







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 forgot to tell you, you need to turn the tap on very gently. | 미안, 말해주는 걸 깜빡했어. 수도꼭지를 정말 살살 틀어야 돼. |
| What line is it on? | 어느 라인이야? |
| Umm, Dick is here, dear, he is the landlord... | 음, 니기미씨가 왔는데, 집주인이셔... |
| 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? |
| Yeah, it is very important for me, actually. | 응, 사실 나한테는 굉장히 중요해. |
| There is one at 11:00 and the next one is at 11:20. | 11시에 하나 있고, 그 다음 건 12시 차야. |
| Sh*t! I can't believe it's already 10:30! | 젠장! 벌써 10시 반이라니 말도 안돼! |
| Erm, we don't have any, but there is someone else's bread. | 음, 내 건 없는데, 남의 빵은 있지. |
| No, but it's not good for him to take the stairs up and down everyday. | 그렇진 않아, 하지만 매일 계단을 오르락내리락하는 건 좋지 않아서. |
| Which website do you use? | 사이트 뭐 쓰는데? |
| Okay, I want to have something similar then! | 아 알겠어, 그럼 비슷한 걸로 하지 뭐! |
| So I don't snore everyday... | 그럼 매일 곤다는 건 아니네... |
| See you Mike, hope to see you again. | 안녕, 마이크. 나중에 또 봐요. |
| Diego, do you want me to get you anything to eat? | 디에고, 뭐 먹을 거 갖다줄까? |
| I think one room is empty upstairs at the moment. | 윗층에 한 층은 비어있는 것 같아. |
| Did I? I don't know... What is it? | 그래? 몰라... 뭘 깜빡했지? |
| Because you are in it. | 네가 있잖아. |
| I don't like their chardonnay. | 여기 샤르도네 별로야. |
| Yeah, I like having lasagne the day after it's cooked, it tastes better. | 하긴, 나도 요리한지 하루 된 라자냐를 좋아해. 그게 더 맛있더라. |
| Do you go to the Windmill often? | 윈드밀 자주 가요? |