







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yeah, that's a good idea. | 오, 좋은 생각인데. |
| But I want to see Brighton Pier before the sun sets. | 하지만 해가 지기 전에 브라이튼 부두를 보면 좋겠어. |
| How is it my fault? | 그게 어떻게 내 탓이야? |
| Taking Bear out usually takes me an hour. | 베어 산책 시키려면 한 시간쯤 걸리거든. |
| You were explaining why you are here at 07:30 in the morning. | 아침 7시 반에 왜 왔는지 설명하던 중이었죠. |
| Set times always stress me out. | 나는 시간이 정해져있으면 스트레스 받거든. |
| It goes faster, but we don't want to walk to the tube station. | 빠른 건 맞는데, 지하철 역까지 걷기 싫어. |
| That one is a single room, I want a double. | 그건 싱글룸인데, 나는 더블이면 좋겠어서. |
| He looks like he is interested in you! | 너한테 관심있는거 같은데! |
| And these days, I go to that pub quite often. | 요즘 그 술집에 자주 가요. |
| 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! |
| Umm, oh yes, I can see it now, the ad number is 9845... | 음, 아 맞아요, 이제 보이네요. 광고 번호는 9845예요... |
| Yes, I think she's great! | 네, 되게 잘 하신다고 봐요! |
| No, it's the owner, she is an old lady and very strict about that. | 그게 아니라, 집주인이, 나이 드신 할머니신데 동물에 관해 꽤나 깐깐하세요. |
| Oh sorry dear, my husband has some difficulties hearing... | 아유, 미안해라, 우리 남편이 귀가 안 좋아서요... |
| I don't need to wake up very early. | 엄청 일찍 일어날 필요는 없는데. |
| Um, on this floor, it's only me and a French girl next door. | 음, 이 층에는 나하고 옆집에 프랑스 여자애가 살아. |
| I am 24. | 나는 24살요. |
| Come on in, here on the ground floor, we have two bedrooms... | 들어와요, 여기 1층에는 침실이 두 개 있고... |
| Why? It looks pretty clean to me! | 왜? 이만하면 깨끗해 보이는데! |