







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 sorry to say there is nothing very exciting. | 그렇게 두근거리는 건 아니라서 미안하게 됐어. |
| Do you want me to slice the mushrooms for you? | 버섯 썰어 줄까? |
| No worries, I have got a peeler for you! | 걱정마, 여기 감자깎이가 있어! |
| Why is that rice so special? | 그 쌀이 뭐가 그렇게 특별해? |
| Hey, which is the closest station to China Town? | 있지, 차이나타운에 제일 가까운 역이 어디야? |
| Erm... Yeah... Sure! It's our first anniversary! | 어... 네... 그럼요! 저희 첫번째 결혼기념일이에요! |
| Yes, I still don't do it. | 그래, 그건 지금도 마찬가지야. |
| No, I'm a real estate agent. | 아뇨, 저는 부동산 업자입니다. |
| Maybe they prefer electric stoves in shared houses for safety reasons. | 어쩌면 안전 문제 때문에 셰어하우스에서는 전기 스토브를 선호할지도 모르겠어. |
| Oh god, I feel too tired now. | 아이고, 이제 너무 피곤해. |
| 50% of 135 is 67.50... And it comes to totally 202.50. | 135에 50%를 하면 67.5니까... 총 202.5인 거지. |
| I only have 3 hours today. | 오늘은 3시간만 하면 돼. |
| Who the f*ck is that, what's the time? | 뭐하는 새X야 저건, 지금 몇 시야? |
| Mike, teriyaki is Japanese, we are at a Chinese restaurant. | 마이크, 데리야끼는 일본식이고, 우리는 중국식 레스토랑에 와 있다구. |
| Of course! It's my favourite pub. | 당연하죠! 내가 제일 좋아하는 술집인데. |
| Do you want me to put the chicken into the cooker first? | 닭고기를 솥에 먼저 넣을까? |
| You are so realistic dear, where is your wedding ring? | 실감이 정말 넘쳐나, 자기, 결혼 반지는 어디 있어? |
| Anyway, you only have 10 days left to leave that house. | 아무튼, 집 비우기까지 10일 남았다는 거네. |
| Because I'm sure they don't serve bugs in London! | 런던에서 벌레를 팔 리가 없잖아! |
| That's nice... I hope she is not a teenager! How old is she? | 멋있네... 아직 십대인 건 아니겠지! 몇 살인데? |