집 세 군데를 봤으면 나쁘지 않아. |
| He's a... Sorry Mike, what do you do? | 뭘 하냐면... 미안한데 마이크, 너 직업이 뭐지? |
| Do you have any brothers or sisters? | 형제자매는 없어? |
| He just moved from Brighton and lives around here. | 브라이튼에서 최근에 이사와서 요 근처에 살아. |
| It's very difficult for me to go there more than once a year. | 1년에 한 번 이상 가는 건 너무 어려운 일이라서. |
| Sure, our kitchen is newly refurbished... | 물론이죠, 우리 주방은 새로 리모델링 되었어요... |
| It's a kind of welcoming party for her. | 환영식 비슷하게 하는 거야. |
| Are there any fries or any kind of snacks? | 튀김이나 다른 안주 뭐 있어? |
| You look much younger than that. | 그것보다 한참 어려보이는데. |
| Is there a garlic crusher, then? | 그럼 마늘 분쇄기는 없어? |
| How is your cat? | 고양이는 좀 어때? |
| It's impossible for me to commute from zone-9 to 1 everyday. | 런던 9구역에서 1구역까지 매일 통근하는 건 나한테 불가능한 일이야. |
| Mike, it is a continent! | 마이크, '처럼'이 아니라 대륙 맞아! |
| Erm... I know I snore occasionally, do I snore everyday? | 으음... 간간이 코 곤다는 건 알고 있었지만, 내가 매일 코를 골아? |
| Hi, is your cat okay? | 안녕, 그쪽 고양이는 괜찮아요? |