







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 | |
|---|---|
| Are you with your friends? | 친구들하고 왔어? |
| As they say, time is the best medicine. | 옛말에 시간이 약이라고 하잖아. |
| I'm happy to hear that. | 좋은 소식이네. |
| What does Diego do? | 디에고는 무슨 일 해? |
| I think so, he can look around while Bear is not here. | 그게 좋겠어, 베어가 없는 동안 주변 좀 둘러볼 수 있도록. |
| Anyway, I need to go to the loo as well... | 글구, 화장실도 좀 써야 되겠고... |
| Erm.. Isn't it there? | 어... 거기에 있지 않아? |
| But Bear has got hip dysplasia. | 근데 베어한테 고관절 문제가 있거든. |
| The cat is not actually mine, it's my girlfriend's cat. | 그 고양이는 내게 아니에요, 내 여자친구 고양이죠. |
| Do you live around here? | 이 주변 살아요? |
| Oh no! Are you sure you don't have anything available? | 아, 저런! 남는 자리가 없는지 확실하세요? |
| Look, there is a shop assistant. | 봐, 저기 가게 종업원이 있다. |
| Sorry, I forgot to tell you, you need to turn the tap on very gently. | 미안, 말해주는 걸 깜빡했어. 수도꼭지를 정말 살살 틀어야 돼. |
| Really? Sade is one of my favourites, too. | 정말? 나도 샤데이 엄청 좋아해. |
| But I don't think I can use them all, there are too many! | 하지만 다 쓰기에는 너무 많은 것 같아! |
| Okay, what temperature do you want me to set it at? | 좋아, 몇 도로 설정하면 되겠어? |
| Mike, 250 degrees is the highest! | 마이크, 250도가 최고 온도야! |
| Yeah, it's open here already... | 그럼, 벌써 여기 열어뒀는걸... |
| What do you think, dear, do you like it, too? | 자기 생각은 어때, 마음에 들어? |
| How old do I look? | 몇 살처럼 보여요? |