







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 | |
|---|---|
| Do we have a sieve? | 우리 체 있어? |
| Because the other people complain about me smoking there. | 다른 사람들이 내가 담배 핀다고 불평한단 말야. |
| Do you know the pub around the corner? | 모퉁이 돌면 나오는 술집 알아요? |
| Eating leftovers during the week saves me some time. | 주중에는 남은 요리만 먹어도 시간을 좀 벌 수 있어. |
| Erm... I know I snore occasionally, do I snore everyday? | 으음... 간간이 코 곤다는 건 알고 있었지만, 내가 매일 코를 골아? |
| Ta-ta here it is... | 짜잔, 여기 있지... |
| But their room is almost double the size of our room! | 하지만 그 사람들 방은 우리 방보다 거의 두 배나 크잖아요! |
| What do you do? | 일은 뭐하는데요? |
| Umm... We are married... I mean, today is our wedding anniversary! | 그... 저희가 부부라서... 그러니까, 오늘이 저희 결혼 기념일이거든요! |
| Are you with your friends? | 친구들하고 왔어? |
| Of course, 2 tomatoes are enough, I think. | 물론이지, 토마토는 2개면 충분할 것 같아. |
| Wow, that's unbelievable, is it yours? | 세상에, 안 믿기는 걸. 네 거야? |
| That's right, I think pressure cookers are quite dangerous, too! | 맞아, 그리고 압력솥도 꽤 위험하다고 생각해! |
| Why is that rice so special? | 그 쌀이 뭐가 그렇게 특별해? |
| Hi, I don't think it's broken. | 안녕하세요, 부러진 것 같진 않은데. |
| You never pick Bear's poo up from the pavement. | 너 길에서 베어 똥 절대 안 줍잖아. |
| Yeah, I guess spring is the worst time for allergies! | 하긴, 봄철이 알레르기에 끔찍하긴 하죠! |
| I don't think you really want me to stay here anymore! | 정말 더는 내가 여기 있길 바라지 않는 모양이구나! |
| Did you say Russia? That's unusual! | 러시아라고? 특이하네! |
| No, this one is the shop's own brand, that's why it's not expensive. | 아냐, 이건 이 가게 브랜드라서 안 비싼 거야. |