







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? |
| There's a whole 500g unopened packet. | 500g짜리 열지도 않은 통이 있어. |
| No, they live in Australia. | 아니, 호주에 살아. |
| How much are they supposed to pay? | 얼마 주기로 돼있었는데? |
| Yes, I have got two sisters. | 우리집은 딸만 셋이야. |
| So do you want me to find a house by myself? | 그럼 나더러 혼자 집을 찾으라는 거야? |
| All of my work is in that laptop and I don't have any backup! | 내가 작업한 거 다 거기 있고, 난 백업파일 없단 말야! |
| I don't know, maximum 33? | 글쎄, 최대 서른 셋? |
| I am, I have to be there at 12:30. | 해야 돼. 12시 반까지 가야 해. |
| It's all about my lovely little cat, Pogo. | 내 사랑스러운 고양이 포고 문제인 거지. |
| He is a plumber, dear, apparently it's clogged. | 배관수리공이셔, 변기가 막혔대나봐. |
| Until you just light your cigarette. | 담배에 불 붙일 때 까지는. |
| Isn't it just a simple meeting cancellation? | 그냥 회의가 취소된 것 뿐이잖아? |
| Sorry, they don't serve chips here... | 미안하지만, 여기선 감자튀김 안 팔아... |
| As I said, it's much easier to open with two people. | 말했죠, 두 사람이 하면 훨씬 열기 쉽다고. |
| You look much younger than that. | 그것보다 한참 어려보이는데. |
| Sure, our kitchen is newly refurbished... | 물론이죠, 우리 주방은 새로 리모델링 되었어요... |
| It's the second one from the top. | 위에서 두 번째 거야. |
| I don't like their chardonnay. | 여기 샤르도네 별로야. |
| No, no, nothing is wrong, no need to worry, we are all fine... | 아냐, 아냐, 잘못된 건 하나도 없단다, 걱정하지 말렴, 우리는 잘 지내니까... |