







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 | |
|---|---|
| I go out sometimes with the girls from school. | 학교에 친구들하고 종종 나오거든. |
| What do you expect English teachers to look like? | 영어 선생님은 어떻게 생겼다고 생각하길래요? |
| Yeah, and the market is good, is Camden Lock in zone-2 or 3? | 그래, 그리고 캠든 마켓도 좋지. 캠든 록이 구역 2야, 아니면 3이야? |
| Do you want the tray in the middle? | 트레이는 중간에 둘래? |
| Ah, I can't eat the breast, it's too dry for me! | 아, 나 가슴살은 못 먹어. 너무 퍽퍽해! |
| It has 1 year to pass its expiry date. | 유통기한이 지나려면 아직 1년이 남았어요. |
| But it has expired and it has a hole in it. | 근데 유통기한이 지났고 구멍이 나 있어요. |
| I'm sorry guys, there is no negotiation on the rent! | 미안한데 여러분, 집세로 협상할 마음은 없어요! |
| Erm... They pay 170 weekly. | 음... 매 주 170파운드를 내요. |
| Upstairs, there is Diego and a British couple next to him. | 윗층에는 디에고랑 그 옆에 영국인 커플이 살아. |
| Do they weigh them here or at the checkout? | 여기서 저울 달면 돼, 아니면 계산대로 가야 해? |
| But on the ad it says the house is fully furnished! | 하지만 광고에는 완전히 가구가 갖춰져 있다고 돼있던데요! |
| But Bear has got hip dysplasia. | 근데 베어한테 고관절 문제가 있거든. |
| How is there four of us? | 어떻게 사람이 네 명이 돼? |
| Of course, oh, there is a half-eaten pizza in the oven. | 물론이지, 어, 오븐 안에 반만 먹고 남은 피자가 있어. |
| You never pick Bear's poo up from the pavement. | 너 길에서 베어 똥 절대 안 줍잖아. |
| Here we go, I'm sure it means they pay much less. | 들통나셨네, 그러니까 훨씬 적게 낸다는 말 아녜요. |
| I guess he wants to drink some water. | 물이나 좀 마시고 싶은 모양이야. |
| Do you have any area in mind? | 너는 생각하고 있는 구역이 있어? |
| Do we have a mortar and pestle? | 사발하고 막자 있어? |