







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 we have a mortar and pestle? | 사발하고 막자 있어? |
| My housemates don't clean anything in the kitchen. | 우리 하우스메이트들은 부엌에 있는 건 아무것도 안 치운다구. |
| Hang on, there is another web site that says... | 잠깐만, 다른 사이트에서는 뭐라고 하냐면... |
| Last night we were open till very late, and you know her excuse. | 어젯 밤 아주 늦게까지 영업했거든. 걔는 좀 쉴만 하잖아. |
| What does Diego do? | 디에고는 무슨 일 해? |
| Yes I did, why, isn't it normal? | 응, 그랬는데. 왜, 그럼 안돼? |
| Good point, I'm sure they don't pay that much! | 맞아, 그 사람들은 그만큼 돈 안 낼 걸! |
| Anyway, what else do we have left to do now? | 아무튼, 그럼 해야 할 거 남은 게 또 뭐 있지? |
| You don't know the story behind it. | 네가 비하인드 스토리를 몰라서 그래. |
| Let me check, we only need butter. | 보자, 버터만 더 있으면 돼. |
| Um.. it could be blue, I don't really remember. | 어... 파란색이었던 것 같기도. 확실히는 기억이 안 나. |
| But for how many people? | 몇인분인데? |
| It's hard to believe, but we have a pressure cooker in the house. | 믿기 힘들겠지만, 이 집에는 압력솥이 있어. |
| It sounds like a good deal. | 좋은 생각 같은걸. |
| It's on the Northern line, the same one we use here. | 노던 라인이야, 우리가 여기서 쓰는 거랑 똑같이. |
| That one is a single room, I want a double. | 그건 싱글룸인데, 나는 더블이면 좋겠어서. |
| Hello my friend, how are you? | 안녕 친구, 어떻게 지내셨나? |
| Is it Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus? | 라이체스터 스퀘어야, 피카딜리 서커스야? |
| I usually take the train. | 보통 기차 타고 가지. |
| It's not much less... There is a slight difference! | 훨씬 적은 게 아니라... 미묘한 차이일 뿐이에요! |