







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'm an English teacher. | 영어 선생님이에요. |
| Sorry, I don't have much time, can I tell you the story when I'm back? | 미안해요, 내가 시간이 별로 없어서, 갔다 와서 얘기해줘도 돼요? |
| It's not a nice thing to do. | 그건 좋은 행동이 아닌걸. |
| To me, wasting it is weirder! | 내 생각에는 기껏 생긴 걸 버리는 게 더 이상해! |
| I haven't seen her, either, and I don't really want to... | 나도 본 적 없고, 보고 싶지도 않아... |
| No, I don't have one! | 아뇨, 없어요! |
| This is my boyfriend, Mike. | 이쪽은 제 남자친구, 마이크예요. |
| I think so, at least there is no aggression. | 그런 것 같은데, 최소한 공격 태세는 아니잖아. |
| Who the f*ck is that, what's the time? | 뭐하는 새X야 저건, 지금 몇 시야? |
| Do they weigh them here or at the checkout? | 여기서 저울 달면 돼, 아니면 계산대로 가야 해? |
| It's always the same. | 꼭 이런 식이야. |
| He is a plumber, dear, apparently it's clogged. | 배관수리공이셔, 변기가 막혔대나봐. |
| My landlords are a gay couple. | 우리 집주인 게이 커플이야. |
| It's Marvin Gaye, from the 60's, but this is the remix. | 마빈 게이야, 60년대 노래. 근데 이건 리믹스고. |
| No, she is totally fine, thankfully. | 아니, 다행히도 엄마는 쌩쌩해. |
| Erm.. Isn't it there? | 어... 거기에 있지 않아? |
| Okay, I don't like cooking, but I like tasting food. | 좋아, 난 요리는 안 좋아하지만, 음식 맛 보는 건 좋아하니까. |
| Why is that rice so special? | 그 쌀이 뭐가 그렇게 특별해? |
| I think one room is empty upstairs at the moment. | 윗층에 한 층은 비어있는 것 같아. |
| My dad is British and my mum is Australian. | 우리 아빠는 영국인이고 엄마가 호주인이야. |