







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 | |
|---|---|
| He is fine. | 얘는 괜찮아요. |
| Is there a problem with your phone battery? | 배터리에 뭔가 문제 있는 거 아냐? |
| I'm on my way to Brighton, nearly there! | 브라이튼에 거의 다 도착했어! |
| Isn't it faster taking the tube? | 지하철이 더 빠르지 않아? |
| Sorry, they don't serve chips here... | 미안하지만, 여기선 감자튀김 안 팔아... |
| Yeah, he is keen on moving house... | 응, 옮기고 싶어하는 마음이 있는데... |
| Anyway, this is Cate and her friends from work. | 아무튼, 이쪽은 케이트랑 직장 동료분들. |
| That's a perfect time to see a house... | 그건 집 보기에 딱 좋은 시간이지... |
| Okay, what temperature do you want me to set it at? | 좋아, 몇 도로 설정하면 되겠어? |
| But I don't know him well. | 잘 아는 사이는 아니네. |
| I searched: does Pinocchio know he is not a real boy. | 피노키오는 자기가 진짜 아이가 아니라는 걸 아나요, 라고 검색했어. |
| I guess you need to change your cooking plan now! | 네 요리 계획이 바뀌어버린 것 같네! |
| Yes, I'm here waiting for good news. | 네, 좋은 소식 기다리고 있어요. |
| Yes, I like them, too. | 응, 그것도 좋아하지. |
| So does that mean you don't want to stay with me? | 그럼 네가 나랑 더 이상 같이 있기 싫다는 뜻이 되는 거야? |
| I guess so, but I want to finish seeing all the houses today. | 그렇긴 해도, 집 알아보는 거 오늘 다 끝내고 싶어서. |
| Anyway, I need to go to the loo as well... | 글구, 화장실도 좀 써야 되겠고... |
| Set times always stress me out. | 나는 시간이 정해져있으면 스트레스 받거든. |
| Don't worry, we don't do it everyday. | 걱정 마, 매일 이러는 것도 아닌데. |
| And the buses always arrive on time. | 버스는 언제나 제 시간에 도착하고. |