







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 | |
|---|---|
| That's why I never trust quiet people... | 내가 그래서 조용한 사람을 안 믿는 거야... |
| Do you have a cigarette? | 담배 있냐? |
| Don't worry, I don't like having a very heavy breakfast. | 걱정 마, 난 아침 많이 먹는 거 그다지 좋아하지 않아. |
| Of course, there are 4 girls, all uni students from Germany. | 물론이죠, 여자 분이 4분 계시는데, 모두 독일에서 온 대학생이고요. |
| Really? Sade is one of my favourites, too. | 정말? 나도 샤데이 엄청 좋아해. |
| Then people come and complain to me! | 그럼 사람들이 나한테 와서 불평한단 말야! |
| It's in Islington, zone-1, it's the best place for me so far. | 이즐링턴에 있어. 구역 1이고, 이때까지 중에선 나한테 제일 좋은 곳이야. |
| Erm, by the way, since we are on the subject... | 어, 근데 말이지, 말 나온 김에 말인데... |
| Okay, if you say so, I trust you! | 그래, 네가 그렇다면야 믿어야지! |
| Thank god there is nothing to worry about. | 천만다행으로, 걱정할 일 없어. |
| How is your cat? | 고양이는 좀 어때? |
| Girls, this is Diego. | 아가씨들, 얘는 디에고예요. |
| Depends on where you look. | 어디를 알아보느냐에 달려있지. |
| Yes, it was quite easy, actually, I live very close by. | 네, 사실 꽤 쉬웠어요. 저는 바로 근처에 살거든요. |
| Because the other people complain about me smoking there. | 다른 사람들이 내가 담배 핀다고 불평한단 말야. |
| That's nice, I like the music and the lyrics. | 노래 좋다, 음악이랑 가사가 마음에 들어. |
| Don't you think two forks are enough for us? | 포크 두 개면 충분하지 않아? |
| Yeah, I wonder if we share the same taste in movies! | 그러게, 우리 영화 취향도 비슷하려나! |
| I wear some of them, can I check them when I get back? | 몇 켤레는 신을 수 있어. 일단 갔다 와서 봐도 돼? |
| Nope, as I said before, they live in Australia. | 응, 얘기했다시피, 호주에 살아. |