







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 don't want you to spend a fortune. | 네가 돈을 잔뜩 쓰는 건 원하지 않아. |
| That's okay, I don't mind. | 물론이지, 상관 없어. |
| Erm... While your hands are already dirty... | 음... 이미 손을 버린 김에... |
| What’s their name? | 친구 이름이 뭐예요? |
| How old do I look? | 몇 살처럼 보여요? |
| Yeah, it's not common, but that's what it says in the recipe. | 그래, 흔치는 않지만, 레시피가 그렇게 말하는 걸. |
| Isn't that funny? | 그거 웃기지 않아요? |
| Well, maybe we can get a 2 bedroom flat. What do you think? | 음, 침실이 2개인 아파트를 구할 수 있을지도 몰라. 어떻게 생각해? |
| How much are they supposed to pay? | 얼마 주기로 돼있었는데? |
| But which button? It doesn't show which controls which! | 어느 버튼? 뭐가 뭘 조절하는지 안 나와있는데! |
| My housemates don't clean anything in the kitchen. | 우리 하우스메이트들은 부엌에 있는 건 아무것도 안 치운다구. |
| My favourite movie is Pulp Fiction. | 내가 제일 좋아하는 영화는 <펄프 픽션>이야. |
| He just moved from Brighton and lives around here. | 브라이튼에서 최근에 이사와서 요 근처에 살아. |
| Does anyone else need anything? | 다른 거 또 필요한 사람? |
| My landlords are a gay couple. | 우리 집주인 게이 커플이야. |
| I really don't know, but I believe it's more than 100 years old. | 잘은 모르지만, 100년은 넘었다고 생각해. |
| Normally, it's much more expensive than the other ones. | 보통은 다른 것보다 훨씬 더 비싼데. |
| How old are you? | 그쪽은 몇살? |
| Plus the bathroom and the kitchen are clean. | 그리고 화장실이랑 부엌도 깨끗하고요. |
| I want to try the sauvignon blanc. | 난 소비뇽 블랑 한 번 마셔보고 싶어. |