







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 think so, at least there is no aggression. | 그런 것 같은데, 최소한 공격 태세는 아니잖아. |
| Taking Bear out usually takes me an hour. | 베어 산책 시키려면 한 시간쯤 걸리거든. |
| Okay, here we are, this is Honeybrook Street. | 그래, 그럼 자, 여기가 허니브룩 스트릿이야. |
| I don't want to live in the suburbs! | 난 교외에서 살기 싫어! |
| Mike, teriyaki is Japanese, we are at a Chinese restaurant. | 마이크, 데리야끼는 일본식이고, 우리는 중국식 레스토랑에 와 있다구. |
| You don't know the story behind it. | 네가 비하인드 스토리를 몰라서 그래. |
| Certainly honey, do you want a glass or a bottle? | 물론이지 얘, 잔으로 줄까, 아님 병? |
| Isn't that funny? | 그거 웃기지 않아요? |
| Oh my god! It’s almost 12 o’clock. | 아 세상에! 벌써 12시가 다 돼가네. |
| Come on in, here on the ground floor, we have two bedrooms... | 들어와요, 여기 1층에는 침실이 두 개 있고... |
| Is it a single or a double room? | 싱글룸이야, 아니면 더블룸이야? |
| Hmm.. yes, I need mushrooms, stock, celery... | 으음... 맞아, 버섯하고, 육수, 셀러리... |
| Sorry, look, here is the station. | 미안한데, 봐봐, 역 도착했다. |
| Well, maybe we can get a 2 bedroom flat. What do you think? | 음, 침실이 2개인 아파트를 구할 수 있을지도 몰라. 어떻게 생각해? |
| Australia is very strict with its customs rules. | 호주는 관세규칙이 정말 빡빡하단 말야. |
| Yeah, it's open here already... | 그럼, 벌써 여기 열어뒀는걸... |
| Oh, sorry, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to order what I want! | 아, 미안해라, 내가 먹고싶은 걸 주문해서는 안되는 줄 모르고 있었네! |
| You are right, it's probably worth more than one cigarette. | 인정할게. 담배 한 개피보다는 비쌀 거다. |
| There is no table for you, then! | 그럼 자리 못 구하는 거지, 뭐! |
| No, they live in Australia. | 아니, 호주에 살아. |