







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 | |
|---|---|
| How much garlic do you want? | 마늘은 얼마나 있으면 되겠어? |
| How often do you have free time, then? | 시간은 얼마나 자주 나는데요? |
| I think Diego and I are the only smokers in the house. | 내 생각에 디에고랑 나 밖에 없는 거 같아. |
| What's your plan, Cate? | 케이트, 이제 뭐할 거야? |
| Anyway, do you live around here, too? | 아무튼, 요 근처 사나봐? |
| Depends on where you look. | 어디를 알아보느냐에 달려있지. |
| Actually, it's quite urgent for me. | 사실 저한테 꽤 급한 일이지만. |
| I think you wake me up more often than mosquitoes do! | 사실 네가 모기보다 나를 밤에 더 많이 깨우는 거 같아! |
| Erm, by the way, since we are on the subject... | 어, 근데 말이지, 말 나온 김에 말인데... |
| How long does the flight usually take? | 비행기 타고 보통 얼마쯤 걸려? |
| Who knows, I consider it as nothing more than a hobby. | 글쎄, 그냥 취미로 여기고 있긴 한데. |
| Exactly, I hate getting woken up in the middle of the night! | 내 말이, 자던 중에 누가 깨우는 건 정말 싫다고! |
| Really? How do I wake you up? | 정말? 내가 널 어떻게 깨우는데? |
| Hello mate, where are you? | 안녕 친구, 어디야? |
| So I want to cook as much as I can now. | 그래서 지금 요리할 수 있는만큼 최대한 해두려고. |
| Oh f*ck off, I've got to go now... | 아 꺼져, 나 이제 가야돼... |
| Yeah, I guess spring is the worst time for allergies! | 하긴, 봄철이 알레르기에 끔찍하긴 하죠! |
| What kind of music do you like the most? | 너는 어떤 음악 제일 좋아해? |
| I mean, you don't live here with anyone from your family. | 그러니까, 가족 중에 아무도 여기서 같이 안 사는 거구나. |
| Look at the shelf, the price tag says £2.20 a kilo. | 선반을 봐, 가격표에 1kg당 2.20파운드라고 적혀있어. |